Making a splash – Salalah’s first Aqua Park comes to town

I’d arrived in Salalah on Monday evening on what I’d assumed to be a run-of-the-mill work trip. You know, get shown around the place, interview a few people, send in a story for the next day’s paper and then head back home.

Little did I know though, that this trip was to be like no other I’d ever been on.

Hawana Salalah is Oman’s newest aqua park, and ensures there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

I’d been invited to represent Times of Oman at the official opening of Hawana Salalah, the city’s first aqua park, and while this is normally something that only excites children (or indeed, the child in us), Hawana’s arrival seemed to excite many of Oman’s top ministerial brass.

We’d arrived to witness the opening of the Sultanate’s latest tourism offering on Wednesday evening, just as the sun’s golden rays were bouncing off the many pools inside Hawana. A decent crowd – primarily made up of park staff and organisers – had already assembled, but my attention was drawn past them, beyond the screen of paramilitary Royal Oman Police commandoes, in their blue and black fatigues.

Hawana Salalah is Oman’s newest aqua park, and ensures there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy.