Everything You Need to Know About Yas Waterworld in 2026

Described as the region’s leading waterpark, Yas Waterworld is the perfect place to cool down and chill out on those scorching Abu Dhabi days.

Located on Yas Island, the award-winning water park is home to a variety of exciting slides, rides, and other exhilarating attractions, including a large wave pool and the region’s only water cinema. It really is a great day out for all the family and one of the best things to do in Abu Dhabi.

The expansion works on the park is now complete! There are now 70+ thrilling rides and attractions to enjoy at the park

What Can I Find at Yas Waterworld?

Yas Waterworld spans 37 acres and features over 70 rides and attractions, divided into eight zones, as illustrated in the Yas Waterworld map below.

The Legend of the Lost Pearl and the Lost City

The waterpark’s theme is based on a story about a young girl called Dana who goes on the hunt for a mysterious giant pearl. The pearl had once sat at the heart of her village and was said to bring good fortune to the people.

One night, there was a great storm, and the pearl vanished. From that point, the fortunes of the town dwindled. Dana began a quest to set things right and bring prosperity to her people. Join Dana in her adventure as you travel through the park.

The Lost City is the name of the new park extension, which takes you on a journey through hidden treasures and secret passages.

Whether you’re a thrill seeker or want to splash around with your little one, here is what you can expect to find at Yas Waterworld in 2026 and beyond!

Rides and Slides at Yas Waterworld for Thrill Seekers

These are some of the bigger rides and attractions on offer at Yas Waterworld:

• Dawwama – Feel the rush on the world’s largest six-person tornado water coaster.
• The Liwa Loop – Boost your adrenaline on a free-fall drop water slide.
• Sebag – Feel the speed on the six-lane racer slide.
• Falcon’s Falaj – Follow the adventure on the world’s longest six-seater water coaster.
• Slithers Slide – Experience six twisty enclosed snake slides.
• Rush Rider – Take on endless waves at this surfing and bodyboarding experience.
• Hamlool’s Humps – Turn yourself upside down on this very high and fast set of slides!
• Jebel Drop – let yourself go on the region’s tallest speed slide.

Gentler Rides and Experiences at Yas Waterworld

• Amwaj – Grab a rubber ring and enjoy the region’s largest wave pool.
• Al Raha River – Relax on your inflatable as you float along 300m of lazy river with waterfalls, rain showers, and caves.
• Yadi Yas – Experience the rapids on a lazy river with more intense waves, as well as rain showers and water jets.
• Cinesplash – Enjoy a 5D cinema experience that tells the story of Dana and her quest for the lost pearl, complete with numerous surprises!
• Bandit Bomber – Glide over the waterpark and get a bird’s eye view on this family roller coaster.

New Rides in 2025 & 2026

If you’ve not been to Yas Waterworld for a few years, it’s time for a revisit! The extension brings many ‘junior’ versions of the park’s favorite rides, including:

• Al Mafras – desert water slides
• Dawwama Junior – tornado coaster ending in a mini tornado funnel
• Al Kanz Race – kids racing slides
• Seabag Junior – a smaller version of the mat racing slides
• Al Sahel Junior – the region’s first mini zero-gravity boomerang
• Red Dunes – Aqua tube for younger thrill-seekers
• Rimal Racer – High-speed racing slides for kids
• Al Falaj Race – dueling raft race to go head-to-head

And some of the more adrenaline-pumping new additions:

• Bahamut Rage – log flume ride with a jaw-dropping 15-meter splash
• Sadaf Swirl – high-speed raft ride with powerful jets giving exhilarating tailspins and a gravity-defying sensation!
• Al Daloob – a barrel twist raft ride with high-speed twists and turns
• Matamir Twists – steep drops and high speed-turns ending in a 2m freefall
• Matamoir Drop – The UAE’s tallest slide that reaches heart-racing speeds
• Sahel Matamir – a zero-gravity high-speed race, including a 14 metre vertical climb

We still need to complete our review of the newly opened sections of The Lost City – stay tuned as we review each of the new rides for kiddie & teen ratings later in 2026!

Ride Height Restrictions at Yas Waterworld

Most of the ‘adult’ rides have height restrictions. These vary depending on the ride but are generally 1.1 or 1.2m.

Children over 1m are allowed to ride on the Bandit Bomber. The Wave Pool and Lazy River are open to everyone, regardless of age and height.

What is There for Young Children at Yas Waterworld?

The waterpark is split into zones with specific areas for babies, toddlers, and very young children. The baby zone at Yas Waterworld includes a shallow pool with a small slide, swings, and fountain spouts around the pool’s edge. There is also a smaller bubble pool for babies.

In the same area as the baby zone, but fenced off from it, is a larger pool with various gentle slides suitable for younger children. There are also fountains, bucket installations, and a kindergarten-friendly elevation opposite. This area is well-shaded, with large sails fixed above each of the pools.

In the next zone, there is a large elevation known as the Marah Fortress with multiple slides, rope bridges, and gigantic buckets suitable for children in the roughly 7-11-year-old age range. Adults are not permitted on the slides at the Marah Fortress, but can accompany smaller children onto the structure itself.

Is Yas Waterworld indoors?

No, unlike the other Yas Island theme parks, including SeaWorld, Ferrari World, and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld is almost entirely an outdoor attraction. The only indoor attraction is Cinesplash.

Other Facilities at Yas Waterworld

Toilets, Showers, Changing Rooms, and Lockers

Toilets are available throughout the site, with the main showers and changing rooms located in the main building, also known as the ‘souk area’, at the site’s entrance. Within the changing rooms, there are lockers, and towels can be purchased or hired just outside. There are also prayer rooms available.

Outdoor showers and drying machines are also available throughout the park.

Food and Beverage Outlets

There are various food and beverage outlets throughout the site. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect to find at each:

• Dana’s Diner serves up everything from Burgers to Arabian Mixed Grills
• Chubby’s Kitchen offers a variety of Asian dishes as well as burgers, pizzas, and salads
• Skinny’s Frozen Treats, located by the baby pool, serves ice creams, lollies, and cold drinks
• Salma’s Snack Shack, located between the baby and toddler area and the Marah Fortress, serves freshly cut fruits, slushies, and smoothies.
• Galwat Nasser serves up Arabic coffee, camel-milk chocolate,s and dates.
• Dock Side Dining, in the new Bandits Village, enjoy Italian favourites like pizza and pasta
• Smaller shacks around the park also sell a variety of drinks and ice-creams.

Retail Outlets

• Sultan and Sons – A large shop in the main waterpark building which sells swimming costumes, water shoes, flip-flops, and goggles, as well as many other water park essentials. Swim nappies are also available to purchase here.
• Qaryat Al Jewana – A souk-like space in the Waterpark’s main entrance. Here you can buy a variety of waterpark memorabilia as well as pick up photos at the end of your trip.
• Tawasha Pearl Shop – Here, you can buy real oysters and customise your own pearl jewellery.

Cabanas and Poolside Seating

The park features ample seating, with sun loungers strategically positioned around the main pool areas. Private cabanas are also available for 4 or 6 guests, with prices starting from 399 AED.

You will need to get in early on the weekend, especially if you want to grab seats near the main attractions like the wave pool, but there are plenty of hidden little nooks around the park if you go explore beyond the main entrance.

New in 2026 – the park expansion includes an exclusive VIP pool, Jiwan Oasis, which includes exclusive cabanas and butler service – learn more here!

Underwater VR Experiences

Have you ever fancied diving down to a lost city or travelling down a waterfall? There are a variety of underwater VR Experiences on offer at Yas Waterworld, with prices ranging from 75 AED for individuals to AED 225 for groups.

How Can I Get to Yas Waterworld?

There are free shuttle buses operating between the hotels on Yas Island and the theme parks. There are also free shuttle buses from downtown Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

For more details on the Yas shuttle services, click here.

With your own car, there’s ample parking on Yas Island immediately outside the water park. Use Google Maps to get the correct entrance for public parking.

Yas Waterworld Location

If you are seeking out information on how to get to Yas Waterworld from Dubai, we have a comprehensive Dubai to Yas Island guide here.

Can You Get Discounted Tickets to Yas Waterworld?

It’s hard these days to find anything like 2-4-1 passes for Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi or the Yas theme parks; however, here are a few places you could check:

• Yas Waterworld is included in the Go City Dubai Explorer Pass, which includes all the Yas Theme Parks; you can combine this with several Dubai and Abu Dhabi attractions and save.

• If you book your tickets online here, you can save on 1 day-2 park pass

• Emirates NBD Card Holders save 20%

• Klook often offers tickets slightly cheaper than the door price and can often bundle transfers

If you live in Abu Dhabi, the Yas Theme Parks annual pass can represent excellent value for families. Look out for special offers that frequently come up over Ramadan and Eid.

What are the Yas Waterworld Opening Hours?

Opening hours are subject to change, but you can generally expect the park to be open daily from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM **

* Occasionally, Ladies Day events see the park closed to all males over the age of 8 on a Friday. Always check the official Yas Waterworld Website for up-to-date information before your trip.

** There’s also a large number of older rides currently undergoing maintenance since the opening of the new Lost City, so don’t presently expect all 70 attractions to be operating daily.

Find out more information, including scheduled closures for the exact date of your visit at yaswaterworld.com here

Is Yas Waterworld open all year?

Yas Waterworld often closes briefly in the winter for maintenance. The closure usually runs from the beginning of January until mid-February. It looks like they are now spreading maintenance out over the winter months without complete closures for the last two winters.

Opening hours are subject to change. During term time, the park is generally open from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Thursday, and from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

What are the Rules at Yas Waterworld?

Here are the rules that you should be aware of when visiting Yas Waterworld:

• All visitors must wear proper swimwear.
• Young children who are not fully toilet-trained must wear a swim nappy/diaper.
• No inflatables are allowed.
• Photography is not permitted during ladies’ days (phones are not allowed in the water park on these special days). The park employs photographers who can take photographs for you.
• You are not allowed to bring in food from outside – strictly enforced (exceptions only for baby food)
• All bags are checked at the entrance to the waterpark.
• Smoking is only permitted in certain areas at Yas Waterworld.

As is always the case in the UAE, you should behave respectfully and avoid swearing or any other offensive behaviour, as well as public displays of affection.

Is visiting Yas Waterworld safe?

A visit to any waterpark carries an element of risk, but at Yas Waterworld, great care is taken to mitigate this risk. Maintenance is taken seriously, and regular full maintenance checks are performed.

Lifeguards are stationed throughout the park to ensure there are no blind spots where an incident could go unnoticed. There is also CCTV throughout the park for this reason. In addition to lifeguards, a trained paramedic is on site.

The pools and all facilities are kept spotlessly clean. Young children are asked to leave the children’s area for 15 minutes twice a day to allow for water cleaning and recirculation.

• Swimwear
• A towel
• A loose T-shirt, cover-up, or UV top
• Water shoes
• A sun hat
• Sunglasses
• Sun protection cream
• A water bottle

Does Yas Waterworld Provide Towels? Yes, these can be hired for a fee

Does Yas Waterworld Provide Lockers? Yes, these can be hired for a fee

Where do I get my Yas Waterworld photos? You can purchase photos taken by the official photographers at Jewana Photo before you leave. Make sure you do not lose the wristband they’ll give you. There’s no obligation to purchase.

We hope this guide to Yas Waterworld prepares you well for what to expect at the Middle East’s greatest water park (even if Atlantis in Dubai might be vying for the title; they may be slightly and bigger, but we’d argue Yas Waterworld is better, with much less queuing!)

You may also like to read next about:

• Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
• When Will the New Harry Potter Open in Abu Dhabi?
• Where to get deals for SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
• Ferrari World Abu Dhabi – Rides and Height Restrictions
• Everything we know so far about the new Disney Abu Dhabi theme park and resort