Weekends in the United Arab Emirates offer a golden opportunity for locals and tourists to relax, rejuvenate and have fun.
The country’s variety of attractions, including the best theme parks in the UAE, present incredible and fun options for people of all ages. Whether you’re spending the weekend with your family, friends or even by yourself, you will find something you’ll enjoy doing that will help you forget the challenges and stress you faced during the previous days.
TOP WEEKEND ACTIVITIES IN THE UAE
Below are the six best things you can do in the UAE during the weekend to unwind and enjoy your free time.
VISIT THE NEWEST THEME PARK IN THE UAE: SEAWORLD ABU DHABI
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| SEAWORLD ABU DHABI ~ PHOTO FROM THEIR FB PAGE |
Yas Island Abu Dhabi, the country’s premier leisure and entertainment hub, recently opened SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, MENA’s first marine life theme park.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is home to various marine-inspired theme park rides and attractions, including the Manta Coaster, a roller coaster featuring the world’s first zero gravity flips and 17 airtime moments.
This new theme park also features dozens of interactive animal experiences and presentations and is home to thousands of marine creatures and different bird species.
The park is divided into eight realms:
● One Ocean
● Abu Dhabi Ocean
● Rocky Point
● MicroOcean
● Tropical Ocean
● Arctic
● Endless Ocean
● Antarctica
While here, take the time to visit Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue, the country’s first state-of-the-art marine research, rescue, rehabilitation and return center.
The center supports local, regional and international marine conservation efforts. It is also a leading knowledge hub that aims to educate guests about the fascinating marine life and ecosystems of the Arabian Gulf and how they can help protect and conserve these.
If you think you can’t explore the massive theme park in just a day or you’d like to return, consider getting a SeaWorld annual pass to enjoy discounts and other perks during your visits here.
HAVE ENDLESS FUN AT WARNER BROS. WORLD ABU DHABI
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| WARNER BROS. WORLD ABU DHABI ~ PHOTO FROM THEIR FB PAGE |
With over 29 rides and attractions, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is the ideal place to let your hair down and have fun on a weekend.
This theme park is inspired by popular TV and movie franchises, such as Scooby-Doo, Looney Tunes, The Flintstones, Tom and Jerry, Superman, Batman and the Justice League.
The park is divided into six lands teeming with family-friendly rides and attractions:
● Warner Bros. Plaza
● Bedrock
● Dynamite Gulch
● Cartoon Junction
● Gotham City
● Metropolis
● Harry Potter (Coming Soon)
Whether you want to ride a roller coaster, carousel, or drop tower, drive around in a bump car, or play interactive and arcade games, you can enjoy all these activities at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.
You save money when you visit here and the other attractions on Yas Island when you avail of their multiple theme park offers.
COOL DOWN AT YAS WATERWORLD ABU DHABI
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| WATERWORLD ABU DHABI ~ PHOTO FROM THEIR FB PAGE |
If going to a waterpark is your idea of having fun, you’ll forget your worries and have a great time at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi.
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is home to 40 water rides, slides and attractions, making it one of the biggest waterparks in the UAE.
Based on thrill levels, the most exciting amusement park rides and slides you should try include the following:
● Bandit Bomber
● Bubbles Barrel
● Dawwama
● Falcons Falaj
● Hamlool’s Humps
● Liwa Loop
● Rush Rider
● Slithers Slides
If you want to relax while cooling down, head to Amwaj, Yadi Yas, Al Raha River and Cinesplash.
For more unique yet enjoyable experiences, try the Underwater VR Experience and Pearl Diving Experience. You can also rent a private cabana to get some rest and relaxation in between trying out the park’s attractions.
FULFILL YOUR NEED FOR SPEED AT FERRARI WORLD ABU DHABI
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| FERRARI WORLD ABU DHABI ~ PHOTO FROM THEIR FB PAGE |
If you’re a fan of fast cars and exciting activities, spend a weekend at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.
The only Ferrari-themed amusement park in the world offers a variety of exhilarating rides and attractions.
The park’s fastest and most thrilling rides include:
● Formula Rossa
● Flying Aces
● Fiorano GT Challenge
● Turbo Track
● Turbo Tower
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi also has several interactive experiences and games that will let you have fun while delving deeper into the fascinating world of the iconic Italian car brand. These include:
● Bell’ Italia
● Benno’s Great Race
● Driving With the Champion
● Made in Maranello
● Mission Ferrari
● Scuderia Challenge
● Speed of Magic
● Viaggio in Italia
EXPERIENCE INDOOR SKYDIVING AT CLYMB ABU DHABI
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| CLYMB ABU DHABI ~ PHOTO FROM THEIR FB PAGE |
If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, tryindoor skydiving at CLYMB Abu Dhabi.
CLYMB Abu Dhabi is an adventure hub and the best place for team building activities in Abu Dhabi. It boasts the world’s largest indoor skydiving flight chamber and tallest climbing wall.
The indoor skydiving flight chamber is powered by 16 fans, allowing you to enjoy the unique sensation of freefalling. You can also perform any aerial maneuvers you know or want to try to maximize your experience.
You can try indoor skydiving even if you have no prior experience since all guests are trained by the onsite instructors before engaging in the actual activity.
While here, you can also try climbing the tallest and first indoor multi-pitch climbing wall in the world – The SUMMYT.
This massive indoor climbing wall features 13 challenging routes, which means you can choose how high you want to climb. You can aim for the peak, which is 42 meters from the ground, or any level you feel comfortable tackling.
LEARN ABOUT THE COUNTRY’S HISTORY AND CULTURE AT QASR AL WATAN
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| QASR AL WATAN ABU DHABI ~ PHOTO FROM THEIR FB PAGE |
Lastly, weekends are the perfect time to learn more about the culture and history of the UAE. You can do this by visiting Qasr Al Watan.
Qasr Al Watan is the UAE’s official presidential palace. It is located on the Abu Dhabi Presidential Palace grounds and features exhibits showcasing the country’s history, cultural heritage and legacies.
One of the main highlights here is the Qasr Al Watan library, which you can find at the Great Hall. This public library in Abu Dhabi houses around 50,000 books and rare manuscripts and documents regarding different subjects and topics from various eras.
The Great Hall is also the first zone you can explore upon entering the palace. While here, you can marvel at its features that showcase the country’s architectural and artistic legacy.
The other zones you can find at Qasr Al Watan are:
● The House of Knowledge
● The Hall of Presidential Gifts
● The Spirit of Collaboration Room
● The Presidential Banquet Hall
If you’re thinking about what to do this weekend, take a few ideas from this list to make the most of your time off from work and feel refreshed and ready to take on next week’s challenges.
~ WORDS CONTRIBUTED BY C. IKEDA, COVER PHOTO BY MAX AVANS FROM PEXELS
