TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE COOLEST SWIMMING POOLS IN THE WORLD
▶ Hayley Skirka rounds up the sites that made a splash as the highest, longest, deepest and largest pools
Saudi Arabia is to be home to the world’s longest-suspended skypool. Set to open at Treyam, a luxury resort in Neom, the pool will span a lagoon on the Gulf of Aqaba, connecting the resort’s northern and southern shorelines.
Lined by palm trees and sandy shores, the swimming pool will be 36 metres above sea level and 450 metres in length, making it the world’s longest sky pool – 330 metres longer than the current record holder at Dubai’s One&Only One Za’abeel.
When it opens, the pool at Neom’s Treyam will join a handful of other record-breaking swimming pools around the world, including several in Dubai, from the largest landlocked pool to the highest 360-degree infinity pool on the planet.
Dip into to our list below:
The world’s deepest pool Deep Dive Dubai
Deep Dive Dubai opened in 2021 and has a depth of 60 metres. It’s designed as a sunken city and a diving pool, and is geared towards free-diving and scuba divers, but snorkellers are also welcome to enter the waters. With 14 million litres of freshwater, the equivalent of six Olympic-sized swimming pools, the pool features a variety of sunken items to explore, including motorbikes, arcade machines, pool tables and cars.
The longest suspended infinity pool in the world One Za’abeel, Dubai
The One & Only One Za’abeel hotel made a name for itself when it scooped the Guinness World Record for the longest cantilevered building in the world, and it’s also home to a record-breaking pool. Set on top of The Link – the cantilever suspended between the resort’s two towers – the sparkling pool is about 100 metres above the city and overlooks a busy six-lane motorway. Part of Tapasake, a glamorous urban beach club, it’s currently the world’s longest infinity pool and stretches 120 metres from end to end.
Epic views are guaranteed at Aura Skypool Dubai. Located on the 50th floor of The Palm Tower on the Palm Jumeirah, this remarkable swimming pool has top views from every area, with visitors able to marvel the city skyline, the Gulf and sunsets that rival the best in the world.
The largest man-made lagoon Boulevard World, Riyadh
Size matters in Saudi Arabia, where the world’s largest man-made lagoon has been constructed. Stretching across 12.19 hectares, the vast pool is at Boulevard World in Riyadh. The permanent structure opened in November 2022 and was constructed by Sela, a company that specialises in experiences, events and destinations. The sprawling lagoon is part of Riyadh’s Boulevard Word, a multi-zone theme park that is also home to the world’s largest spherical theatre.
The world’s highest outdoor infinity pool in a building Address Beach Resort, Dubai
Another title holder in the emirate can be found at the Address Beach Resort. The waterfront hotel entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 2021 when it opened the highest outdoor infinity pool in a building. Located on level 77 of the hotel at a remarkable height of 293.90 metres above sea level, the infinity pool is only open to hotel guests over the age of 21, the hotel says.
The most swimming pools in a resort Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson, Malaysia
When Atlantis, The Royal opened in Dubai, it boasted of its 90 swim ming pools – an impressive number, no doubt about it. But that achievement is dwarfed in comparison with the number of pools at the Lexis Hibiscus Post Dickson Hotel in Malaysia, which holds the title of having the most swimming pools in a resort. The luxury getaway is an all-villa escape with overwater accommodation and no less than 643 swimming pools available to its guests.
Highest outdoor overflow pool in a building SLS Dubai
SLS Dubai Hotel is officially home to the world’s highest outdoor overflow pool in a building, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Located on the 75th floor of the building, the hotel has not one, but two outdoor overflow pools at a height of 325 metres, just higher than the tip of Burj Al Arab, a little further down the road. The pool title was confirmed by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat in March 2022, a month before the luxury hotel opened its doors to the public.
World’s largest wave
pool Siam Park City, Bangkok
Thailand’s bustling capital holds the title for the world’s largest wave pool, according to the World Waterpark Association. It is located at Siam Park City, a sprawling water and amusement park on the outskirts of Bangkok. The wave pool is massive, covering 13,600 square metres. It has held the title of being the world’s largest wave pool since 2009.
The largest swimming pool landlocked by area
Fleishhacker Pool, San Francisco
While it’s been out of action for more than 50 years, the Fleishhacker Pool on Sloat Boulevard, near the Great Highway in San Francisco, still holds the record for the world’s largest swimming pool landlocked by area. Measuring 304.80 metres in length by 45.70 metres wide, the pool opened in 1925 and is 4.26 metres deep, meaning it could hold 22.7 million litres of seawater. At its capacity, it could also accommodate 10,000 swimmers, but has been abandoned since 1971.
The world’s first ‘floating’ swimming pool London Sky Pool
While it’s not an official world record, the Sky Pool is the world’s first “floating” swimming pool. Dangling between two high-rise buildings in the swanky Embassy Gardens residential development in Nine Elms, near Battersea Power Station, the 25 metre-long pool seems to hover about 35 metres above street level. Unfortunately for tourists hoping to take a dip, it’s only for residents and their guests.