Adrenaline meets imagination in these six bold Abu Dhabi adventure parks.
Abu Dhabi may be best known for its skyline, red-sand deserts and quiet sense of luxury, but just beneath the polished surface is a city wired for adventure. Nowhere is this spirit more concentrated than on Yas Island — home to the world’s fastest rollercoaster, the tallest indoor climbing wall, and an ethically reimagined SeaWorld dedicated to rare marine life and ecological storytelling. Adventure takes a wilder turn at the foot of Jebel Hafeet (Abu Dhabi’s tallest mountain), where a whitewater course cuts through desert rocks.
Whether diving for pearls at Yas Waterworld or flying through a vertical wind tunnel at CLYMB, here are six unforgettable adventures in Abu Dhabi.
Yas Waterworld
If there’s a theme park that captures the spirit of Emirati adventure, it’s Yas Waterworld. Inspired by the region’s long tradition of pearl diving (indeed, that which birthed the UAE economy), this sprawling aqua park blends entertainment with cultural storytelling. There are over 40 rides, slides and attractions, including the Dawwama – the world’s largest six-person tornado water coaster, and the Bandit Bomber, a suspended rollercoaster that sprays jets of water as you glide through mountains overhead.
Those who came for the real adrenaline can head straight for the vertiginous Jebel Drop — a near-vertical slide that delivers pure free-fall. True to local culture, Yas Waterworld has an enriching pearl diving experience, where guests can dive for real oysters in a recreation of a traditional Emirati lagoon, keeping the pearl they find as a souvenir.
With wave pools, lazy rivers and plenty of shaded cabanas, this Abu Dhabi waterpark balances high-octane thrills with laid-back, water-soaked lounging. Barefoot dining spots keep things casual — no need to change before grabbing a bite between slides.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
The new SeaWorld Abu Dhabi isn’t your typical marine park. As the first SeaWorld outside North America — and crucially, the first without orcas — this Abu Dhabi outpost signals a shift from spectacle to substance. Built in partnership with Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue, it houses one of the region’s largest and most advanced marine life facilities, with its mission centred on animal welfare, rehabilitation and long-term ecological research.
Across its eight realms — from the icy poles to the leafy tropics — the park is home to more than 100,000 marine animals, from rays and sharks to puffins, sea turtles, and dolphins. Thoughtfully designed enclosures mimic natural habitats, and many areas are staffed with educators who share insights into marine biodiversity and the environmental challenges our oceans face today.
There’s still plenty of fun, with family-friendly rides, a soaring vertical coaster, and hands-on touch pools. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is equal parts thrill and thoughtfulness — an ambitious, ethically reimagined park with purpose at its core.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
A flagship on Yas Island, Ferrari World is not for the faint-hearted. Set beneath a spectacular crimson roof modelled after a Ferrari GT, this Abu Dhabi adventure park is home to the world’s fastest rollercoaster: the Formula Rossa, which launches from 0 to 240 km/h in under five seconds. More than just a playground for fast-car devotees, the park also features a range of interactive exhibits and nostalgic nods to Italian racing culture — from F1 simulators and a scaled-down Ferrari factory to an elegant collection of vintage cars. There’s even an F1 driving school for kids, complete with mini Ferraris and tiny track routes.
Dining isn’t an afterthought at Ferrari World (though you might want to eat after Formula Rossa). The award-winning Mamma Rossella trattoria serves one of the city’s best Neapolitan pizzas, while Il Podio — cleverly modelled after the actual staff refectory at Ferrari’s Maranello factory — offers Arabic, Indian and Western cuisine.
Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
Warner Bros World brings a surreal blend of nostalgia and theatre to Yas Island. Spread across six ‘lands’, from the shadowy alleys of Gotham City to the prehistoric Bedrock, this Abu Dhabi theme park is about world-building as much as it’s about entertainment. The rides range from gentle family coasters to dark, high-speed adventures, such as the thunderous Batman: Knight Flight. Expect to bump into the likes of Batman, Scooby-Doo and the Looney Tunes crew as you make your way from one attraction to the next.
Warner Bros World is especially well-suited for families with younger kids — though DC fans and cartoon loyalists won’t feel out of place either. Even the dining is in character, with diners styled like Big Belly Burger and Fred Flintstone’s rocky café. As the world’s second-largest fully indoor theme park, it’s a welcome retreat from the region’s summer heat.
CLYMB Yas Island
Part extreme sports hub, part architectural statement, CLYMB is a vertical playground with two Guinness World Records to its name. This Yas Island indoor park is home to both the world’s tallest indoor climbing wall (a dizzying 43 metres), and the world’s widest indoor skydiving chamber, spanning 32 feet. The climbing wall, known as The SUMMYT, has colour-coded routes for all levels, whether you’re a curious first-timer or a pro climber who’s as comfortable on the belay as on solid ground. Next door, the skydiving chamber simulates free fall in a roaring vertical wind tunnel – no plane required. It’s intense, exhilarating, and surprisingly beginner-friendly (even for kids).
Al Ain Adventure (Jebel Hafeet Mountain Park)
At the foot of Jebel Hafeet, Abu Dhabi’s tallest mountain, lies one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Formerly known as Wadi Adventure, Al Ain Adventure is a whitewater oasis that trades Yas Island polish for raw, outdoor energy. Surrounded by desert and rock, it feels almost improbable — a full-scale rafting and surfing park tucked into the foothills.
The centrepiece is a custom-built whitewater channel (the first of its kind in the region), where visitors can raft or kayak through engineered rapids that twist and churn like organic streams. There’s also a surf pool with a controlled 3.3m break, a high ropes course, and a climbing wall that backs onto the rugged mountain face.
Nearby, a more leisurely and historically enriching adventure awaits in Jebel Hafeet Desert Park, with camel treks and rocky hiking trails. This outdoor park is also home to the ancient Jebel Hafeet Tombs — beehive-like stone structures that date back 5,000 years and mark the beginning of the Bronze Age in the UAE.
