Sharjah’s ‘rain street’ at Zawaya Walk is the talk of the town and it’s about to get better. The brain behind this viral city attraction has vowed to use special devices to make hourly downpours cooler. Talking to Khaleej Times, Obaid Al Tunaiji said he and his team noticed that the water used for the artificial rains was warm.
“We will make the rains cooler to further lower the water temperatures and allow people to enjoy it even more,” said the Emirati. Al Tunaiji said the water used in the artificial rain is “clean and sterilised”.
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The palm tree-lined Zawaya Walk in Sharjah has gone viral on social media since it introduced free artificial rain shows for all visitors this summer. This means that in this sweltering heat, you can bring your umbrella (or not) and take a stroll without breaking a sweat.
Featuring thunder-like sound effects to create a realistic experience for visitors, each downpour lasts approximately five minutes. The shows take place every hour from 9am to 12pm, and then from 5pm to 11pm.
The shopping destination has become a popular hangout spot for residents not only because of the free rain shows but also because of an array of retail outlets, shops, restaurants, and cafes. The open complex includes an outdoor walkway, an artificial lake, and a crossing bridge connecting the two ends of the building.
How the rain shows came to be
Al Tunaiji along with other developers have noticed that the visitor turnout had been consistently low during the summer months. “We started brainstorming what we could do to attract visitors even during the summer. The first step was planting trees that would provide shade and reduce the heat,” said Al Tunaiji.
Over 300 trees were planted at the site over the past few months to create a cooler atmosphere.
The developers also considered using misting fans that spray water, create a cooling effect. However, Al Tunaiji was concerned that it might make the atmosphere humid and uncomfortable for visitors.
Then, they started discussing about the possibility of having artificial rains since rains usually “cool the atmosphere.”
Once the idea was finalised, they chose not get specialised companies to implement it. Instead, their team of engineers executed the plan in a manner “that suits the place’s requirements”.
As summer season peaks in the UAE, temperatures crossed highs of 50ºC in the country, prompting most establishments to shift their activities indoors. Fortunately, some outdoor destinations like Zawaya Walk is helping visitors enjoy the sun without them feeling too hot.