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Abu Dhabi-based developer Miral has started construction work on the 16,900 square-metre expansion of its Yas Waterworld water park on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island.

The expansion will add 3.3 kilometres of slide sections to the park. It is expected to grow visitor capacity by 20% by adding 18 new rides and attractions, bringing the total number of rides to more than 60.

The construction is being carried out by the local contractor Alec.

French engineering firm Egis is the project consultant and Canada-based Ellisdon is the project management consultant.

The rides subcontractor is Canada-based Whitewater.

The expansion work is slated for completion in 2025.

Yas Waterworld is part of Yas Island's wider offering, which includes other attractions such as Ferrari World, Warner Bros. theme park, Clymb, Qasr Al Watan, Etihad Arena and the newly opened Seaworld Yas Island.

The waterpark is being developed by Abu Dhabi-based real estate developer Aldar and spans an area of approximately 150,000 sq m.

Yas Waterworld is managed and operated by Miral Asset Management.

Alec was awarded the $164m main construction contract for the project in 2010. The construction work was completed in 2013.

Alec also built the recently opened Seaworld theme park project on Yas Island. The firm was awarded an estimated AED3bn ($817m) contract in 2019.

Miral and US company Seaworld Entertainment announced the partnership to develop a Seaworld theme park in late 2016.