If your long weekend plans involve doom-scrolling Instagram or convincing yourself the sofa is a “tropical escape”, pause right there. Al Ain just gave you a better excuse to pack a bag. Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort Al Ain has launched its brand-new Cobra Waterslide, a twisting, snake-shaped ride that’s already making waves. Quite literally.
How To Plan Your Weekend At Al Ain With The New Cobra Waterslide
Let’s face it, every resort claims to have “thrills for the whole family”. Few actually deliver. The Cobra does. Think fast curves, daring drops, and a bright design that stands out against the desert backdrop. It’s built for adrenaline junkies and families alike.
There are size rules, though; main slide riders need to be at least 1.5 metres tall. The smaller slides, starting from 1.2 metres, keep younger kids entertained (and hopefully save parents from heart-stopping plunges). Truth be told, the younger ones usually have more energy to climb back up for another go anyway.
And the price? Day passes start at AED160 for adults and AED140 for kids. Not bad when you compare it with what a standard mall trip can cost once you’ve factored in lunch, parking, and the inevitable toy shop detour.
Pools, Peaks & A Little Breathing Room
Of course, a waterslide isn’t the whole story. The Radisson Blu Al Ain comes loaded with three outdoor pools, so if you’re not the “hurtling down plastic at speed” type, you can simply lounge. To be fair, the mountain views alone make it worth the entry fee, you get a front-row seat to Jebel Hafeet, one of the UAE’s tallest peaks.
Add in several restaurants, a few bars, and resort rooms starting at AED399, and it suddenly shifts from a day trip to a mini-holiday. After all, the best weekends mix a little adrenaline with a lot of downtime.
Road Or Ride?
Now, how to get yourself from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain without losing patience? In practice, driving is the easiest. The E22 highway will take you straight there in roughly one hour and forty minutes. Smooth tarmac, wide roads, and a few camel sightings if you’re lucky.
Not everyone drives, though. For them, there’s the X90 express bus from Al Nahyan Bus Station in Abu Dhabi. Expect around two hours and ten minutes of travel, with tickets at AED40. Payments are a breeze with the Hafilat card. Come on, that’s cheaper than your Friday brunch bill.
Also Read: UAE: Spartan’s Wild Trifecta Weekend Roars Into Al Ain Zoo This October
Why Al Ain?
Here’s the thing: Al Ain has often been overshadowed by Dubai’s glitz or Abu Dhabi’s scale. But scratch the surface, and you’ll find it’s quietly building a family-friendly identity of its own. The Cobra Waterslide is just the latest piece. Between the mountain views, the cooler evenings, and attractions that keep kids busy while adults switch off, it’s becoming the kind of place you don’t just visit once.
So, if you’re still debating how to spend your long weekend, stop scrolling and start packing. Whether you’re chasing thrills on the Cobra or simply floating in a pool with Jebel Hafeet as your backdrop, Al Ain has officially made your decision for you.
Cover Image Courtesy: RadissonBluAlAin/Instagram
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