SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, the region’s first marine life theme park, has officially opened to the public on Yas Island.
The new park, developed by Miral in partnership with SeaWorld, held an opening celebration on 22 May ahead of the public launch today (23 May).
The event, which included performances and immersive sound and light shows, was attended by hundreds of special guests and celebrities.
Visitors enjoyed a special viewing of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi’s ‘One Epic Ocean’, an immersive show featuring multimedia and state-of-the-art spatial audio to bring the ocean to life on a 360-degree screen.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Miral, said the theme park is “unparalleled in the region and the world on every level”.
“The park will also play a key role in promoting environmental awareness and protecting marine life in Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the wider region, undoubtedly inspiring guests to care for and protect our precious marine life for years to come,” he added.
Covering five indoor levels and more than 183,000 square metres, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi has eight immersive realms.
These feature family-friendly experiences from animal encounters and presentations to entertainment, more than 15 rides and attractions, 18 dining experiences, and 13 retail outlets.
Highlights include the world’s largest multi-species aquarium, the Manta Coaster, a traditional souk marketplace, and an interactive game called S·E·A Guardian.
Next-generation marine life park
The park contains more than 58 million litres of water and is home to more than 100,000 animals, including sharks, fish, rays, sea turtles, and puffins, penguins and flamingos. There are no orcas.
Scott Ross, SeaWorld‘s chairman, said the first SeaWorld venue to open outside of the US “marks a significant chapter” for the company.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is “unlike anything the world has seen to date, truly representing a next-generation SeaWorld experience”, Ross added.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi joins Yas Island’s award-winning portfolio of theme parks, including Warner Bros. World, Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld. The park is operated by Miral Experiences, a subsidiary of Miral.
The new destination is also home to a research and rescue centre, located next door. The marine research, rescue, rehabilitation and return facility is the first of its kind in the region.
Images: SeaWorld / Miral
