Dive into the Marine Life at Seaworld Abu Dhabi

The UAE’s first dedicated marine research, rescue, rehabilitation, and return facility, Yas SeaWorld Research, and Rescue Center, will be located in the marine life theme park and will offer top-notch facilities to support local and international conservation efforts. As per the park’s motto, “We are connected to the ocean, and the ocean connects us all,” the SeaWorld Abu Dhabi experience will tell a cohesive “One Ocean” story based on the interconnectedness between all life on earth and our oceans.

The theme park SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is 90% finished and scheduled to open in 2023, according to property developer Miral on Wednesday. It is the most recent addition to Yas Island’s attractions, including Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, and Clymb Abu Dhabi. It will be the first SeaWorld location outside of North America. The complex of marine-life theme parks will also house the first marine research, rescue, rehabilitation, and return facility in the UAE, supporting local conservation initiatives and emphasizing the native ecosystems of the Arabian Gulf. The 183,000 square meter attraction is being constructed over five floors. It will have habitats, rides, interactive exhibits, and immersive guest experiences—the full scope of which has not yet been made public. With more than 58 million liters of water and 150 species—including sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates—it will house the largest multi-species aquarium in the region. In addition, hundreds of bird species, including penguins and puffins, will live in the park. Expert zoologists, veterinarians, nutritionists, and other animal specialists will take care of the animals. One Ocean, the park’s central zone, connects six marine environments, each of which tells a tale meant to highlight the interconnectedness of life on Earth and beneath the seas. In this area, there will also be a 360-degree media experience. The building will make use of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems with a combined capacity of 8.2 megawatts, according to a July announcement from Abu Dhabi’s Masdar clean energy company.

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi marks the beginning of a new chapter in the knowledge, conservation, and sustainability of marine life in the region and around the world, according to Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Miral. Abu Dhabi and the UAE have a long history of marine conservation. “Our partnership with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment will further position Abu Dhabi as a global tourism hub and contribute to its economic growth and diversification vision by bringing this next-generation marine-life theme park to the capital.”

A part of “Abu Dhabi’s innovative vision for economic diversification and growth, as well as the emirate’s commitment to marine-life conservation,” according to Scott Ross, chairman of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, the company is “honored.” Marc Swanson, chief executive of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, commented on the research and rescue center, saying, “SeaWorld’s nearly six decades of caring for such a vast array of marine animals is what makes this possible and what enables us to introduce another first for the UAE region.