# Abu Dhabi on the Water: The Best Aquatic Adventures in the UAE Capital > From kayaking to soaring on jet-powered boots, Abu Dhabi serves up water activities for every taste. Discover what to do along the coast. - URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/abudaby-na-vode-luchshye-vodne-razvlechenyia-v-stolytse-oa/ - Language: en - Published: 2025-02-24 - Categories: Leisure, Beaches, UAE, Surfing & Diving, Relaxation, Seas & Oceans --- With more than 200 islands, quiet beaches and near-endless sunshine, Abu Dhabi offers no shortage of things to do for anyone who loves the water. Families have their pick of water parks (and the chance to play mermaid). Thrill seekers who travel here can strap jet-powered boots to their feet and hover above the sea, or dive deep in search of pearl oysters. "It's a fantastic place for water sports, because the water is usually pretty calm and the weather is a touch cooler than in Dubai," says Ala Lababidi, a longtime UAE resident who wakesurfs regularly. "My personal favorite thing to do in Abu Dhabi is kayaking through the natural mangroves on a two-hour guided tour," says Gretta Beckett, an Abu Dhabi resident. Adventure traveler Laura Coghlin points to Abu Dhabi's enormous cable park. "There's nothing like it in the Middle East," she says. "Even professional riders come to check it out. The country's only professional wakeboarder, Omeir Saeed, is often here, cheering on beginners." These epic water activities make the most of Abu Dhabi's incredible landscapes and endless sun. ## Visit a flamingo oasis Just 25 miles from the city, the Al Wathba reserve is a haven for 250 bird species, dozens of plant species and abundant aquatic life. The reserve was created by accident, when a treatment plant reached capacity and flooded the surrounding area. What was once arid salt flats now teems with life. In the winter months, thousands of greater flamingos flock here. They're famously picky about where they breed, and conditions have to be just right. On Thursdays and Saturdays, visitors can explore the grounds along a variety of trails. A planned viewing platform will let visitors take it all in from a bird's-eye vantage point. ## Play mermaid at a water park ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-68-1-2024.jpg) With a pearl-diving theme and 40 rides, slides and attractions, it's easy to see why families flock to Yas Waterworld. It's home to the region's first water cinema, and once the show wraps up, there's a mermaid school for kids. You can also ride the Middle East's longest suspended roller coaster or race five other visitors down a giant water slide. ## Master wakesurfing ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-68-2-2024.jpg) The UAE's calm waters are ideal for wakesurfing, a sport that involves riding a short surfboard behind a specialized wave-making boat. Once you've mastered the art of standing up, you can move on to flips, 360-degree spins and even some very mellow board yoga. "For the calmest water, head out to wakesurf at dawn in the Mangroves," says Stephanie Mallett, marketing manager at Wake Evolution in Abu Dhabi. The surrounding waterfront is full of breakfast spots. And for those riding at sunset, there are drinks on the open terrace of the Anantara Eastern Mangroves, overlooking the marina. "Abu Dhabi's sheltered waterways keep the water calmer, which means you won't fall as often," Mallett says. A day trip from Abu Dhabi: the cool oasis of Al Ain ## Harvest pearls from a traditional dhow ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-68-3-2024.jpg) Abu Dhabi Pearl Journey invites travelers aboard a traditional Arabian pearling dhow for a morning voyage among the city's lush mangroves. A local guide shares the region's rich pearl-diving history (including how divers wore weights on their feet and pinched their noses), then offers dates, tea and a pearl-opening demonstration. Anyone who finds a pearl gets to keep it. ## Explore history along a scenic route ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-68-4-2024.jpg) Captain Tony's hour-long boat tour offers a cruise through Abu Dhabi's history. The trip passes Maqta Fort, a local heritage site more than 200 years old, then winds through Abu Dhabi's mangroves. You might spot flamingos here. At the end, a scenic view of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque opens up. ## Skip the boat with a cable park ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-68-5-2024.jpg) At the Al Forsan International sports resort, you can try wakeskating, kneeboarding, mono-skiing or water-skiing, but the main event here is wakeboarding. This massive cable park features a huge overhead cable that pulls riders across the lake at nearly 24 miles per hour (38 km/h), no boat required. Wait times are minimal, since the system can launch 13 riders per minute. For advanced wakeboarders, a dedicated extreme course is perfect for intense training sessions. ## Race your friends on an inflatable course ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-68-6-2024.jpg) AquaFun, Abu Dhabi's first inflatable water park (and, it claims, the world's largest), brings the joy of bouncy castles out to sea. This 84-piece obstacle course has bridges, ramps, steps and slides, challenging visitors to balance and climb their way to the finish. Make one wrong move and you'll end up in the water. When the fun's over, the nearby A'l Bahar on the Corniche has around 20 cafes and restaurants for a post-splash bite. Inside Abu Dhabi's largest falcon hospital in the world ## Kayak in luxury ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-68-7-2024.jpg) For a luxurious experience, travelers can set off by kayak into Abu Dhabi's mangroves with a guide from the Anantara Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa. The trip includes the chance to spot wildlife such as foxes, turtles, flamingos and enchanting sea snakes. ## Leave downtown for calmer waters The tranquil waters of Ghantoot Marina make it one of the UAE's most popular water-sports spots for those in the know. In this scenic area, you'll find more locals than tourists, perhaps because of the 40-minute drive from downtown Abu Dhabi. Even so, with plenty of operators offering everything from jet-ski rides (ideal on calm water) to serious wakesurfing (again, superb on a glassy surface), Ghantoot has enough to fill a whole day. Abu Dhabi's hottest hotel: Qasr Al Sarab against the desert ## Soar above the sea with jetpacks on your feet ![](/storage/image/prev/september-article-image-68-8-2024.jpg) Not for the faint of heart, this wild water sport involves strapping on jet-powered boots and then bursting out of the water. In theory, visitors can rise up to eight meters high. The reality usually involves plenty of tumbling, flailing and falling back into the sea. Get in touch with Seasports on Yas Beach to book. Danae Mercer is a freelance health and travel journalist based in Dubai. Previously editor-in-chief of Women's Health Middle East and Men's Health Middle East, she has also written for Bloomberg, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Independent, Afar, Elite Traveler and other publications.