SeaWorld Abu Dhabi

A revolutionary new theme park on an unprecedented scale, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi recently opened to the public in the UAE capital with a spectacular opening ceremony, cementing the city's position as one of the world's top leisure destinations.

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is part of Miral's ongoing transformation of Yas Island. This is a key driver in Abu Dhabi's diversification of its economy in line with the UAE's 2030 vision.

It's hard to believe, but as recently as 2007 Yas Island didn't have a single building. It now boasts not one, but four world-class theme parks, stunning museums and multiple other entertainment and leisure venues.

Last year alone it celebrated 12 Formula One races and the 11th year of operating Ferrari World Abu Dhabi together with winning over 80 major awards and accolades as a tourism and hospitality destination.

The new SeaWorld park marks a step-change for the SeaWorld brand and for parks in the region. So what sets it apart from the other parks? Why is it so different to the existing SeaWorld parks and why am I so keen to go back?

Owned and operated by Miral, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi was built under license from SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Its scale and ambition are phenomenal, with the layout structured to give visitors one WOW vista reveal after another, with plenty of interesting angles along the way.

On my recent visit, the Antarctic area was still in the final stages of construction and some of the tanks were not up to full occupancy. It was an awesome experience nonetheless, and I am already looking forward to my next visit to see how the park and its inhabitants develop.

.@SeaWorldAD is packed with dazzling technology, from gamification to remarkable (and crystal-clear) wrap around screens. But the #FOH staff were just brilliant, made us all super-welcome. And this #starfish guy, just never stopped.#abudhabi #starpower pic.twitter.com/gZRWnv80AF

Unlike other SeaWorld parks, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is an entirely indoor experience (aside from the 2 minutes riders of the Manta coaster leave the building). The design is novel for a SeaWorld too, with the park separated into eight themed "realms", each representing a different marine environment.

It's a hub-and-spoke design, with seven realms radiating from a central hub. These are Abu Dhabi Ocean, Rocky Point, Arctic, Antarctica, MicroOcean, Tropical Ocean and Endless Ocean.

Visitors enter this 1.97 million-square-foot park through the first of these realms, Abu Dhabi Ocean. In celebrating both the heritage and culture of the Arabian Gulf and its marine life, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi builds upon the pearl diver theming and story from Yas Waterworld, its sister park opened by Miral in 2013.

Leaving Abu Dhabi Ocean, the central hub of the theme park, One Ocean, is approached through a tunnel which at any other aquarium would be a headliner. The reveal is breathtaking.

With a huge 15m high digital screen surrounding the space (a circumference of 220 metres and equivalent to ten IMAX screens), it's an awe-inspiring welcome to the heart of the park.

A 5.4m diameter LED globe adds further impact, complete with swirling ocean currents, creating a multi-faceted wrap-around experience. The images are sharp and crisp and the overall effect is truly astonishing.

Playing on the screens is footage taken from the world's oceans during lockdown – a logistical achievement in itself. The effect with the projection globe in the middle is simply stunning.

For me, the undoubted highlight of my visit was Endless Ocean. This is a vast aquarium. It is the world's biggest at 25 million litres and 20 metres deep, and soon to be home to over 68,000 animals.

Styled around a deep-sea exploration station on the ocean bed, visitors have multiple vantage points to view the fish. Aquarium designers generally look to mask the view of other visitors peering through the glass from the opposite side of a tank. The idea is that this breaks the illusion of being underwater.

However, this has been turned on its head with Endless Ocean. The design and the sheer size and shape of the tank – like a slice of the sea – allow visitors to view both the fish (and their fellow humans) from multiple angles and levels. There's a tunnel through the tank and a dome at the bottom.

Adjacent to the dome at the base of the tank is a neat illusion. Through a crevice in the rockwork, the viewer can see even further into the murky depths and spot the occasional whale or big shark passing by. This effect of looking out into the ocean is created by underwater projection mapping onto a submerged acrylic panel.

A further wow moment is a 20m window, Endless Vista, which allows a full-depth view of the tank.

There are of course rides and more regular theme park experiences at the park. Two spectacular rides from Intamin, the Manta coaster and the Hypersphere 360 are undoubted highlights, plus the multiple Zamperla rides in the MicroOcean realm are ideal for children.

However, this is a park primarily aimed at education and conservation of the marine environment.

To this end, a central part of the project is the opening of Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue. Located on Yas Island inside the same vast building that houses the SeaWorld park, it is the MENA region's first dedicated marine research and rescue centre.

At over 8,000 square meters and set to employ around 60 zoologists and scientists the facility aims to rescue, rehabilitate and release marine animals.

Mid-afternoon snack. Sea #Otter at @SeaWorldAD in #AbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/mE0PldGJQh

The centre includes a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital and a rescue clinic together with over 25 rescue and rehabilitation pools and laboratories. There is also an aquaculture facility and classrooms to educate the next generation of marine biologists.

CEO Mohamed Al Zaabi is justifiably proud of what he and his team have achieved at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi.

In an exclusive interview with Blooloop, days before the park's opening, he spoke about his affinity with the local marine environment. "As a young boy, I remember spending many hours around water. Swimming in the sea, out on a boat, chasing hermit crabs, being amazed by the abundance of marine life, and ultimately harbouring a deep love, respect and awe for the sea".

It will also work closely with local authorities to help conserve the flora and fauna in the Arabian Gulf. It's a rich marine environment, with dugongs, coral reefs, mangroves and sea grass.

Al Zaabi says, "We want to focus more on conservation, education, awareness, and animal care."

In the park too, cutting-edge medical facilities are on display. These give visitors a unique insight into the valuable work the zoologists do.

In summary, this is a stunning attraction. Like the earlier iterations of the SeaWorld brand, it isn't exactly a regular theme park. Nor is it an aquarium, it combines the best of both. However, the scale and ambition of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi mark it out as a next-generation SeaWorld.

Miral put on a stunning opening ceremony for VIPs and a reception and preview for the regional and international press the day before.

Although there isn't yet a list of vendor companies involved in the project, I understand Miral worked with a world-class team. This included aquarium designers, creative directors, LSS specialists and technologists.

With cutting-edge technologies, immersive theming, rides and experiences and state-of-the-art animal research and conservation facilities, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is truly a game changer for both the SeaWorld brand and the wider theme park industry.

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