TheThemeParkGuyTheThemeParkGuy


Back to Worldmap Next Theme Park

Atlantis The Palm

Theme Park Guy Rating: 4.54.54.54.54.5
Date Visited:
January 07, 2008 / June 30, 2008 / September 28, 2008

Review

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 water park and an absolutely marvelous Atlantis-themed aquarium.

'Lost Chambers', the aquarium, really feels like walking through a sunken city with winding caverns punctuated by enormous windows opening out to an aquatic utopia filled with sharks, barracudas and rays.

'Aquaventure', the water park, will make your jaw drop: first with the ticket price and afterwards with the quality of the slides. 'Ziggurat', the centerpiece of the park resembling a Mesopotamian temple, hosts an array of state-of-the-art waterslide choices including water coasters that shoot you up-and-down and 'The Leap of Faith', a steep slide that sends you through a shark-infested pool (in a tunnel, of course).

Highlight for the sluggardly and slothful: escalators which lift you back up to the top of the slides without the need to leave your tube, guaranteeing an endless sliding experience. Another highlight are the 'Rapids', an artifical white-water rafting adventure circumnavigating the whole park.

Both 'Lost Chambers' and 'Aquaventure' are an absolute must when you are in Dubai.


Atlantis The Palm in 2008 Atlantis The Palm in 2008

Atlantis Aquaventure water park Atlantis Aquaventure water park

Leap of Faith slide protruding from the central slide tower Leap of Faith slide protruding from the central slide tower

Leap of Faith slide from above Leap of Faith slide from above

Leap of Faith slide POV Leap of Faith slide POV

A faithful leaper A faithful leaper

Close-up Close-up

Full speed through the shark tank. You won't see anything! Full speed through the shark tank. You won't see anything!

The Leap of Faith ends here The Leap of Faith ends here

Tube slider getting ready Tube slider getting ready

Aquaventure water coaster slides Aquaventure water coaster slides

These slides are a lot of fun! These slides are a lot of fun!

Water power pushes the sliders up Water power pushes the sliders up

Burj al Arab hotel in the background Burj al Arab hotel in the background

Slide conveyor belt for the lazy Slide conveyor belt for the lazy

Aquaventure slide tower at night Aquaventure slide tower at night

Slow tube slide through a shark tank Slow tube slide through a shark tank

Sliders and sharks Sliders and sharks

Atlantis hotel seen from the adjoining water park Atlantis hotel seen from the adjoining water park

White water river fun White water river fun

The Rapids river ride The Rapids river ride

The water park has its own stretch of Palm Jumeirah beach The water park has its own stretch of Palm Jumeirah beach

Entrance to the 'Lost Chambers' Entrance to the 'Lost Chambers'

Lost Chambers aquarium Lost Chambers aquarium

Massive fish tank Massive fish tank

Whale shark in the tank Whale shark in the tank

People, cameras and giant fish People, cameras and giant fish

Aquaventure tower seen from one of The Palm's fronds Aquaventure tower seen from one of The Palm's fronds

Atlantis The Palm under construction, 2007 Atlantis The Palm under construction, 2007

Construction progressed Construction progressed

Ziggurat slide tower under construction Ziggurat slide tower under construction

Atlantis water park construction site Atlantis water park construction site

Water coaster slides in the making Water coaster slides in the making

Aquaventure water park aerial shot Aquaventure water park aerial shot

Aquaventure water park slide tower aerial Aquaventure water park slide tower aerial

The 'Ziggurat' temple slide tower The 'Ziggurat' temple slide tower

Atlantis Dubai slide tower Atlantis Dubai slide tower

Ziggurat Tower aerial close-up Ziggurat Tower aerial close-up

Coaster-shaped slides protruding from the tower Coaster-shaped slides protruding from the tower

Aquaventure water park prior to opening Aquaventure water park prior to opening

Atlantis seen from the Burj Al Arab hotel Atlantis seen from the Burj Al Arab hotel

Atlantis The Palm Jumeirah Atlantis The Palm Jumeirah