The sky is coming towards us at speed. What before seemed a soft blue canopy now feels like a threatening oblivion as the venous-red Formula Rossa rollercoaster silently speeds ever, ever upwards.
Beneath us, families busying themselves at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi scurry from ride to ride, shrunk to manic ants. The air thins and every muscle in my body clenches (thankfully).
Briefly, I query the structural integrity of the restraints strapping me into my seat, before a whipcrack launches us to speeds of 240km/h – or more technically, really fast.
My cheeks fly back so fast at the force, I could swear they clap at the back of my head. Reborn as a frantic, fluid Formula One driver, my carriage hugs hairpin turns and my anxiety transmutes into sheer elevation. I am told the views from the Formula Rossa are sonnet-worthy; I confess I didn’t register them.
I emerge from the fastest roller coaster in the world jelly-legged but filled with giddy adrenaline. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is jockeying to become the theme park epicentre of the world – move over the U.S. – and if Ferrari World is anything to judge from it is making a convincing argument.
Adventure playground
Your first thought of Middle Eastern epicentres – Dubai, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Saudi – may be power brokers conducting huge business deals and logic-defying towers, and while these elements exist in abundance, the region is nonpareil for family holidays.
Fundamentals are ticked off swiftly: hours of uninterrupted sunshine, plush hotels, fantasy beaches, designer shopping malls. And if you want to keep the kiddies entertained, the theme parks and attractions are galactic in scale.
“What makes the UAE stand out are its futuristic entertainment options, such as Yas Island’s theme parks,” says Mashaal Mohammed Ahmed Mohsen, Concierge from Visit Abu Dhabi, referencing the country’s purpose-built leisure and resort destination, Yas Island.
“Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, and Warner Bros. World have become favourites, offering thrilling rides and interactive entertainment for all ages.”
Neigbouring Dubai offers one of the world’s largest indoor theme parks, IMG Worlds of Adventure. Sorry Mr Disney, there are new sheriffs running Theme Park Town.
These are solicitious nations: anything you want, you got it. You will not struggle to find food for fussy eaters of any age. Global cuisines, from burgers to teriyaki, middle eastern mezze to Francophilic crepes, are readily found in local hotels, shopping malls and, of course, also in those theme parks.
If thrill rides get too much, there is a growing list of attractions that help you delve into the region’s rich history.
“Cultural attractions, such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Watan Palace, provide enriching experiences for families wishing to combine fun with learning about the region’s history and heritage,” says Mohsen.
Dubai
The UAE’s most densely populated city is a gift to agents looking to provide a one-stop-shop for families heading abroad. Theme parks run the gamut, from Dubai Parks’ Hollywood-themed Motiongat to Atlantis Aquaventure, the world’s largest waterpark. IMG Worlds of Adventure will thrill any pop culture tweens, with Marvel and Cartoon Network zones, not to mention dinosaurs.
Younger children will relish the chance to experience the bricktastic fun of Legoland, or all the magic of the favourite toy combined with water play at Legoland Water Park.
Another great pit stop for water babies is Wild Wadi Waterpark, with its aquatic rollercoasters and a surfing wave machine which adults will also enjoy.
Families seeking a slower pace can visit Riverland, the ‘most Instagrammable location’ in the city.
Reconstructions of a 1600s French village and 1950s American boardwalk join the 19th century-inspired Peninsula, the central hub connecting the various areas via a series of bridges over the river – not unlike a certain Italian city.
Or check out Dubai’s answer to the London Eye, the Ain Wheel, with its views over the sprawling metropolis.
For a more authentic slice of Emirati life, travellers can visit a Bedouin camp on a desert safari, where they may spot Arabi an oryx and gazelles. The four-hour time difference makes jetlag minimal for families on tour.
Sell it: Trailfinders offers seven nights at luxury resort Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, with flights and half- board included, starting at £1,099pp.
The hotel has three pools, complimentary water sports, a spa, and is a 20-minute drive from Wild Wadi Waterpark. trailfinders.com
Abu Dhabi
If you’re catering to a family of adrenaline junkies, point them in the direction of Abu Dhabi. Yas Island offers four league-beating theme parks in close proximity, from the aforementioned Ferrari World – which managed to thrill even this Formula One refusnik – to Warner Bros. World, now home to the world’s largest Harry Potter-themed park zone.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is both a cultural and spiritual haven and an architectural wonder. For a spot of sunbathing and seaside larks, nearby Saadiyat Beach is an idle paradise, with all white-sand beaches, calm warm waters and sunshine.
An hour’s drive from Dubai, it is easy to organise a twin-city holiday to both destinations.
Sell it: TUI offers family holidays at Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island from £1,534pp (seven nights, B&B). The package includes daily access to one Yas Island Theme Park per person (Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros., SeaWorld) and access to a kids’ club and splash pad. tui.co.uk
Saudi Arabia
Later this year, Saudi Arabia will also enter the fray for the ‘biggest and best’ when Six Flags Qiddiyah City opens. Located just outside of the capital Riyadh, the US$ one billion project will see the largest theme park in the world, with its flagship ride, Falcon’s Flight, the world’s tallest, fastest, and also longest rollercoaster.
Saudi is relatively new to the tourism game. Its no-alcohol policy is non-negotiable, so it’s better suited to teetotal mums and dads or parents looking for a detox. However, there’s still plenty for the entire family to enjoy.
Saudi is clean and safe, and its public facilities are very family-friendly, with babies and children always accepted in restaurants, even late at night.
Jeddah also has bragging rights to the world’s largest fountain, King Fahd Fountain, which blasts Red City water 260m into the sky in a stunning display, while the Riyadh zoo houses 1,300 animals from zebras, elephants and giraffes to endangered red pandas.
Sell it: Wendy Wu Tours offers the nine-day ‘Secrets of Saudi Arabia’ tour from £5,390pp, fully inclusive. A tour with cultural focus, it explores Riyadh, AlUla (Hegra) and Jeddah and is best suited for families with older children interested in history and discovery. wendywutours.co.uk
Qatar
Smaller and less touristy than other Emirates, Qatar is nevertheless a delightful options for families.
The capital, Doha, has positioned itself as a more culture-rich destination and there’s the option to visit the Museum of Islamic Art and the Byzantine local market Souq Waqif. An hour’s drive away, Duhkan Beach provides a sun-drenched spot for camping.
If thrills are still required, younger kids will adore Bounce Trampoline Park, a mecca to all things boingy, while Doha Quest has a multitude of rides and attractions catering to all ages, in an indoor setting out of the heat. It also houses the world’s largest indoor rollercoaster – because it wouldn’t be the Middle East if it wasn’t the biggest.
Sell it: TUI has family packages to Qatar’s Hilton Salwa Beach Resort from £1,310pp (seven nights, B&B). This includes complimentary access to the Desert Falls Water and Adventure Park and the resort’s kids’ club and playground. Various family rooms are available. tui.co.uk
