• The world's deepest pool is Deep Dive Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The world's deepest pool is Deep Dive Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The world’s highest outdoor infinity pool is at Dubai's Address Beach Resort. Photo: Address Hotels
    The world’s highest outdoor infinity pool is at Dubai's Address Beach Resort. Photo: Address Hotels
  • A view above the city awaits at One Za'abeel, which is home to the longest suspended infinity pool in the world. Photo: One&Only One Za’abeel
    A view above the city awaits at One Za'abeel, which is home to the longest suspended infinity pool in the world. Photo: One&Only One Za’abeel
  • There is no shortage of swimming pools at Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson in Malaysia, which has more pools than any other hotel. Photo: Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson
    There is no shortage of swimming pools at Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson in Malaysia, which has more pools than any other hotel. Photo: Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson
  • The record-breaking Aura Skypool is the world's highest 360-degree swimming pool. Photo: Aura Skypool
    The record-breaking Aura Skypool is the world's highest 360-degree swimming pool. Photo: Aura Skypool
  • The world's largest wave pool is at Bangkok's Siam Park. Photo: Siam Park
    The world's largest wave pool is at Bangkok's Siam Park. Photo: Siam Park
  • The Sky Pool at Embassy Gardens in London is the world's first 'floating' pool. Getty Images
    The Sky Pool at Embassy Gardens in London is the world's first 'floating' pool. Getty Images
  • The long-abandoned Fleishhacker Pool in San Francisco was the world's largest. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
    The long-abandoned Fleishhacker Pool in San Francisco was the world's largest. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
  • The Rooftop pool at SLS Dubai is the world's highest overflow pool. Photo: SLS Dubai
    The Rooftop pool at SLS Dubai is the world's highest overflow pool. Photo: SLS Dubai
  • The world's largest man-made lagoon can be found at Boulevard World in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Sela
    The world's largest man-made lagoon can be found at Boulevard World in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Sela

Record-breaking swimming pools around the world, from the longest to deepest


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

Saudi Arabia is to be home to the world’s longest-suspended skypool.

Set to open at Treyam, a luxury resort in Neom, the swimming pool will span a lagoon on the Gulf of Aqaba, connecting the north and south shorelines of the resort.

Lined by palm trees and sandy shorelines, the swimming pool will hover 36 metres above sea level and 450 metres in length, making it the world’s longest sky pool and 330 metres longer than the current record holder at Dubai's One&Only One Za'abeel.

When it opens, the pool at Neom's Treyam will join a handful of other record-breaking swimming pools around the world, including several in Dubai, from the largest landlocked pool to the highest 360-degree infinity pool on the planet.

Dip in below…

The world’s deepest pool: Deep Dive Dubai

Deep Dive Dubai launched in 2021 and has a depth of 60 metres, almost the same height as the towers of London Bridge. It’s designed as sunken city and a diving pool, and geared towards free-diving and scuba divers, but snorkellers are also welcome. With 14 million litres of freshwater, the equivalent of six Olympic-sized swimming pools, it has sunken motorbikes, arcade machines, pool tables and cars.

The longest suspended infinity pool in the world: One Za'abeel, Dubai

Tapasake at The Link is home to the world's longest infinity pool. Photo: One&Only One Za'abeel
Tapasake at The Link is home to the world's longest infinity pool. Photo: One&Only One Za'abeel

The One & Only One Za’abeel hotel set a record for Dubai's skyline when it scooped the Guinness World Record title for the Longest Cantilevered Building in the world, and it's also home to a record-breaking pool. Set on top of The Link – the cantilever suspended between the resort's two towers, the sparkling pool hovers around 100 metres above the city and over a busy six-lane highway. Part of Tapasake, a glam urban beach club, it's currently the world's longest infinity pool and stretches 120 metres end to end.

The world's highest 360° infinity pool: Aura Skypool, Dubai

  • Aura Skypool Lounge had an opening on the 50th floor of Nakheel's The Palm Tower on Wednesday, November 10. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
    Aura Skypool Lounge had an opening on the 50th floor of Nakheel's The Palm Tower on Wednesday, November 10. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
  • Aura SkyPool is the world’s first 360º infinity pool and will open to the public on November 15.
    Aura SkyPool is the world’s first 360º infinity pool and will open to the public on November 15.
  • Guests can enjoy fantastic views of Palm Jumeirah from this vantage point.
    Guests can enjoy fantastic views of Palm Jumeirah from this vantage point.
  • Inside Aura SkyPool Lounge, where there is a bar and lounge area.
    Inside Aura SkyPool Lounge, where there is a bar and lounge area.
  • Guests can see Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa from the roof.
    Guests can see Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa from the roof.
  • The pool deck features the 750-square-metre infinity pool and comfortable sun loungers.
    The pool deck features the 750-square-metre infinity pool and comfortable sun loungers.
  • There are three ticketing time slots available, for morning, afternoon or full day.
    There are three ticketing time slots available, for morning, afternoon or full day.
  • Prices to visit start from Dh170.
    Prices to visit start from Dh170.
  • The space is open from 10am to sunset daily.
    The space is open from 10am to sunset daily.
  • The menu at Aura’s lounge and bar, curated by head chef Craig Best, is inspired by famous Asian cities.
    The menu at Aura’s lounge and bar, curated by head chef Craig Best, is inspired by famous Asian cities.
  • Guests looked glam on opening night.
    Guests looked glam on opening night.
  • Guests can enjoy impressive sunset views in Dubai.
    Guests can enjoy impressive sunset views in Dubai.

Epic views are guaranteed at Aura Skypool Dubai, the world’s highest 360° infinity pool. Located on the 50th floor of The Palm Tower on Dubai’s man-made Palm Jumeirah, this sparkling swimming pool has views from every plane, with vistas of the city skyline and the Arabian Gulf and sunsets to envy the best in the world.

The largest man-made lagoon: Boulevard World, Riyadh

The world's largest man-made lagoon is in Saudi Arabia at Boulevard World. Photo: Sela
The world's largest man-made lagoon is in Saudi Arabia at Boulevard World. Photo: Sela

Size matters in Saudi Arabia where the world's largest man-made lagoon has been constructed. Stretching across 12.19 hectares, the vast pool of water is at Boulevard World in Riyadh, the kingdom's bustling capital. The permanent structure opened in November 2022 and was constructed by Sela, a company that specialises in experiences, events and destinations. The sprawling lagoon is part of Riyadh's Boulevard Word, a multi-zone theme park that is also home to the world's largest spherical theatre.

The world’s highest outdoor infinity pool in a building: Address Beach Resort, Dubai

Another title-holder in Dubai is the Address Beach Resort. The waterfront hotel entered the Guinness World Record book in 2021 when it opened the world’s highest outdoor infinity pool in a building. Located on level 77 of the hotel at a height of 93.90 metres above sea level, the infinity pool only allows access to hotel guests over the age of 21.

The most swimming pools in a resort: Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson, Malaysia

When Atlantis, The Royal opened in Dubai, it boasted of its 90 swimming pools – an impressive number no doubt. But that achievement is dwarfed in comparison with the number of pools at the Lexis Hibiscus Post Dickson Hotel in Malaysia, which holds the world title of having the most swimming pools in a resort. The luxury getaway is an all villa escape with overwater accommodation and no less than 643 swimming pools.

The largest swimming pool landlocked by area: Fleishhacker Pool, San Francisco

The long-abandoned Fleishhacker Pool in San Francisco was the world's largest. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The long-abandoned Fleishhacker Pool in San Francisco was the world's largest. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

While it’s been out of action for more than 50 years, the Fleishhacker Pool on Sloat Boulevard, near Great Highway in San Francisco still holds the record for the world’s largest swimming pool landlocked by area. Measuring 304.8 metres in length by 45.7 metres wide, the pool opened in 1925 and is 4.26 metres deep, meaning it could hold 6,000,000 US gallons of seawater. At its capacity, it could also accommodate 10,000 swimmers, but has been abandoned since 1971.

Highest outdoor overflow pool in a building: SLS Dubai

SLS Dubai Hotel is officially home to the world's highest outdoor overflow pool in a building, according to Guinness World Records. Located on the 75th floor of the building, the hotel boasts not one, but two outdoor overflow pools at a height of 325 meters, just higher than the tip of the Burj Al Arab hotel a little further down the road. The title was confirmed by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat in March 2022, a month before the luxury hotel opened to the public.

World’s largest wave pool: Siam Park City, Bangkok

The pool covers an area of 13,600 square metres. Photo: Siam Park
The pool covers an area of 13,600 square metres. Photo: Siam Park

Thailand’s bustling capital holds the title for the world’s largest wave pool according to the World Waterpark Association. Located at Siam Park City, a sprawling water park and amusement park on the outskirts of Bangkok. The wave pool itself is massive, covering an area of 13,600 square metres. It has held the title of being the world's largest wave pool since 2009.

The world's first 'floating' swimming pool: London Sky Pool

While it’s not an official world record, the Sky Pool in London is the world’s first “floating” swimming pool. Dangling between two high-rise buildings in the swanky Embassy Gardens residential development in Nine Elms near Battersea Power Station, the crystal-clear, 25 metre-long pool seems to hover in the air about 35 metres above street level. Unfortunately for Londoners hoping to nab a dip, it's only for residents and their guests.

RESULTS
%3Cp%3E3.30pm%3A%20Al%20Maktoum%20Challenge%20Round%203%20%E2%80%93%20Group%201%20(PA)%20%2475%2C000%20(Dirt)%202%2C000m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Jugurtha%20De%20Monlau%2C%20Pat%20Dobbs%20(jockey)%2C%20Jean-Claude%20Pecout%20(trainer)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E4.05pm%3A%20Dubai%20City%20Of%20Gold%20%E2%80%93%20Group%202%20(TB)%20%24250%2C000%20(Turf)%202%2C410m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Global%20Storm%2C%20William%20Buick%2C%20Charlie%20Appleby%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E4.40pm%3A%20Burj%20Nahaar%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(TB)%20%24250%2C000%20(D)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Discovery%20Island%2C%20James%20Doyle%2C%20Bhupat%20Seemar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E5.15pm%3A%20Nad%20Al%20Sheba%20Turf%20Sprint%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(TB)%20%24250%2C000%20(T)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Al%20Dasim%2C%20Mickael%20Barzalona%2C%20George%20Boughey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E5.50pm%3A%20Al%20Bastakiya%20%E2%80%93%20Listed%20(TB)%20%24170%2C000%20(D)%201%2C900m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Go%20Soldier%20Go%2C%20Adrie%20de%20Vries%2C%20Fawzi%20Nass%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E6.25pm%3A%20Al%20Maktoum%20Challenge%20Round%203%20%E2%80%93%20Group%201%20(TB)%20%24450%2C000%20(D)%202%2C000m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Salute%20The%20Soldier%2C%20Adrie%20de%20Vries%2C%20Fawzi%20Nass%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E7.10pm%3A%20Ras%20Al%20Khor%20%E2%80%93%20Conditions%20(TB)%20%24300%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Al%20Suhail%2C%20William%20Buick%2C%20Charlie%20Appleby%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E7.45pm%3A%20Jebel%20Hatta%20%E2%80%93%20Group%201%20(TB)%20%24350%2C000%20(T)%201%2C800m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Alfareeq%2C%20Dane%20O%E2%80%99Neill%2C%20Charlie%20Appleby%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E8.20pm%3A%20Mahab%20Al%20Shimaal%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(TB)%20%24250%2C000%20(D)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Sound%20Money%2C%20Mickael%20Barzalona%2C%20Bhupat%20Seemar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Innotech Profile

Date started: 2013

Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari

Based: Muscat, Oman

Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies

Size: 15 full-time employees

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now. 

Persuasion
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Company profile

Company name: Dharma

Date started: 2018

Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: TravelTech

Funding stage: Pre-series A 

Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs

Bio:

Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour

Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people 

Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite food: Fish and vegetables

Favourite place to visit: London

The biog

Name: Timothy Husband

Nationality: New Zealand

Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney

Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier

Favourite music: Billy Joel

Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).

Second leg

Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm

Games on BeIN Sports

The cost of Covid testing around the world

Egypt

Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists

Information can be found through VFS Global.

Jordan

Dh212

Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.

Cambodia

Dh478

Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.

Zanzibar

AED 295

Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.

Abu Dhabi

Dh85

Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.

UK

From Dh400

Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.

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.

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

Company name: Play:Date

Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day

Founder: Shamim Kassibawi

Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US

Sector: Tech 

Size: 20 employees

Stage of funding: Seed

Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

 

 

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Also on December 7 to 9, the third edition of the Gulf Car Festival (www.gulfcarfestival.com) will take over Dubai Festival City Mall, a new venue for the event. Last year's festival brought together about 900 cars worth more than Dh300 million from across the Emirates and wider Gulf region – and that first figure is set to swell by several hundred this time around, with between 1,000 and 1,200 cars expected. The first day is themed around American muscle; the second centres on supercars, exotics, European cars and classics; and the final day will major in JDM (Japanese domestic market) cars, tuned vehicles and trucks. Individuals and car clubs can register their vehicles, although the festival isn’t all static displays, with stunt drifting, a rev battle, car pulls and a burnout competition.

Updated: May 08, 2024, 3:26 AM