We spoke with the current General Manager of Yas Waterworld and retraced his career path. It is a journey from the youth culture of surfing, with several stops in marketing and operations, passing through South Africa and arriving at its destination in Yas Island, United Arab Emirates. There he has established himself as the head of one of the most recognized and important water parks in the Middle East, within Miral Experiences LLC, the organization to which he belongs. We share with you the pleasure of our talk with him.
Amusement Logic: You studied Business Management & Marketing and yet you started your career as an editor for a “Surf & Youth Culture Publication”. How was that?
Ryan Watkins: I got into the editing game by accident. After I finished studying, I took a break and went on a 4-month surf trip to Hawaii. When I returned, I went to visit a friend in the surf magazine to look at some images and the publisher convinced me to write an article for an upcoming issue. I dropped it off the next day and he offered me a full-time job there and then. I loved the job, the people, the learning, and my boss was a great mentor. We all learnt a lot from him.
A.L.: After that, when it opened its doors and for 11 years, you became Marketing Manager of Wave House Durban. What is Wave House Durban and what did your job there involve?
R.W.: After the surf mag I wanted to do something new, so I applied for the marketing job at Wave House. The position was already filled, but they needed people in operations, and I really wanted to get my foot in the door to this new park. I started as a lifeguard, and within a very short time was at management level overseeing operations, events, and marketing. The park was great. The USP’s were the Flowbarrel, FlowRiders and a huge Tony Hawk skate park – so the core demographic centered around surf and skate culture. But the events were what brought the bulk of our attendance to the park.
A.L.: From there you moved on to the United Arab Emirates, to work as Marketing Manager at Yas Waterworld. How did this change come about?
R.W.: My transition from South Africa to Abu Dhabi came when the General Manager of Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi at the time, came to South Africa, where we met. The two of us just connected and he said he’d like me to join his team in Abu Dhabi. The rest is history. My intro to Abu Dhabi was great. I had serious passion and enthusiasm to do well out here. My director was great, and we worked well as a team to deliver excellent results. I’ve always had huge pride in Yas Waterworld, and Yas Island as a whole, so it was really easy to get behind the numerous projects here.
A.L.: You climbed from the Marketing Department to the position of Operations Director and finally to the top as General Manager of Yas Waterworld. What are the milestones of this promotion?
R.W.: I got to a point in the marketing department where I wanted to expand and branch out into different fields of the operation. I knew I needed Deputy General Manager experience to reach my goal of becoming GM, but I felt I needed big park operational experience to attain that. So, I opted for a lateral move to Operations Director of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi (still within Miral Experiences) for the shiny new park that was in the construction phase next door, which was the biggest learning in my career – and also one of the most rewarding. We were a fresh new team that got on so well and we were passionate about success. This was a true career highlight for me. Working with a globally iconic IP was the refreshing change I needed. It was great to build the team up from scratch as well as shape the operation and experience the way we wanted it. We had a single-minded focus on people – the guests and our colleagues, and to tell the stories of Warner Bros. through our park, rides and attractions. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. From here I got promoted to GM of Yas Waterworld (my happy place) and I can’t express how proud I am of this incredible team. The love for this park is huge from all who work here.
A.L.: Tell us about the characteristics of Yas Waterworld (surface area, services, capacity, attractions, etc.).
R.W.: Our drive is to be the world’s best waterpark! When we opened in 2013 the park raised the international bar for delivering a waterpark on the level of the best theme parks. An incredible ride mix, next level detail in the theming, characters, a rollercoaster and a story! Yas Waterworld is a one-of-a-kind waterpark that draws inspiration from the UAE’s pearl diving heritage offering families fun-packed adventures, the warmest welcome, and the most engaging themed experience. Home to more than 45 exhilarating rides, slides and attractions, six of which can be found nowhere else in the world as well as a diversity of seasonal events and shows. Since opening its doors in 2013, Yas Waterworld took home over 50 accolades from prestigious industry entities. Most recently in 2022, the waterpark was named ‘Middle East’s Leading Waterpark’ by the World Travel Awards.
A.L.: What sort of public does Yas Waterworld target and what does it receive (tourist or local, family or youngsters, etc.)?
R.W.: Yas Waterworld is globally recognized as one of the best waterparks in the world. We’re high on the visit-list of the tens of thousands of tourists who choose Abu Dhabi as their holiday destination. We’re also proudly a resident park for those who live in the UAE. We’re family focused, with an offering that caters to little thrill seekers as well as adults looking for the ultimate adrenaline-filled water experience.
A.L.: Which of the park’s attractions would you highlight? Which is the most demanded by the public and why?
R.W.: We have a number of signature rides and attractions in the park, such as our pearl diving experience, immersive VR diving and numerous record-breaking slides, to our Bandit Bomber Roller Coaster and more. But the must-do ride at Yas Waterworld is Dawamma – the world’s largest six-person tornado water coaster where you drop into a 20-meter-high tornado funnel – making it undoubtedly the UAE’s ultimate water experience.
A.L.: What role do you give to innovation and renovation of attractions and services?
R.W.: It’s vital. If you truly want to be in the running for a world-class attraction, then you have to keep relevant. With competition opening up all around you, being ‘good enough’ really isn’t good enough anymore. Our guests expect the best and we must deliver. Providing high-quality, cutting-edge rides is one part of what we do, but this must be accompanied by the highest levels of safety (something that we are devoted to and very proud of), as well as high quality F&B and retail, and great service standards.
A.L.: What does Yas Waterworld bring to the greater Yas Island destination and to the UAE government’s vision of boosting tourism in the country? And what is its position in the Middle East in general?
R.W.: Yas Island is confidently on the map as an iconic global destination, and Yas Waterworld is a firm favorite of all who visit. I’ve been on Yas Island for over 10 years and to see its growth is astounding. Every one of its USP’s plays a major role to bringing in millions of tourists annually – from Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, to the Yas Marina Circuit and the F1, the Yas Links golf course, Yas Bay and Yas Marina, the hotel complexes and Yas Mall – there’s so much to do. Every one of my friends who have come to visit Yas Island have said they wished they had stayed longer to do it all.
A.L.: How do you see the future of Yas Waterworld in the context of the leisure and tourism industry in the region?
R.W.: We’ll continue to proudly be water’s greatest playground in the region while we ready ourselves for some incredibly exciting news that we will share early in 2023!
