Big, beautifully landscaped and dominated by its landmark 27 metre-high Ziggurat, this aquatic adventure park has been a sensation since it recently opened. Highlights include the region’s fastest free fall slide, which propels visitors through the shark-filled lagoon though a submerged transparent tunnel. One of the top water parks anywhere, Aqauventure has exciting kiddie play areas, a private 700 metre sandy beach, 2 km lazy river and plenty of white-knuckle rides. Located at the end of The Palm, it takes at least 40 minutes from downtown Dubai (longer during rush hour) but the soon to be opened monorail should make the journey faster. Admission is free if you are staying at Atlantis, otherwise expect to pay from Dhs190.