For
Equipment for hotels and resorts
Retrofit aquatic features for existing pool decks — the most common brief we receive, and the one with the tightest constraints.
A family-focused property without an aquatic offer loses bookings to the one next door that has one. That is the whole commercial case, and it is why this is the most common enquiry we get.
The constraint is almost always the same: you have an existing pool and deck, you cannot close the property for a season, and you cannot rebuild the pool. So the question is not what would be ideal — it is what fits here, now, within that.
What works on an existing deck
- Compact play structures — 5 to 10 m footprint, sits in shallow water, transforms how a property presents to families
- Mid-size themed structures — marine or pirate ship themes, 150 to 300 m², for properties with a dedicated family pool
- Family wide slides — 1.5 to 3 m platform, several riders abreast, full sightlines for supervising parents
- Splash pad features on adjacent deck — zero standing water, so no change to the pool at all
- Individual water features — tipping buckets, arches, sprayers where space is very tight
What usually does not
Tower slides. Not because they are unsuitable, but because a 9 or 12 m tower needs 880 to 1,370 m², a substantial foundation, and a planning consent that beachfront and marina properties rarely get. If you have the plot and the height allowance, they are excellent. Most hotels do not.
Things that decide the outcome
- Water depth across the footprint. A structure sits in shallow water; your existing pool profile may or may not suit it.
- Sightlines from where parents actually sit. Not from where the drawing says the seating is.
- Shade. Without it you lose the middle of the day for most of the year in this region. Budget for it at the start.
- Plant capacity. Additional features need additional flow. Confirm your existing plant can deliver it before ordering.
- Noise. Aquatic play is loud. Consider which guest rooms overlook it.
- Adult separation. Properties serving both families and couples need the children's area far enough from the adult pool to protect both.
Budget
A compact structure suitable for a hotel deck typically runs AED 180,000 to 500,000 for the equipment, with installation and any deck modification on top. A mid-size themed structure runs AED 500,000 to 1,600,000. See the full cost guide for the surrounding costs.
Timeline
Four to six months from order to equipment on site. Most properties install during the low season to avoid disrupting occupancy — which means ordering in spring for an autumn installation.
Related
Further reading
Reading for hotel projects
Does an aquatic attraction pay back?
How hotels evaluate return through segment access, length of stay and operating cost.
Splash pad or swimming pool?
Build cost, supervision, running cost and which age groups each one actually serves.
Specifying for Gulf heat and UV
UV degradation, surface temperature, corrosion, dust loading and evaporation.