Atlantis The Palm's Aquaventure Waterpark is set to expand, becoming one of the biggest waterparks in the world by 2020. The 34-metre-tall Trident Tower will be built, introducing 12 new rides by next summer, it has been announced.
New slides
This includes the new world's longest ProSlide MammothBlast, a 449-metre water coaster. Rafts will speed through back-to-back curves, drops and uphill climbs powered by patented water-propulsion technology.
Next, there's the first-ever high-speed ProSlide Dueling PipelineBlast/FlyingSaucer 20 hybrid ride, which is driven by jets and pushes sliders around mammoth turns and a wide-open saucer.
Competitive sliders can also tackle the ProSlide RallyRacer 32, which allows you to battle it out with your friends.
Trident's Tower will also feature two updated versions of the existing Leap of Faith ride, each dropping more than 34 metres.
Other attractions
On top of all that, a new children's area will be introduced to the existing Splasher's Island family zone, featuring Splasher's Mountain and nine waterslides. Four mini versions of the ProSlide rides will feature, as well as a competitive mat racer ("two lanes of head-first downhill fun") and a serpentine adventure. Braver little ones can try the Kidz Tornado 24 funnel or the Kidz Bowl 14, which offer gentler, child-friendly versions of the adult rides.
The Middle East's first action river will also open, in which a current takes guests through half a kilometre of twists and turns while enjoying views of the Dubai skyline.
"We have carefully curated each attraction to ensure that we deliver first-of-its-kind ride technology for children, families and thrill-seekers alike," commented Tim Kelly, executive vice president and managing director of Atlantis The Palm and The Royal Atlantis. "Trident Tower and its record-breaking slides will be a thrilling addition to the Atlantis experience, and we look forward to the unveiling in summer 2020."
What else is new?
The waterpark currently has just over 20 rides and rivers spread across 17 hectares on Palm Jumeirah. Recently, a two-day pass was introduced, with prices starting from Dh250.
Discounts were also rolled out, offering better deals across many of the park's experiences, including shark and ray feeding shows and unlimited rides on the new Surf's Up wave rider.
Towards the end of next year, the opening of The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences is set to take place, having been delayed from 2019. The unique architectural design of the property has made international headlines, as has the bevy of dining outlets it'll bring with it. Famed British chef Heston Blumenthal, whose restaurants have gained multiple Michelin stars, will open the Middle East's first Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, the world's third iteration of the restaurant.
Other exciting dining spots set to open there include a branch of the world-renowned Spanish spot Jaleo, the famed Cantonese restaurant Hakkasan and Ariana's Persian Kitchen by the Iranian-American celebrity TV chef and cookbook author, Ariana Bundy.
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Results:
Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
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Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Florida: The critical Sunshine State
Though mostly conservative, Florida is usually always “close” in presidential elections. In most elections, the candidate that wins the Sunshine State almost always wins the election, as evidenced in 2016 when Trump took Florida, a state which has not had a democratic governor since 1991.
Joe Biden’s campaign has spent $100 million there to turn things around, understandable given the state’s crucial 29 electoral votes.
In 2016, Mr Trump’s democratic rival Hillary Clinton paid frequent visits to Florida though analysts concluded that she failed to appeal towards middle-class voters, whom Barack Obama won over in the previous election.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
SPECS
Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman
Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 306hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
