 |
|
Construction Update February 04, 2012
Holy barracuda!
Abu Dhabi cabbies driving past the Yas Waterworld Aqua Park (new name!) construction site have genuine problems focusing on the road. Many of them habitually do, but this time it is serious. A 200 million USD water park marvel is rising from the ground here, and what today looks like a Double Whopper made of steel, slides and tracks is set to become a warm, romantic place, celebrating Middle Eastern heritage and the history of pearl diving in the region. Imagine souqs, forts, gardens and plenty of well-crafted rock facades.
Orlando will be jealous.
Massive funnel water slides and water coasters from Canadian manufacturers WhiteWater West and ProSlide are being set up, and I was told that this park will host some thrill slides never seen anywhere before. Construction progresses with record-breaking speed: the photos in this update are less than two weeks old, but the site already looks totally different. Crikey, I have to camp here!
Abu Dhabi's water park is growing fast!
Coaster tracks and steel structures, seen from the outside
Let's have a look inside!
Slide parts (still) resting on the ground
Design manager Mark Joyce points to a mock-up of the park's central structure
What looks like odd, random work...
...eventually becomes...
...a meticulously-crafted rock wall!
Wile E. Coyote-style rock walls at Yas Island Water Park
Slides and coaster
The mighty Yas Island Water Park construction site!
Mat racer slides in the making
Floating slide section
Floating slide section from above, plus a torrent in the making on the right!
Torrent meandering through future rock wall territory
South Asian worker on site
Torrent meets slide meets coaster
Monstrous slide section
Looking through it
Yas Island Water Park entrance under construction
Creating that ancient look!
Artwork depicting how it's going to look!
Mock-up of a themed gate. The finishing looks top-notch!
Finally Abu Dhabi will get a souq, albeit behind a water park gate!
Abu Dhabi water park souq under construction
Let's climb up for a better view!
The central slide tower, or let's better call it slide-mountain-range!
A symphony of steel, slides and tracks!
Probably the highest thrill ride density on the planet!
Torrent, high-speed body slide, roller coaster and mat racer super-imposed!
A serious discussion
ProSlide Tornado water slide in the making
The only one of its great kind in the Middle East!
Tornado under construction POV
The eye of the Tornado
Eyes underneath the Tornado
Vekoma roller coaster under construction
The emerging coaster looks like a snail tentacle
In search for the better half
Meeting of the coaster tentacles
This place is going to be spectacular!
Yes, sir!
Construction Update December 31, 2011
These days cranes and excavators are a common sight in once somewhat sleepy Abu Dhabi. And it's not districts, but whole islands that are housing the diverse developments: a cultural island (Saadiyat) featuring operating beach hotels and delayed museums, a business island (Sowwah) with the look of London's Canary Wharf, a residential island (Reem) with skyscrapers rising as far as the eye can see, and leisure island 'Yas' featuring Ferrari World, a Formula1 race track and a proposed Warner Brothers theme park, all of which are being developed - some at full speed, others at half steam - with huge freeways and linking bridges sprouting up in between.
The five cranes adjacent to the Ferrari World theme park are something special, though: they tower over the world's most exciting water park construction site at present. Arabian fort structures, a massive funnel water slide and a suspended roller coaster (exotic!) are gradually rising into view behind the fence, and work takes place day and night.
Since this endeavor proceeds with such enormous speed I will post another update shortly.
Yas Island map: (2) is Ferrari World, (11) Yas Island Water Park
Water park cranes moving day and night
Yas Island Water Park, 31 December 2011
A roller coaster in a water park!
Suspended roller coaster under construction
Funnel slide in the making
Slide embryos behind the desert fence
Spaceships from Canada
These massive slide parts...
...suggest some fantastic thrill water slides are in the making!
View from neighboring Ferrari World
Newer photo, dated 5 January 2012
Construction Update October 05, 2011
Construction is in full swing here.
This huge Arabian-history-themed water park was announced many years ago and is now finally underway. Adjacent to Ferrari World, it will include a huge number of Canadian-manufactured thrill water slides, an inverted roller coaster and numerous sand-brown wind tower buildings, fabricating the feel of old Arabia. This could become the big tourism hit Abu Dhabi is aiming for. Construction is expected to wrap up in September or October 2012, with the opening expected shortly after.
Lots of new cranes adjacent to Ferrari World
Yas Island Water Park
Construction board and site entrance
Both WhiteWater West and ProSlide will be delivering water slides
Dutch manufacturer Vekoma contributes with a suspended roller coaster
The first structures rise from the ground
Lazy River among the hard-working
Yas Island Water Park site, with Ferrari World in the background
Closer look.
And closer. He is alive.
The cleaners on the Ferrari World roof enjoy the best view
Ferrari World dueling coaster at the front, water park cranes at the back
|
