WhiteWater, the world’s largest manufacturer and designer of water parks, has welcomed the development of the Middle East’s biggest Water Park at Qiddiya near Riyadh.
Mike Rigby, GM & RVP of WhiteWater, Middle East & India
“As the space for entertainment venues continues to grow within the Kingdom, it stands to reason that water and theme parks will become more commonplace in Saudi Arabia,” said Mike Rigby, GM & RVP of WhiteWater, Middle East & India.
With giga-projects like NEOM and the Red Sea Project set to feature aquatic amenities, it is only a matter of time before water park attractions become an indispensable part of the family activity in the Kingdom.
While water parks are typically associated with water slides, surf parks are a growing trend in this sector. Recently recognised as an Olympic sport, surfing is rapidly gaining popularity within the region as more Saudi nationals pick up a surfboard.
“The rise of surfing is also reflected in the nation’s goals for Vision 2030 as they work to encourage healthy lifestyles and increase the number of citizens who exercise once a week from 13 to 40 percent.”
In March 2022, the Kingdom joined the International Surfing Association, an initiative helmed by Nouf Al-Nasser, CEO of the Saudi Surfing Federation (SSF).
With inland surfing spots in low supply, a development boom is ensuing, with over 75 surf parks in the pipeline globally. One venue to get ahead of the rising trend was Loopagoon, located in Dana Bay on the shores of Half Moon Beach in Al-Khobar. A major attraction at the women-only water park, the FlowRider Double encourages guests to try their hand at this new skill while improving their balance and stamina.
Part of an innovative business model, Loopagoon, like many other parks around the globe, has created a complete recreation epicentre around the attractions with a food and beverage outlet to boost the opportunity for secondary revenue. Dwell time is also likely to be increased when families and groups have an activity on which they can spend a considerable amount of quality time, with repeatability a natural side effect as they stay longer.
The idea of WhiteWater was conceived in 1980 to curate a space for families to gather and create fun memories. With more than 40 years of award-winning expertise and over 4,000 successful projects completed worldwide, WhiteWater is the international leader in water park design, engineering, manufacturing and installation.
WhiteWater stands alongside its visitors from concept to completion of award-winning attractions, from slides to water rides and everything in between.
As a market leader, WhiteWater puts its success down to its attitude. In all its years, they have never forgotten the goal – to help parks solve problems, create immersive experiences, and delight guests worldwide.
