A REC0RD-BREAKING waterpark launched its latest attraction earlier this summer, in the shape of a brand new rollercoaster.
Meryal Waterpark in Qatar is perhaps most famous for its Icon Tower, which holds both the Guinness World Record for the world’s tallest water slide tower and the most water slides on a single tower.
The 278ft structure has 12 different slides descending from the top, offering a variety of methods for visitors to splash back down.
Among them are The Boiler, a raft slide which boasts “unexpected twists and steep drops” and Vertigo, a drop slide that plummets from 250ft, making it the tallest of its kind in the world.
Other thrill rides from the tower have exciting names like The Fractionator, which has “endless twists and turns” and allows riders to pick their own theme music to play while sliding.
There’s also The Vaporizer, which is a couples’ ring ride that sounds much more relaxing than its name suggests, with “serene moments together” promised inside the slide.
The tower is built on a small islet that juts out into the sea, which also has food and drinks facilities, shops, changing rooms, wave pools, lazy rivers and interactive play features for younger kids.
The waterpark has a lot more on offer than its Icon Tower as well, with a new rollercoaster opening earlier this year.
The Alghazal was launched for the first time in June and allows those who aren’t keen on getting wet to get involved with the fun at Meryal.
It’s comprised of a series of four-person sit-down spinning cars that rotate as the coaster zips around the track.
For people less keen on thrill-seeking, there are relaxing options available, including private cabana rental.
Six, eight and ten person cabanas can all be booked for the day, providing a comfy spot for people to chill by a pool with their friends and family.
The park is also built right by the beach and has its own sandy stretch of shoreline, so guests can combine the high-octane rides with a splash in the sea.
Cooling off in the water is a very popular thing to do, with temperatures in Qatar soaring during the summer months.
Overall there are 53 different rides, so all levels of excitement are catered for, even younger kids, who can play in the Oil Splash zone.
It has eight slides that are better suited to youngsters, while there’s a big pool filled with interactive features for little ones to play with while splashing about.
Elsewhere, an “edutainment” cave teaches visitors about “the wonders of marine life” through a series of interactive exhibits, including simulations and creative visuals.
And for those who want to experience going on a slide, without actually doing it, virtual reality slides can also be experienced, promising “vivid landscapes” and “futuristic worlds”.
A day ticket for the park can be booked from 260 QAR (£54.45) for adults and 225 QAR (£47.08) for juniors, who must be under 1.22 metres in height.
The vast majority of the waterpark’s reviews on TripAdvisor are either five or four star ratings.
One reviewer wrote: “It’s a wonderful place to spend the day. Multiple rides and suitable for different ages.”
Another added: “Phenomenal Icon Tower slides that are like no other.”
Attractions like Meryal is one of a number of reasons why more people are choosing to holiday in Qatar.
World-beating rollercoasters
The 57m-high EpiQ Coaster is the world’s tallest indoor rollercoaster and is found at Doha Quest, a huge theme park in the country’s capital Doha.
It also has more than 30 rides, simulators and virtual reality experiences, as well as Magma Blast, the world’s tallest indoor drop tower, standing at 183ft tall.
Camel racing
On Fridays from October to February, some of the world’s most expensive camels race in big-money tournaments at Al Shahaniya.
Spectators even have the option of watching the action from a 4×4 that zooms alongside the race track, following the desert animals as they reach speeds of up to 40mph.
Formula 1
In December this year, Qatar will host the penultimate race of the F1 season.
A huge fan village will be opened at the Lusail International Circuit for visitors to immerse themselves in the sport.
Meanwhile this is the largest indoor waterpark in the UK, and has tropical temperatures all year round.
And this award-winning waterpark has the UK’s biggest wave pool.
