SeaWorld’s first park without killer whales is close to completion. Images show the Abu Dhabi attraction being built on Yas Island, and reveal some of the attractions.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will be the next generation of marine theme parks. It will open in the United Arab Emirates starting in 2022. The park boasts the largest and most expansive marine ecosystem in the world. [sealife]aquarium’ and the Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Centre.
A photograph shows the complex, which is now more than 65 percent complete, emerging from the sand and surrounded by cranes.
Abu Dhabi is about to get its first SeaWorld park without killer Whales.
This rendering paints a picture of what the park will look like once it’s completed, with a roller coaster looping around the building’s exterior
A striking rendering shows the park’s final design. It shows how a rollercoaster will loop around its exterior. A large glass window at the front will give a glimpse inside.
Another rendering shows the inside of the Observation Deck. In the image, fish shoals swim through a wall of water while visitors view through a circular glass window.
A third rendering depicts the ‘Endless Vista’ attraction, which SeaWorld describes as ‘an impressive 20m- (66ft) tall vertical window across multiple levels revealing stunning aquatic scenes’.
SeaWorld and Abu Dhabi-government-backed Miral Asset Management are behind the development.
The five-level theme park will cover 183,000 square metres (1,969 796 square feet). The park will be home to more than 68,000 marine creatures and 25million litres (6.6million galallons) of water.
A rendering of the Observation Deck shows fish shoals swimming past a circular looking glass.
SeaWorld says guests will encounter ‘one of the most diverse populations of animals featured in any marine-life park, globally’ in the aquarium, including sharks, schools of fish, manta rays and sea turtles. Different species will be kept in the aquarium as they would be in nature.
The aquarium will be themed ‘One Ocean’ and divided into six sections.
SeaWorld and Miral claim that visitors will have the opportunity to explore these natural underwater environments through immersive storytelling techniques and the most cutting-edge technologies. 3D mapping and virtual reality technologies will allow visitors to take part in scientific expeditions and deep-sea dives.
Pictured is a rendering of the ‘Endless Vista’ attraction, which SeaWorld describes as ‘an impressive 20m- (66ft) tall vertical window across multiple levels revealing stunning aquatic scenes’
The Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Centre is located next to the aquarium. It promises to be an ‘advanced knowledge hub focusing native Gulf and marine life ecosystems’ and ‘the ‘best place to get information about the rescue and recovery of marine life’.The UAE’s first dedicated marine rescue, rehabilitation, rehabilitation and return center.
The facility will offer educational learning programs for schools and tour group.
In late 2016, SeaWorld and Miral officials announced their plans to construct SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. Joel Manby, SeaWorld CEO at the time, stated that creating a SeaWorld without orcas would be an ‘important step’.
Manby said, “This gives us the opportunity to position SeaWorld in an extremely strong way, repositioning them from a company focused on certain species to one that is focused ocean health.”
Orcas were once company icons. However, activists for animal rights made SeaWorld an issue of concern by making captive orcas the focal point of campaigns against it.
Pictured is the SeaWorld sign at Orlando with cartoon orcas swimming across the lettering. Orcas have historically been SeaWorld icons, but the captive creatures became the focus of campaigns against the theme park chain
Orcas performing in San Diego. After years of pressure from activists, SeaWorld’s orca breeding program was ended by SeaWorld in March 2016.
Two orcas are exhibited in Orlando by SeaWorld trainers in 2014.
After years of pressure from activists, SeaWorld announced that its orca breeding program was ending in March 2016. This followed the 2013 release of Blackfish, a critical documentary about Tilikum’s life. It chronicled the tragic death of a SeaWorld trainer in Orlando in 2010.
The new park will join other attractions in Yas Island, such as Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi – which is where you’ll find Formula Rossa, the fastest roller coaster in the world.
The Yas Marina Circuit, which hosts the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, is also located on the island.
As the completion of the new SeaWorld nears, Marc Swanson, CEO of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, said: ‘SeaWorld Abu Dhabi joins our North American parks in our mission and commitment to conservation efforts worldwide.
‘We have hundreds of professionals focused on animal care, rescue and rehabilitation, conservation education, habitat protection, and species research and we are excited to see the Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Center further expand SeaWorld’s positive global impact with the vitally important marine life conservation efforts in the region.’