WhiteWater enters Saudi water park industry, reaffirms support for Vision 2030

WhiteWater – a leading global manufacturer and designer of water parks – is an established name in the aquatic entertainment industry. Having developed world-class water parks in the UAE and Qatar, the company is all set to enter the water park industry in Saudi Arabia. 

Riyadh Daily recently spoke with Una DeBoer, Chief Marketing Officer in WhiteWater, on a range of topics and, more importantly, why WhiteWater is a name to look out for in the coming days in the Kingdom.

DeBoer said the company is eyeing the Saudi market, with the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 prioritizing tourism, resulting in the growing number of water parks and aquatic entertainment sites in the country. “WhiteWater is a trusted partner, which has built some of the largest parks in China, Qatar and the UAE, and we have worked with the biggest brands in North America,” she said. 

Reports backup DeBoer’s claim: WhiteWater has worked on and completed more than 5,000 projects worldwide, with a workforce of over 600 employees. 

“The company has already established its footprints in the Middle East region, taking visitors to unique water parks, developed mainly in Dubai, which are attracting visitors from across the region.”

DeBoer said WhiteWater has been in the business for the last 45 years, contributing to the development of the industry. “It’s a family business founded by Geof Chutter in Canada in 1980; he has helped build water parks in every corner of the world,” she said.

A one-stop shop, WhiteWater is the destination for any brand that plans to establish a water park. “It’s an integrated offering that White Water provides. So, we have every single product that a water park needs. We also help in designing the water park. We know how water parks operate, how people move around, and what you need to do in case of emergencies,” she said.

Commenting on Vision 2030, DeBoer said: “Saudi Arabia has its own strategy for 2030 and WhiteWater is here to support that strategy. The Kingdom has taken a decision to create a world-class entertainment industry and for that, they will need world-class partners.”

She said the purpose of Vision 2030 is to ensure a diversified economy. “These parks are going to provide huge economic results in terms of jobs and tourism, while providing entertainment for the local population,” she said.

“The infrastructure that is being developed in the Kingdom is best in the world and WhiteWater is already working with some vastly experienced clients in the region,” said DeBoer, who is a well-established marketing leader.

Water parks, however, involve the usage of large quantities of water. Can a country like Saudi Arabia, faced with a looming threat of a lack of water, afford to have many water parks?

“We do a number of things. It’s important to understand that the use of water in such a park is actually less than that in a golf course and a major difference between the two is that in a water park, we recycle the water,” DeBoer said.

“Moreover, we are not taking water from the ground. In a park, we create water so it is not damaging the environment. About 95 percent of the water in a park is continuously recycled. Some water is lost in evaporation and we work with our clients to minimize the loss. In a hot environment, the evaporation is greater. We mitigate this by planting trees, through the placement of slides, development of shades, and more measures that are part of the design aspect of the park."

WhiteWater’s “Smart Blast” technology has earned global awards for its innovative mechanism to save energy and reduce water consumption. “The technology has cut down power consumption by 50%, without taking away the fun from the ride experience. It reduces water usage. 

With the thought that “having fun with water should not risk our planet’s future,” WhiteWater aims to be a sustainability leader ensuring all its activities are climate neutral by 2040. “Our Sustainability Scorecard is a holistic approach that will allow us to champion sustainability within our organization and industry, inspiring and educating as a leading voice for change,” DeBoer said.

WhiteWater’s Sustainability Scorecard measures and analyzes its performance in combating climate change. The company frequently hosts seminars and participates in panel discussions to educate and inform the industry on how it can be more sustainable.