Sharjah's answer to Disneyland: Al Montazah park opens

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has  inaugurated the newly redeveloped Al Montazah Amusement and Waterpark in Sharjah.

The project covers an area of over 126,000 square metres and includes a first-of-its-kind water themed park in the emirate, an amusement park, as well as a park designated for walking, children areas and other activities. Al Montazah is expected to attract over one million visitors in its first year of operation.

Other facilities and amenities in Al Montazah include two mini football playgrounds, special areas for sports, a lake for boating, a mosque, world-class restaurants and cafes, ATMs, parking lots, and a medical clinic.

The inauguration ceremony was filled with a line-up of interactive activities and roaming shows, including acrobats, stilt walkers, unicycle riders, and jugglers. Visitors were accompanied by Al Montazah's mascots - cartoon characters inspired by the world of animals in order to attract children and entertain and bring fun to all visitors.

The project's mascots include Shahad (a bee), Meymun (a monkey), Mahir (a frog), and Liblib (a parrot). These cartoon characters will be present along with other seasonal characters throughout the year.

Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), said: “Al Montazah will be an entertainment and family destination, where visitors will find a safe haven with endless natural beauty, the stunning scenery of Khalid Lagoon, and state-of-the-art facilities and services. It is the first venue to mix the concept of Public Park with that of water themed park in one place to attract wider audience.”

He clarified that the project will stimulate the tourism in the emirate and the UAE, particularly as Sharjah has established itself as a regional and international destination of choice for family tourism due to its state-of-the-art facilities, tourist landmarks, and diverse range of events throughout the year.

He said that Al Montazah will offer world class facilities and services in compliance with the standards adopted by Shurooq in development and management of its various destinations.

Al Sarkal added that a study conducted by Shurooq expects that Al Montazah will draw more than one million visitors from the UAE and abroad during the first year after inauguration.

He stressed the project will be ready to receive about three million visitors in the first year.

A large number of administrators, supervisors and safeguards are in place to deal with large numbers of visitors at the same time. Al Montazah will offer services not available in other destinations such as the water themed park and the kart racing (Karting).

Al Montazah boasts three main sections, a 26,000 m2 Water Park, a Green Park for events covering 50,000 m2 and a leisure park covering 50,000 m2, which offers a variety of electronic games.

The Water Park, the first of its kind in Sharjah, will provide world-class facilities and water rides for all ages along with green areas. In addition to its modern design, the water park offers safety and protection services, along with lifeguards available to give assistance when necessary.

The Green Park will include wide green spaces and venues dedicated to hosting entertainment and social events, as well as a number of world-class restaurants, cafes, a lake for boating, and a mosque. This area will be a venue for numerous seasonal activities scheduled throughout the year.

The third section is a leisure park that also covers an area of 50,000 square metres, offering a variety of electronic games for all ages. The leisure park will also include kart racing (Karting) for children and young people, two mini football playgrounds, special areas for sports, and a venue for celebrations.

Al Montazah will be open to the public from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm, from Saturday to Wednesday, and from 10:00 am to 1:00 am after midnight on Thursday and Friday.

The Water Park will be open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm and to 10:00 p.m on Thursday and Friday. Entry to Al Montazah and its facilities, including the Water Park, is available to all, individuals and families.

Entry tickets to Al Montazah Park will be Dh10, and free for children who are less 80 cm tall, while ticket prices for some games range between Dh10-25.

The entry ticket to the Water Park is Dh120 for adults and Dh75 for children between 80-120 cm tall, and entry is free for children under 80 cm.

Tickets for the Water Park includes the entry fee to Al Montazah Park.

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