Imagine standing at the base of a waterpark, your eyes climbing higher and higher as twisting waterslides wrap around it like a giant metal serpent. Your heart races before you’ve even taken the first step. Welcome to Rig 1938, one of the amazing attractions of Meryal Waterpark, and the proud holder of not one, but two Guinness World Records. But here’s the twist, before this engineering wonder dominated the skies of Qetaifan Island North, it existed as something much smaller… something 3D printed. Yes, you read that right. The world’s tallest waterslide and the most complex tower of its kind began as a 3D printed model. Few know that every thrilling moment was once meticulously designed, tested, and perfected using a miniature version made of plastic and precision. 

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This is more than a story about a water park in Qatar. It’s a look into how innovation, creativity, and technology merged to build a ride that redefined what’s possible in waterpark design. "The RIG 1938" was officially recognized by Guinness World Records™ for two records, the first one being the tallest water slide, standing at 76.309 metres, and the second award is the first of its kind to feature 12 water slides in one tower. The announcement was made by H.E Sheikh Nasser bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Managing Director and Chairman of Qetaifan Projects.

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Rig 1938 – A Record-Breaking Tower of Thrills

Standing tall at a mind-blowing 85 meters, Rig 1938 dominates the skyline of Qetaifan Island North. Every slide has its own story. Take Vertigo, for example it’s a near-vertical drop that sends riders on a freefall experience like no other. Or The Fractionator, which twists and turns at breakneck speed. Then there’s The Reformer and The Extruder, a dynamic duo that delivers back-to-back thrills. And we can’t forget about Second Escape, Cracker, Vaporizer, and The Boiler each one built for pure adrenaline and unforgettable memories. These slides aren’t randomly placed either. Fitting a dozen massive slides onto one structure required precise engineering and an innovative approach to design. That’s where the 3D printed model came in. Engineers used it to test spatial arrangements, visualize flow paths, and ensure safety mechanisms were efficiently integrated. Without it, balancing structure and excitement at such an ambitious scale would’ve been a much tougher task.

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Rig 1938 is not  just a ride. It's a full-on spectacle. It commands attention, draws crowds, and has made Qatar a must-visit destination for thrill-seekers. Its towering presence is visible from afar, and once up close, you can’t help but marvel at the intricate design, the sheer height, and the organized chaos of slides looping around the structure. It’s proof that fun and engineering can coexist beautifully. This project was covered by media all over Qatar and rest of the world, here are some of the viral posts:

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How 3D Printing Helped Shape the Future of Water Parks in Qatar

Behind every monumental attraction is a behind-the-scenes process that few ever see and in this case, 3D printing took center stage. The model of Rig 1938 served a vital purpose in the design and development phases of the project. Created with high-precision technology and advanced materials like thermoplastics and resin, the model mirrored the final design with astonishing accuracy. By replicating the tower at a manageable scale, architects and designers could study the overall structure, identify potential flaws early, and can present it to stakeholders with clarity and impact. Blueprints are great, but holding a physical model gives you a whole new perspective. It’s like turning a dream into something you can touch. 

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The model also played a key role in public displays. Featured at expos, planning meetings, and tourism showcases, it became a powerful promotional tool. It wasn’t long before the buzz around Rig 1938 started to grow. Between social media hype, word-of-mouth, and a wave of news features, the 3D printed model contributed to the mounting excitement long before the first slide even opened to the public. This is where Qatar’s true vision shines. The use of technology like 3D printing, combined with bold architectural ambition, shows how the country is investing in experiences rather than just attractions. Meryal Waterpark is now one of the leading tourist hotspots not just in the Middle East but globally and Rig 1938 is the crown jewel that helped make it happen. As visitors rush to climb the steps and conquer the tallest waterslide on the planet, they’re participating in a story that began on a much smaller scale with a model that made the impossible feel possible. From concept to creation, it is clear that when you dream big and print small you can build wonders that leave the world speechless.

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