Sharjah theme park set to make a big splash

The Al Montazah Waterpark will close its doors on Sunday, marking the commencement of the expansion work. It will reopen in the summer of 2017 with new rides and services.

The Al Montazah Waterpark, Sharjah's first family leisure and entertainment destination, is set for expansion. The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) recently announced the second phase of development, which is expected to introduce world-class facilities upon completion.

The expansion plan aims to cater to the growing number of visitors to the park each year, particularly during summer months, public holidays and festivities, as well as to fulfil their demand for new rides, entertainment and better services.

The Waterpark will close its doors on Sunday, marking the commencement of the expansion work, which has been designed to boost tourist footfall and the attractiveness of the emirate in general. The park is expected to reopen this summer.

Khalid Ibrahim Al Qaseer, manager of Al Montazah, said: "We promise visitors and vacationers an exceptional leisure and entertainment experience by the summer of 2017. The new facility will see a paradigm shift in the quality of services we will deliver. Our main aim is to significantly enhance visitor ease, accessibility and safety, especially for our young guests who we consider our most valued customers."

Under the development plan, a variety of new water rides will be added to the park, which is expected to service 3,000 visitors daily, while the amusement facility will host 5,000 guests, once the facility reopens.

Tourist footfall
Al Qaseer outlined that Al Montazah's development plan is in alignment with Shurooq's vision, which aims to reinforce tourist footfall in the emirate by attracting them with world-class destinations and high-end services, along with organising events, thus contributing to Sharjah's stature as a destination of choice for touristic and cultural activities.

In 2012, Shurooq unveiled the first phase of the destination's development and expansion, which turned it into an integrated amusement city and the emirate's first water-themed park. The park was officially reopened to visitors in early 2014 and has been offering its services and facilities to hundreds of thousands of visitors up until the announcement of the second development phase.

- business@khaleejtimes.com