Sharjah's Water Park: Waterfalls, 40 rides and... a vanishing roller coaster

The Crystal Lagoon water theme park, coming up in Dh20-billion Sharjah Waterfront City, will have 40 rides, with one combining the action of a water ride with an interactivity of the video game, according to the designer of the theme park.

“It is very unique to have a water park and dry park together. There will be 40 attractions (water and dry rides) and many levels of interactivity for families, teenagers and people of all ages,” said Danny Lee Schultz, Business Development Director, Jack Rouse Associates, a US-based master planning and conceptual design services.

“We will utilise the latest technologies and, in fact, one ride under consideration will combine the action of a water ride with an interactivity of the video game and it will be first of its kind in this part of the world.”

Besides, there will be “wave pool”, a high capacity pool that will have the ability to adjust the height and frequency of the waves.

“The pool will move from absolute calm to three metre high waves,” Schultz said, adding, there will be a roller coaster that would disappear under water and variety of waterfalls that will enhance guest experience around the pool.

Announcing the launch of the city at Cityscape Global, Hayssam El Masri, President, Sharjah Oasis Real Estate said: “The project has been launched keeping in line with Sharjah’s development plans to attract 10 million visitors to its emirate by 2021. These plans will increase demand for residential and commercial units as well as hotels, especially in prime locations that offer all modern facilities.”

Sheikh Abdullah Shkara, Chairman of Al Hanoo Real Estate Company, a major shareholder in Sharjah Oasis Real Estate, said: “We have invested a lot in this project and believe this project will be the heartbeat of the city’s tourism 2021 vision.”

Dusit – Sharjah Waterfront City, a five-star hotel with minimum of 200 keys and 200 serviced residences, and Shaza – Sharjah Waterfront City (a Kempinski affiliate), a five-star luxury hotel with nearly 300 keys and 350 serviced apartments, became the first two hotels to sign the agreement within the City. The hotels are expected to start construction by the last quarter 2016 and expected to open to public in 2019.

“We are expecting to complete the first and second phase, which includes mixed-use towers, villas, hotels and a commercial centre, by third quarter 2018 and will cost us Dh9.35 billion,” El Masri said.

“The total cost of the project is between Dh18 billon and Dh20 billion,” he added.

Invest Bank to fund phase 1

The developer also announced the signing of a partnership with Sharjah-based Invest Bank for funding of the first phase of the project.

“Currently we are funding the first phase of the project which is expected to be completed by 2016, also we are considering the possibility of financing the remaining phases; and to finance the end users,” said Sami Rashid Farahat, General Manager, Invest Bank.

The city, spread across 36 kilometre of coastline with a total area of 60 million square feet, will have 200 mixed-use towers, 95 apartment buildings, offering affordable luxury apartments, multi-level hotels and service apartments, over 1,100 water-front and park-side villas, marine clubs, a shopping mall, two entertainment centers and mosques, schools, banks, stores, coffee shops and restaurants.

Read: Sharjah unveils Dh20 billion city of 200 towers, 1,100 villas...

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