Tempting Rides and Fun at Ice Land Water Park

Have you ever been to one of the coolest places in the United Arab Emirates? By the word “cool”, I mean an unlimited access to all the rides, as well as the use of rubber rings and life-jackets. Vagelyn Tumbaga- Federico, who was then its Deputy Director, stressed that surely you will have a fun-filled day at one of the best water parks in the world.

car park

Whenever a holiday trek comes on your mind, you don’t only search for your own intriguing package but one that points towards providing excitement for your children and loved ones.

Popular theme parks across the globe appear as appealing for a large number of visitors thus contributing to the unprecedented, monumental economic growth of the host country. They have one thing in common. They both serve children and adult – a great source of entertainment for the whole family.

About 80 kilometers north of metropolitan Dubai, or approximately an hour drive, there stands Iceland Water Park, a sprawling entertainment getaway which entices its guests with profound happiness and excitement. It was established as the first offering of the 120 acre family entertainment destination dubbed as WOW RAK now being developed in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

entrance

well-designed penguins at the front entrance

Ras Al Khaimah, one of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates, accords the immense pleasure experience of shopping, but, if it is said that it presents as an origin of an adventure as well, then that is an undeniable fact too. Owing to its strategic location along the coastal waters of the Arabian Gulf, Iceland has thus evolved as an impeccable and splendid symbol for Ras Al Khaimah’s emergence as an ultimate Adventure Capital of UAE.

The Best Among The Rest

This huge facility is all about rides and fun and it’s no surprise at all that they cater to more than 10,000 guests on weekends and holidays. Iceland is proud to have been declared to be the first certified water park in GCC.Last year, Ice Land Water Park Managing Director and owner Santokh Singh Chawla received the World Waterpark Association Al Turner Award for Excellence at the WWA Symposium 2013 at West Palm Beach, Florida.

This award recognizes those who have achieved excellence in the water park industry. It was reported that with over 50 attractions, Ice Land caters to all age groups from the toddlers learning to swim to the water sports enthusiast seeking a thrill. It is proud to announce that to date, its clean, wholesome and complete family entertainment package was availed by more than 700,000 visitors.

Gigantic Home of Penguins

Inspired by the phenomenon of global warming, the experience at Ice Land Water Park is all about a new home land for the penguins along the coastal waters of Arabian sea. Extensively themed as Penguin Home Land, the park spread across an area of 103,000 square meters with several traditional attractions. The park’s Penguin Falls is acclaimed as the world’s largest man-made water fall which stands at 120 feet tall and 540 feet wide with 100,000 gallons of water cascading down its contour each minute. This mighty falls is portrayed as an evolutionary extension of the Hajar mountains.

cabanas as seen from above

Peculiar Attractions

Besides the traditional water park attractions, Ice land offers top of the line thrilling experience at Penguin Bay, a 6000 square meter rain dance pool with stage, a place to dance and celebrate at the “Rock Hoppers Den” and “Disco Disco.” The Rocky Polar Mountains boosts of the world’s largest assortment of 27 water slides emerging from 7 towers; the Arctic Waves, the largest wave pool with an area of 3,600 square meters; and, Pengu Pool, an olympic size swimming pool built to competition standards where penguins practiced for competitive swimming.

The kids will surely be amazed of the Coral Isle. In this snorkeling pool, global warming has seen a change in sea temperatures leading to coral bleaching and as portrayed, their survival at Ice Land is a blessing of nature. It was also stressed that the baby penguin chicks wanted a place of their own and discovered the “Kids Cove”, with shallow waters and gentle play areas – indeed, a dedicated kiddie water park of 12 water slides and attractions. The Eddy Pond, the new water park attraction and whirlpool experience,  is a mysterious under current which churn the still waters into spiral motion of vortex.

for the children

amazing tube slide

There are Tundra Baths. The Snow River passes through exciting caverns where a  melting glaciers and tidal waters found their way to the low lands and the mountain stream is tamed into a Lazy Rivers Enjoy Polar Game which is akin to Arctic games with the first time ever regular soccer fields with soft turf, shallow water and rain showers for you to play Aqua Soccer in spite of inclement weather conditions.

Top High Thrill Rides

At Iceland, you may enjoy high thrill rides, aggressive ride action requiring control and or strong swimming skills for in shape guests having no medical restrictions. Here is the list of rides facilities. Go on top the Fury of Nature where raging snow storms, thunderstorms, typhoon and blizzards are.At Mt. Tempest and Mt. Boomerango, experience glacial movement of advancing glaciers causing mass of earth and rock debris to form mountain rails glacier slides and cresto burrows. The Mt. Cyclone is an exciting escape from the mountain through Dark Rapids, Avalanche Panic, and Arctic Hurricane made at the Iceber Rally and Aqua Shute. Be on alert with the striker, raider, and sortie at Mt. Attack. Great Tornado and Cyclone are ways of life.

Relax and Dine

While at the park, pamper yourself at the Cabana and call it a place of your own for the whole day. It’s an air-conditioned shelter good for 8 persons with a private sun lounge, bed lounge, private dinging, mini-bar and locker. Once hungry, just go to a food court with sea side seating for 650 covers offering multi cuisine fast foods. The Snow Castle Restaurant is a captivating spot overlooking the Arabian Sea offering a fine dining experience and The Platter altogether offer wide dining options from fast food to a fine dining experience. The opening hours of the park from Thursday to Saturday are 10am to 7pm, Sunday to Wednesday from 10am to 6pm, and on Friday, it will be 10am to 6pm. The water park insists that visitors should wear swimming costumes. Swimwear should not contain buckles, zippers, snaps or other metallic things. Chains are not permitted and the long hair has to be tied up. Normal diapers should not be used, and the water park allows wearing swim diapers.

Panoramic View on the Rise

With Iceland now gaining popular attention and loyalty from locale and tourists, the management has set its eyes on expansions. WOW RAK is envisioned  to include amusement park, shopping mall and resort facilities. With a scenic, all-embracing view of the Al Hajar Mountains in the east and the Arabian Gulf in the North, the venue blends the picturesque beauty of the mountains and the spirit of the sea to provide a very rare setting for the water park.

To enter the park, you have to buy tickets directly from the park itself or through online booking. Your ticket is your passport for unlimited use of park facilities. You can dance, eat and drink, slide and swim, and play at Iceland.

Discounted rates may be availed by corporate people for products launch, team building events, dealer meets and get together for employees. Celebrating your birthday will be a marvelous experience as you can select from various birthday packages. What more? On ordinary days, workforces of the hospitality industry (hotels and airline employees) are free from paying admission fees. Take your worries off your forehead. Experience rides and thrill-filled adventures to indulge in, swimming, slides and much more, come on down to Ice Land and join in on the fun!

Getting there

If you’re in Dubai, avail of the free pick-up at 10 am (and drop-off) from Dubai Shopping Center, which is next Deira City Center, and join tourists for an hour ride to RAK via an air-conditioned bus. Prior booking is required. For reservation, call 050 3944052.

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THE BLOGGER. Ulysses Espartero is a journalist, historian and book author who traces his roots from two Philippine jewels – Laguna and Antique.  While in Dubai, he enjoyed his expat life documenting the struggles and victories of migrant workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council states. In 2014, he released Precious Gems in a Desert of Gold, the first and only coffee table book about Filipino achievers in the United Arab Emirates. Connect with him on facebook.