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If there’s one thing Dubai has hard-earned a reputation for, it is having some of the most amazing water parks in the world – not surprising, given it’s also one of the hottest countries in the world!
On this page, we are going to take you through the “Big 3” Dubai Water Parks, plus our favourites around the Emirates and a few spots that are perfect for families with younger kids.
Note that most of the water parks undertake their annual maintenance at some point around January/February each year and there will be temporary closures; please check these exact dates before planning your trip to Dubai around any water park action in the winter.
This post contains affiliate links that may earn us a commission if a purchase is made at no additional cost to you.
Dubai’s Top Water Parks Compared
Before we dive into the detaisl, we’ve helped you out by summarising the headline rates for each of the main water parks in Dubai so you can compare. However, as you may know, resident rates, transportation and bundling in towels and other rentals and meals can also factor into your decision, well beyond just the rides on offer:
| Water Park | Adult Day Rate | Children | Extras | Special Offers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquaventure – Atlantis the Palm | AED 320 | AED 270 under 1.2m Under 3, free |
Towel & Locker Rental AquaExpress Fastpass 235 AED |
Stay at Atlantis for Free Entry Resident discounts Free birthday visit |
| Wild Wadi – Jumeirah Beach Hotel (Temporarily Closed) | AED 269 | AED 199 1.1m Under 3, free |
Towel & Locker Rental Cabanas |
Stay at Jumeirah Hotels for free entry Resident discounts, Visa Monday Free birthday visit |
| Laguna – La Mer (Permanently Closed in 2023) | ||||
| Legoland – Dubai Parks & Resorts | AED 295 | Same as adult Under 3, free |
Towel & Locker Rental Cabanas |
2 Park Passes Free entry is possible staying at Lapita or Legoland Hotels |
Let’s go deeper into the details now of what to expect at each of Dubai’s top 4 water parks:
Aquaventure Atlantis the Palm
Arguably, the most recognised of the UAE’s water parks is Aquaventure. Part of the giant Atlantis The Palm complex, the water park is set over 42 acres and is now officially the largest water park in the world, as well being one of the world’s best park for thrilling water slides.
Aquaventure caters to adrenaline junkies and younger families, with its separate Splashers kid zone inside the park, exclusively for kids under 1.2m, including replicas of the park’s most popular slides for smaller kids.
Aquaventure has an absolutely enviable position sitting on the outer frond of the Palm Jumeirah. Most famous for its thrill rides, including The Leap of Faith, and an almost vertical drop that takes you through the park’s central lagoon of stingrays and sharks.
Groups will love Aquaconda, the world’s largest tube waterslide and Zoomerango. The park opened its expansion, including Trident Tower in March 2021 with several new record-breaking rides – learn more here!
The hard part is deciding which rides you might want to leave out rather than include! There are over 70 waterslides and rides to pick from. The downside to Aquaventure can be just how busy it gets; do tackle the most popular rides as soon as you arrive as lines get LONG for the most popular; not much fun in the heat!
You can purchase an AquaXpress fast track, but this pretty much doubles the cost (presently, these are 275 AED per person).
How much does Aquaventure cost?
- Basic ticket prices for entry to Aquaventure are AED 320 for adults / AED 270 for children under 1.2m. Under 2’s free.
- If you add the Lost Chambers to your visit you’ll pay AED 370 for Adults / AED 320 for children under 1.2m. Under 2’s free.
- Their rates are advertised as “seasonal”, so they could go higher than this during peak school holiday times
- Need towels? Add another 35 AED per towel and 55 AED for a small locker
- Another way to save is to combine entry tickets to the Lost Chambers or animal experiences at Dolphin Cove (and did you know you can get in FREE for your birthday? Learn more here)
- For tourists, you’ll find Aquaventure on the Dubai Pass Theme Parks Pass only, and Go City Dubai have it on their Explorer & All-Inclusive Pass.
- Resident offers (with a valid Emirates ID card) can prove to be a significantly good value, taking 100 AED off your basic entry price.
Open Daily 9:15 am to 6:00 pm (earlier in winter)
Wild Wadi Waterpark
The Arabian-themed Wild Wadi is set on the grounds of Jumeirah Beach Hotel, with the stunning Burj Al Arab hotel as its backdrop.
This fabulous family fun park includes Jumeirah Sceirah – the refurbed tandem slide is 120m long and reaches speeds up to 80km/hr! It also has the country’s largest wave pool Breakers Bay and a huge section dedicated to smaller kids and toddlers, making it our top pick for mixed groups catering to smaller kids and teens (or the young at heart!)
Wild Wadi has undergone an extensive closures over the past year. The water park did breifly reopen to both hotel guests and the public in summer 2023, but when trying to update pricing for 2024 we see it is again ‘Temporarily Closed’. We understand they’ll be open again from 3 Feb but watch this space!
What does Wild Wadi cost?
- Standard online adult prices start from 269 AED / Children 199 AED (you pay more at the gate – but book online either directly or through a reputable online ticker reseller this is the base rate you’ll pay). NB Until they reopen in 224, we cannot confirm if this remains correct.
- Pricing is differentiated on your child being over or under 1.1m tall, not by age (there are several rides they will be restricted from under 1.1m); infants under 3 are always free.
- UAE Residents (with valid Emirates ID cards) can get further discounts, reducing the price too as little as 169 AED / 129 AED (and bring nannies for free!) – valid dates apply to this offer, and weekdays are cheaper than at weekends and paying at the counter.
- Also, look out for their Birthday complimentary entry offer (need two other paying residents in your group), and Visa cardholder Mondays for really good pricing (until 31 Dec 2022).
- Towels are 39 AED to rent, and lockers start from 39 AED at Souk Al Wadi
Open Daily 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Laguna Water Park
In March 2023 Laguna in La Mer closed temporaily for Ramadan but updated their website in April to state that the park has permanently closed, it seems as part of an entire redevelopment of the La Mer beachfront.
Stay tuned as we believe the new J1 Beach will incorporate elements of the previous Laguna Water Park but we have no further details to share at this stage.
Legoland Dubai Water Park
Aimed at the younger crowd specifically, Legoland Dubai Water Park is at the more sedate end of the water park scale but still packs in plenty of rides at a pretty reasonable price tag.
It is great for your little ones wanting to build up their confidence with water park thrills and spills. The Joker Soaker is a good water fun starting point (beware the freezing water though!) then advance to Build a Raft Lazy River and on to the wave pool (tame by most standards) before graduating to the slide rides.
What Does Legoland Dubai Water Park Cost?
- Advance purchase online price is 295 AED (applicable to all aged 3 and over, no separate child tickets), at the gate or same day, you’ll pay 330 AED
- Guest staying at Lapita Resort or the onsite Legoland Hotel Dubai can also get combined stay-and-play packages.
Open Daily 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (off-peak, the water park opening schedule can change, sometimes closed mid-week and usually they close for 2 weeks mid-winter for annual maintenance)
Best Water Parks Outside of Dubai
There are a couple of great contenders for Dubai’s best water park that actually sit outside of Dubai Emirate but can be easily reached on a day trip; Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi and Dreamland Aqua Park in Umm al Quwain.
There used to be another contender, Iceland, in Ras al Khaimah. This park suddenly and unexpectedly closed in 2018, though we believe something bigger and better will replace Iceland in due course – watch this space (6 years later and no news!)
Yas Waterworld – Abu Dhabi
OK, we are a little biased, but we actually think Yas Waterworld is EVEN BETTER than the water parks in Dubai – bold claim!
Winner of multiple travel awards across the Middle East region – and the world – this Emirati-themed water park has 45 rides and attractions to choose from, catering to all ages.
From adrenaline-pumping slides through to the classic Al Raha lazy river, wave pool, and the Bandit Bomber suspended roller coaster, you will find a huge variety here, as well as live shows and entertainment around the park all day.
We have a complete guide to Yas Waterworld over here.
Smaller children are very well catered to, with three dedicated splash areas varying from tiny infants to toddler slides and the crowd’s favourite tipping bucket. Yas Waterworld also offers a unique pearl diving experience and mermaid school.
Under 3’s are free (great value considering there are several slides and areas they can actually independently enjoy).
The great thing about visiting Yas Waterworld, or any of the Yas Island theme parks from Dubai, is they will throw in free transfers from Dubai! Yes, you heard right – check out more details on how to get to Yas Island here. It is around a one-hour journey, depending on where you set off from in Dubai.
You can also get great overnight packages with hotels on Yas Island that combine park tickets with a hotel stay. Alternatively, look out for Combo ticket options with neighbouring parks Warner Bros World and Ferrari World.
Open Daily 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
There are numerous hotels now on Yas Island with easy shuttle services to all the theme parks; we’d recommend the new Hilton on Yas Bay for the best all-around entertainment access, pool and facilities.
Dreamland Aqua Park
Umm al Quwain is certainly a unique twist outside of Dubai, and Dreamland Aqua Park is no exception! It is good old-fashioned water park fun severely trapped in the 1980s, but you will have a blast! We have included this as our value pick for travellers to Dubai on a budget.
It is certainly one of the lushest and most chilled-out waterparks in Dubai without the massive queues. There’s even a beer garden with a swim-up bar, lawned areas to relax and overnight camping options at the park – the only one of its type in the UAE.
You will find Dreamland in Umm Al Quwain (UAQ), about one hour to the northeast of Dubai. Just be warned, it can be chilly in the cooler months. We don’t think they’ve ever thought to heat the water, but it’s perfect for those hot spring and autumn days.
Open Daily 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (later on Saturdays)
Smaller Water Parks and Splash Park alternatives in Dubai
Perfect for younger children simply seeking an opportunity to cool off, we can also recommend our favourite splash pads across the city for families:
- Splash ‘n’ Party Dubai – there are three great locations of this family fun water playground, one located in suburban Al Safa 2 – a little hidden treasure! And another two new branches have opened at Kite Beach and JBR with giant inflatable water parks. Learn more at splashnparty.ae
- Splash Island by Blue Wave DXB – This is the only indoor, year-round option in Dubai for the little ones. Primarily a centre for swimming lessons, there is also Splash Island which includes 8 indoor slides, a waterfall and a bucket forest suitable for 18 months to 12 years old. Learn more at facebook.com/bluewavedxb
- XPark Jr Splash Area – nearby to Kite Beach, you will find this gorgeous little adventure playground with little streams and splash areas, perfect for when you want the kids to play and splash around but perhaps not get utterly drenched! We also love the attacked Park House Café. Learn more at XParkJr.Com
- Al Barari Playground – A gorgeous little adventure playground nestles in the suburbs between Ashjar and Seventh Heaven, Al Barari. For a small entrance fee per child, they can enjoy this nature park, complete with a floating platform, mini beach and splash play area. Learn more at albarariplayground.com
And for some fun thrills and spills in the water in Dubai
- Better suited to your older kids and adults, try the Aqua Fun water park, located off the beach at JBR (The Beach). Here you will find a giant inflatable water obstacle course set out over “I Love Dubai” in inflatable tubing, the largest structure of its type in the world. Learn more at aquafun.ae
A few things to consider when visiting a waterpark in Dubai
Before booking your Dubai water park tickets, here are a few things to bear in mind:
- Dubai’s water parks are BIG and you ideally need the best part of a day to get the most from your entry ticket costs.
- Each is quite unique, so depending on ages and interests, you could fit in more than one water park to a Dubai itinerary.
- Throughout the year, even off-peak, weekends are always much busier than weekdays (remember that this is now Friday afternoon through Sunday in Dubai). You may also be able to find discounts for visiting on weekdays.
- If you are visiting one of the water parks in the peak of summer (June to September), be conscious of the amount of time you are spending outside. Not just scorching surfaces but increased dehydration, even if the water is chilled.
- Keep your eye out for winter closure dates if you are visiting in the coolest months (January/February) as the big parks normally close for a period of time for annual maintenance.
What to pack for a day at Dubai’s water parks
No matter the time of year, don’t forget a few water park essentials
- Water shoes – believe us when we say the ground can get HOT!! Not all surfaces are slip and heat-resistant in Dubai’s water parks; we strongly recommend you pack something like aqua socks or Slipfree water shoes
- Towels – you can bring these yourself to save a few dirhams, but all the big parks will also rent your towels to save some space in your bag. If you’re staying at the hotels, they’re included.
- Appropriate swimwear – whilst it’s not illegal to wear a bikini at a water park in Dubai, think sensibly too. There are other families about, a huge mix of cultures and let’s be honest, if you’re powering down a slide, you don’t want any unfortunate accidents at the end. Everyone is recommended to wear a rash guard for sun protection and neoprene-style swimwear. Cotton boardshorts that look like streetwear are forbidden. We talk more about appropriate dress in Dubai here.
Find more of the best adrenaline-pumping adventure activities in Dubai here
Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai
Take me back to Dubai’s top attraction reviews for more inspiration
Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.
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