TheThemeParkGuy

Wild Wadi, though quite small in size, is one of the major tourist attractions in Dubai. Congratulations to the builders for managing to fit such a competitive and beautiful water park into such a tiny space. The theme revolves around a cozy Aladdin-like village and works very well atmospherically. The location is great as well: you get views of the giant sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel and the Arabian Gulf while being lifted up and down the seemingly-endless water slide...

This park in my Dubai neighborhood is such fun. I've never seen any cars in the parking lot. There are always 5-10 times more employees in the park than there are guests. In fact, you will hardly find any guest. I wonder why they are still open. When you walk to the burger shop, the burger maker seems to be totally surprised that he will make a burger today. But they keep it open. It’s a very trashy-charming park with old fun fair attractions everywhere. My highlight:...

Located about one-and-a-half hour's drive north of Dubai, Dreamland Aquapark is a well-maintained water park right next to the sea, containing a good number of quality slides.
The highlight of the park is a 'SpaceBowl', manufactured by Canadian waterslide producer WhiteWater West: its centrifugal forces make you feel like you're being flushed down the toilet! Another must is the great salt water swimming pool which will make you float like on the Dead Sea. The...

I was really excited when I accidentally found an Universal Studios gate on Al Ain road heading to Dubai Outlet City Mall in January 2008. It serves as the entrance to the site’s office and there is construction going on behind it. Something is happening in Dubailand!
Universal Studios Dubailand will feature, among others, a 'Ghostbusters' dark ride, a 'King Kong' dueling coaster, a 'Jurassic Park' river rapids ride and a 'Revenge of the Mummy' roller...

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum had another vision: he wanted to have a casino-free version of the amazing Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas resort on top of his famous 'Palm Jumeirah', an artificial palmtree-shaped island reaching out into the Persian gulf. And lo, there was Atlantis Dubai!
Besides being a picturesque hotel resort looking like a still from a Star Wars trailer, you'll find a brilliant waterpark and an absolutely ass-kicking Atlantis-themed...

Apart from to the famous Burj Al Arab hotel everyone knows the desert city of Dubai for its ski slope. Ski Dubai is part of the ‘Mall of Emirates’, inaugurated in 2005. It is fun to see local sheikhs and Emirates cabin crew colliding while they try their luck on snowboards and skis.
It is actually not such a bad slope: an average skier will get a decent thrill out of the curvy ski-run. A comfortable ski-lift transports beginners up to Level 1,...

DUBAILAND! It sounds so good. It is the place where I live at the moment (July 2008) and I have to tell you a story about it:
Dubailand was announced in October 2003. When I moved to Dubai in the spring of 2006, I discovered a great showroom in the desert displaying the planned theme parks on a giant, awesome model. Unfortunately, two years later I can’t see any sign of construction of roller coasters or water slides in the Dubailand area. New villas, apartments,...

With the opening of the Saadyiat Island Highway and the Yas Island hotels ahead of the Formula 1 race in October 2009, the Ferrari World theme park was suddenly unveiled to the general public of Abu Dhabi and its race-addicted visitors. Ferrari World is housed under an incredible roof structure resembling a gigantic Manta Ray, from which its two roller coasters protrude.....

Yes, you read it correctly: 'The Baghdad Zoo And Entertainment Experience' theme park.
Announced in spring 2008 with projected construction costs of USD 500 million, the park will be built next to the Green Zone and will encompass Baghdad's existing zoo. 'Ride & Show Engineering', the company behind the project, is a California-based developer owned by former Walt Disney Imagineers, responsible for wonderfully atmospheric rides like the E.T. ride at Universal...

This is where my journey started. On 1 November 2007, I decided to become The Theme Park Guy while visiting this just-opened water park in Bahrain, a tiny island in the Persian Gulf. Lost Paradise of Dilmun, set in the sparsely-populated desert landscape in the south of the kingdom, is absolutely world-class. All slides are state-of-the-art and the whole park is well-themed after Bahrain's ancient history (Dilmun is speculated to be the true location of the Garden of Eden)...

Kuwait is certainly not on the itinerary of most international travellers and Aqua Park Kuwait wouldn't change that: it doesn't match the standards of Dubai's Wild Wadi and Aquaventure Atlantis The Palm or Bahrain's Lost Paradise of Dilmun.

However, its iconic location next to Kuwait Towers and a solid collection of thrill waterslides make for a good day out. Definitely the better water park than the super-tiny Mesilla Water Village 20 kilometers south. ...

Lebanon’s sole theme park is a true jewel and the best of its kind between Italy and Central China. Built by a well-reputed Dubai-based family enterprise and engineered by German perfectionists, its setting on the slopes of Lebanon’s mountains is hard to beat: imagine riding a brand-new spinning roller coaster (like Crush Coaster in Walt Disney Studios Paris) and ‘flying’ on it over the edge of a cliff before turning, twisting and twirling through...

This 2009-opened Japanese indoor theme park in the 'Dubai Mall' looks, feels and smells more like a gambling house than a theme park. Highlight is the spinning roller coaster on the upper floor which is a bit short, but great fun and very smooth. The Indiana Jones inspired ‘Jungle Adventure’ simulator ride next door is better than I expected, but I recommend taking the coaster for another spin or two instead. Try to avoid the queues on Friday and Saturday! ...

I love empty theme parks. It's like opening an extravagant Christmas present just for you. This one is brand new and no one is inside. Great. After being announced 99% complete in a press release in 2007, it took another two years to complete the remaining 1%. That time could have been spent improving the roller coaster; it isn't pleasant and really hurts your head when going into the curves. The 3-D cinema shows a passable dinosaur and space movie, the children's...

This soon-to-open water park has been rising slowly from the sands of the northern Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah over the past four years and has gone nearly unnoticed by the press and UAE residents. RAK may sound remote and far-away, but it's just over one hour's drive north of Dubai. The owner is an Indian theme park lover who runs three other water parks, two in India and one in Uzbekistan. Ice Land Water Park is clearly inspired by Disney's Blizzard Beach, but the setting...

Khalifa Park is a 2007-opened public park in Abu Dhabi with an array of gardens and fountains. That's what you'll read about it on the web, if you happen to come across it at all. "Museum and aquarium at the other end of the park, sir" says the employee at the entrance of the totally empty venue. Entering the park. Silence. The sounds of purling fountains far away. A long walk through the heat. Then, a windowless building with a glass door and the notice 'The museum to...