Residents and families enjoy artificial rain at Zawaya Walk in Sharjah. KT Photo: Muhammad Sajad
Release Date: Monday, July 22, 2024 at 6am
Last updated: Monday, July 22, 2024 at 8:00 AM
Sharjah’s “Rain Street” at Zawaya Walk has become the talk of the town, and it’s set to get even better. Planners of the trending city attraction have vowed to use special equipment to cool the hourly downpours. In an interview with Khaleej Times, Obaid Al Tunaij and his team said they noticed that the water used for artificial rain is warm.
“We will make the rain colder, lowering the water temperature further so that people can enjoy it more,” the UAE prime minister said. Al Tunaiji said the water used for artificial rain is “clean and sterilized.”
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Sharjah’s palm-lined Zawaya Walk has been a social media hit since introducing a free artificial rain show for all visitors this summer, meaning you can stroll in the sweltering heat with or without an umbrella without breaking a sweat.
The thunderous sound effects give visitors a realistic experience and the downpour lasts for approximately five minutes. The show runs every hour from 9am to 12pm and 5pm to 11pm.
This shopping destination is a popular hangout spot for residents thanks to its free rain shows as well as its numerous retailers, shops, restaurants and cafes. The open complex includes outdoor walkways, an artificial lake and a crossing bridge that connects the two ends of the building.
How the Rain Show Started
Al Tunaiji, along with other developers, had noticed consistently low visitor numbers during the summer months. “We started brainstorming how to attract visitors in the summer months as well. The first step was to plant trees that would provide shade and reduce the heat,” he said.
Photo: Courtesy
More than 300 trees have been planted in recent months to create a cooler atmosphere.
The developers also considered using misting fans, which spray water to create a cooling effect, but Al Tunaiji worried that the air would become humid and uncomfortable for visitors.
They then began discussing the possibility of making it rain artificially, since rain normally “cools the atmosphere.”
Once the idea was finalized, they decided not to hire a specialist firm to execute it, instead having a team of engineers execute the plans in a way that “suited the requirements of the site.”
Summer is at its peak in the UAE, with temperatures across the country reaching over 50 degrees Celsius and most establishments switching their operations indoors. Luckily, outdoor spots like Zawaya Walk mean you can still enjoy the sun without feeling the heat.
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