Making waves

The Lost Paradise of Dilmun is not just a waterpark. It's a 77,000m² fully themed wet leisure destination, designed to replicate Bahrain's rich cultural history while providing attractions for all the family. As the second component of the US $1.3 billion Al Areen development near Al Zallaq - following the opening of Banyan Tree Desert Spa & Resort in April this year - Lost Paradise also has a significant role to fulfil in boosting Bahrain's appeal as a one-stop-shop for leisure and entertainment.

The attraction opened to the public on September 3 under the watchful eye of Paul Blunt, general manager and Middle East director for Malaysian-based SIM Leisure Consultants (SLC) - the international theme park consultancy group responsible for the design, development and operation of Lost Paradise. With 20 years' experience in the theme park industry, starting as a lifeguard for Wet'n'Wild Water World while travelling to Australia's Gold Coast and specialising most recently in developing start-up themed water parks in emerging markets, Blunt has a genuine passion for the sector.

His focus now is on establishing Lost Paradise as a showcase for SLC in the Middle East, following the company's successes with waterpark projects in Asia and Europe.

"I'd class this park as one of the most heavily themed we've done - and one of the most heavily themed parks you could do anywhere," says Blunt. "The brief from Al Alreen owner Gulf Finance House was to evoke something of Bahrain's history, focusing on the Dilmun civilisation based here some 4000 years ago; when there was an abundance of water, springs and shallow wells."

GFH invested $50 million in the attraction and the result, Blunt continues, is stunning, with motifs, symbols and architecture from the Dilmun era incorporated into every aspect of the park's architecture. The construction was carried out by Sharjah-based Al Hamad Construction and overseen by SLC as the project managers.

"We're in a desert, so we wanted to evoke the feeling of a lost paradise that has sprung up from the desert," explains Blunt.

"There's a real wow factor when you enter the park. Everything is themed. While pools are normally tiled, ours have been carved to look like natural wadis and riverbanks. It's not that usual to get clients who want to go so far and that's what we specialise in, so it's been very exciting for us to be able to do this project here."

Attention to detail

Indeed, it is the overall theming and attention to detail that Blunt says is one of the park's USPs. He adds that Lost Paradise is also the most technologically advanced water park in the region, with 14 slides and rides strategically divided into six zones to prevent overcrowding. Supplied by Canadian company Whitewater West, the facilities range from thrill rides such as two 18-metre high Speed Slides to the Family Raft Ride in the Tylosplash zone and a Dancing Fountain in the kids' area. Other stand-out attractions include Dilmun Beach - the only sandy beach wave pool in the Middle East - and the Dilmun Artesian Spring, which has been developed to recreate the beauty of Bahrain's ancient springs and provide an area for families to relax, either in the shade around the pool or in a swimming oasis with jet massage nozzles.

There is also a 1000m² retail souk, which is open to people before they have paid to come into the park and offers everything from branded clothes to souvenirs.

"It acts as our front entrance," says Blunt. "It gives people a little bit of a feel for what the park has to offer. There's pros and cons to that but we believe that in this instance it works."

Once they decide to enter the park - which costs BHD 8 ($21) for an adult - visitors receive a wristband incorporating cashless technology. They can load credit onto it at the entrance of the park or near the locker hire, and then cash is deducted when any transaction is made in the park. Any unused credit is refunded upon exit.

Other facilities at Lost Paradise include covered picnic areas, sunbeds and seating, free parking for 570 vehicles and separate male and female prayer rooms. This is the only instance in which the park is segregated, but Blunt says this hasn't been an issue.

However, he adds: "I am looking into offering ladies' days next year. There are issues with doing this though, in that all the lifeguards have to be female. But if we can do it safely, then we'll introduce it."

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