In the heart of the blistering desert, Abu Dhabi has created a thrilling white-water river experience.

“Back! Back! Now, forward! Stop! GET DOWN, GET DOWN!”

Rajendra Shrestha's commanding voice echoes through the rugged Jebel Hafeet mountains as we navigate the wild rapids, twisting and turning with each wave.

“He’s gone overboard! He’s gone overboard!”

Shrestha yells as I'm yanked under the turbulent water. When I surface, I panic, flailing my arms wildly, trying to grab hold of anything to steady myself in the chaos.

“Take it easy, take it easy,” Shrestha calmly reassures me as his voice cuts through the chaos. He grabs hold of me, pulling me back into the raft. Handing me my paddle, we push forward, continuing our adventure.

Nestled in the oasis city of Al Ain, just 90 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi, Al Ain Adventure Park stands as the first destination in the Middle East for thrilling activities like white-water rafting, kayaking, and surfing.

This is a rare sight in a region with no natural rivers, where the summer heat regularly climbs above 120°F (49°C).

Top-tier watersports

In a country where almost everything is man-made, from beaches to snow and even rain, Al Ain Adventure follows the same trend, offering artificial thrill-seeking experiences.

The park offers a premier kayaking and rafting experience. Its 1.2-kilometer (0.75-mile) white-water channels present a thrilling challenge for paddlers of all skill levels.

Shrestha is a veteran watersports enthusiast, with a lifetime of rafting experience. He’s competed at world-class events in Nepal, Japan, India, and the UAE, and has twice captained Nepal’s national rafting team.

Shrestha joined the Al Ain Adventure team in 2010, bringing with him a vast pool of knowledge and expertise.

He reveals that his favorite aspect of the job is the rare opportunity to experience a blend of exciting water sports all in one place.

A testing ground for the experts

Al Ain Adventure Park has earned global recognition as a premier destination for athletes looking to refine their skills across multiple water sports.

Attracting top athletes from around the world, including surfing champions, rafters, and Olympic kayaking teams, the park has become a top choice for training.

Every year, from November to March, elite slalom kayakers from Europe and Russia flock to the park for rigorous training sessions. The park regularly hosts over 300 athletes from 35 countries.

Notable events hosted at the park include the esteemed 2016 World Rafting Championship, organized by the International Rafting Federation, as well as various slalom kayaking competitions and training camps.

Waterways

Running a water park in the heart of a desert presents unique challenges, requiring meticulous maintenance and careful resource management.

The park sources its desalinated water from Ras Al Khaimah, an emirate over 300 kilometers (186 miles) away.

This process turns seawater into fresh water, which is then purified to meet the required quality standards.

The park reports that it uses approximately 12.4 million gallons of water at all times.

After a three-year break due to the coronavirus pandemic, Al Ain Adventure Park reopened its doors in December 2022.

For Shrestha, returning to work feels like a breath of fresh air.

He mentions that the park plans to introduce new attractions, including a cable park for wakeboarding and a thrilling zip line course.

Al Ain Adventure Park is committed to providing a one-of-a-kind experience, blending high-octane water sports with the UAE’s extreme desert conditions.