Egis recently celebrated a major milestone following the official opening of the latest expansion of Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Appointed by Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, the Egis Engineering team in the UAE served as Lead Design Consultant for the expansion of the region’s leading water park. The team coordinated multiple design disciplines, authority approvals and specialist sub-consultants, with a clear focus on delivering infrastructure that is resilient and intelligently integrated, supporting the award-winning theme park’s continued evolution and the enhancement of its overall offering.
Egis’ teams also delivered the integrated MEP design for the expansion, including above- and below-ground pump rooms, a new electrical substation, food and beverage outlets with supporting changing facilities, and all associated external utility networks. Just as importantly, Egis developed the technical strategy for interfacing these new systems with Yas Waterworld’s existing infrastructure, a critical piece of the project that demanded rigorous analysis, sound engineering judgement and close stakeholder coordination.
Located at the south-east tip of the existing Yas Waterworld site, the expansion adds approximately 16,900 square metres of new facilities to a complex, high-footfall destination that remained live throughout the project. That context defined the challenge from the outset. This was not a standalone development on a blank site; it was a sophisticated expansion requiring new rides, amenities and utilities to be embedded into an existing operational environment with strict safety, access, theming and continuity requirements.
Rather than defaulting to new standalone infrastructure, Egis carried out detailed site surveys, desktop reviews of as-built information and analysis of BMS consumption data to assess the available capacity within the existing chilled water, water and power systems. The outcome was a technically robust and commercially astute solution. In a region where the retrofit and optimisation of existing assets is becoming increasingly important, the project demonstrates how engineering intelligence can unlock value that is both immediate and enduring.
Designing an expansion next to a live attraction is one challenge; enabling it to be constructed safely and efficiently is another altogether. Egis supported the planning of utility diversions, construction phasing and access arrangements so works could proceed with minimal disruption to ongoing operations and without compromising guest safety or visitor experience. The relocation strategy for existing 22kV and fibre optic cables, for example, required particularly careful coordination with authorities, the client and the operator to avoid material impact on the existing park.
The project incorporated demand-controlled ventilation, high-efficiency LED lighting, smart lighting controls, leak detection systems integrated with BMS, and a metering strategy for chilled water, potable water and power to support ongoing monitoring and operational optimisation. Local manufacturers were also recommended where compliant with project specifications, supporting regional supply chains while contributing to a lower overall carbon footprint.
