Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi to open on 24th January

The eagerly awaited Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi will welcome visitors from 24th January.
The Dh900 million ($235 million) waterpark is being touted as the best of its kind in the world by the team behind it, who started drafting designs nearly five years ago.
Already recognised with its receipt of the World Waterpark Association's inaugural Leading Edge Award in October, General Manager, Mike Oswald explains "this is the world's best waterpark
"It has been almost five years in the making, so to have it opening in a very short time, everybody the staff, the developer, everybody is extremely excited about it.
"I expect Yas Waterworld to set a new standard for waterparks worldwide. It will definitely be something people around the world are going to hear about and hopefully come to see."
The 15-hectare attraction on Yas Island will offer 43 rides, slides and attractions and is expected to attract between 700,000 and 800,000 visitors a year.
Oswald believes the park will draw people to Abu Dhabi, adding "it brings a huge tourist destination to the emirate, in conjunction with Ferrari World and the other attractions on Yas Island.
"Now Abu Dhabi has a true tourism destination, which is going to be one of the best in the world anywhere you'll find, especially when we add additional attractions on the island, such as Yas Mall.
"There's another theme park planned for Yas Island in a few years, so I expect great things for the island."
Five of the rides are described as one-of-a-kind attractions.
Top of the list is the Dawwama, the world's first and largest hydromagnetic-powered, six-person tornado waterslide, at 238 metres long.
Visitors can ride three-metre-high waves on Bubble's Barrel, which has the world's largest surfable sheet wave for flowboards and bodyboards.
The Bandit Bomber, a 550-metre coaster, is the first with on-board water and laser effects. Riders can shoot jets of water at targets, drop water bombs and trigger special effects, while people below can spray them with water as they go by.
Oswald said the plan had been to have the park operational in the final quarter of 2012 but the team wanted to ensure the experience for visitors was exactly the way they wanted before launching.
The park draws on the UAE's heritage and has a theme called 'The Lost Pearl'.
Visitors follow the story of a young Emirati girl on a quest to find a legendary pearl as they make their way around the attractions, which include a souq and pearl-diving exhibit. There are also areas for children.
A grand opening, which members of the Abu Dhabi royal family are expected to attend, will be held ahead of the public opening.
The park, built by Aldar Properties and managed by Farah Leisure, will be open every day of the year.

http://www.yaswaterworld.com