If you were to think of practical places to locate a water park, the Saudi Arabian desert probably wouldn't be high on the list. However, Saudi authorities don't seem too worried about practicalities lately so Aquarabia is currently under construction, and is set to create waterslides, water-based activities, and the country's first inland surf park.
Aquarabia is part of the larger Qiddiya giga-project near the country's capital Riyadh. We've no word on the water park's exact size, but from the renders at least, this thing looks huge, and is described as the largest of its kind in the region.
Alongside family activities and restaurants, it will include 22 rides, one of the most notable of which is called Wadi Tahaddi (aka Spinning Rapids) and promises "intense centrifugal forces," so is probably one best handled on an empty stomach... Another, dubbed Hyper Viper (aka Shoot the Chute), will let visitors experience a 15 m (almost 50 ft) drop before creating the "industry's biggest splash."
"Aquarabia is also set to make waves, quite literally, with the first inland surf pool in Saudi Arabia," explains a press release by WhiteWater, which is manufacturing the rides. "Powered by Endless Surf technology, the pool will deliver the most authentic surf experience outside of the ocean with its limitless wave customization potential and surf zones to accommodate surfers of all skill levels."
There's no getting away from the fact that building a water park in the desert is a massive waste of water resources, but the project will include recycled water systems for irrigation and cooling, while energy consumption and other water waste will be minimized where possible. Additionally, construction waste will be recycled during the build process.
Work on Aquarabia is currently well underway and is expected to be completed in 2025, though its opening date is yet to be revealed. The water park joins other Qiddiya projects including a cliff-hanging stadium and an Esports arena, while elsewhere in Saudi Arabia is the separate Neom development. Both Qiddiya and Neom form part of Saudi's overriding plan to turn its oil-based economy into one that's based on tourism.
Sources: WhiteWater, Public Investment Fund
