Saudi Arabia’s entertainment destination wins international award
Aquarabia Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia’s major water theme park development near Riyadh, has received a Leading Edge Award from the World Waterpark Association (WWA), recognizing the project’s scale, innovative attractions and surf technology.
The award was presented during the WWA’s annual show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Aquarabia was among three projects recognized through awards received by water attraction supplier WhiteWater for developments in Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Vietnam.
The Aquarabia project brought together several industry partners, including WhiteWater, Endless Surf, Falcon’s Creative Group, WTI and Life Floor.
Covering approximately 250,000 square metres, Aquarabia features eight themed zones and a broad range of aquatic attractions. WhiteWater supplied 28 water slides, two aquatic play structures, two water-based amusement rides and the Endless Surf lagoon.
The park also features four record-breaking attractions, including Junoon Drop, which is described as the world’s tallest and longest family water coaster.
Endless Surf technology anchors Aquarabia’s surf lagoon
A central feature of the development is Surftopia, the park’s surf lagoon, which opened in May 2026. The attraction uses Endless Surf ES32 technology, incorporating 32 pneumatic caissons to generate programmable waves.
Measuring approximately 180 metres long and 73 metres wide, the lagoon can operate in both split-peak and single-peak configurations, allowing it to accommodate different surfing formats and experience levels.
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In split-peak mode, the system can support four surfing zones simultaneously, with wave settings tailored to different abilities. The facility is also designed to host surfing lessons, recreational sessions and competitions.
Aquarabia hosted the Red Bull Pool Clash at the lagoon in June 2026. Leila Zahid won the women's division, while Hugo Cardoso claimed the men's title.
The opening of Surftopia marked a significant milestone in the park's development, introducing a dedicated surfing venue within a large-scale water entertainment destination.
WhiteWater earns recognition for three international projects
In addition to Aquarabia, WhiteWater received Leading Edge Awards for two other projects.
The first was Surreal at Beach Park in Aquiraz, Brazil. In April 2026, the
attraction was certified by Guinness World Records as the world's tallest water coaster.
The third recognized development was Aqua Adventure at Sun World Vung Tau in southeastern Vietnam, where the attraction serves as a key feature of the wider entertainment destination.
The three projects demonstrate different approaches to water-based entertainment, combining large-scale attractions, innovative ride systems and destination-focused design.
Doug Smith, WhiteWater's head of sales, said the recognition reflected the ambition behind the projects and the collaboration among the companies involved.
“We’re incredibly proud to see Aquarabia Qiddiya City, Surreal at Beach Park, and Sun World Vung Tau recognized by the WWA because, while each project is unique, they all share a common ambition: creating signature water attractions that redefine what a destination can be,” Smith said.
He added that the awards recognized the vision and work of the project teams and thanked the company's partners for their collaboration.
A milestone for Saudi Arabia's water entertainment sector
Aquarabia's recognition adds to the growing international profile of Qiddiya City, a major entertainment and leisure development near Riyadh.
With its combination of themed zones, record-setting rides and programmable surf technology, the water park is designed to offer a range of experiences, from family entertainment and aquatic play to recreational surfing and competitive events.
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The WWA award highlights the role of collaboration between attraction designers, technology providers and project developers in delivering large-scale water entertainment facilities.
As Aquarabia continues to establish its attractions and programming, Surftopia's surf lagoon remains a distinctive feature of the project, bringing advanced wave-generation technology into Saudi Arabia's expanding leisure and tourism sector.
Source: wavepoolmag.com
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