Aqua Park, Qatar's first water-themed leisure centre, has been officially opened by the country's prime minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani.

The 100,000sq m (1.1m sq ft) park had a soft opening on 24 September and its first phase - built at a cost of around QR70m (£12.2m) - includes a giant wave pool, a lazy river, an activity pool, a slides complex, a family pool, an exotic village and a 'dry' corner. Adjacent to the site and currently being built will be a 300,000sq m (3.2m sq ft) resort and a shopping complex, completion of which is expected by June 2011.

Management of the park will be by Kuwait-based Al Jazeera Entertainment Enterprises, which signed a five-year operating agreement in December last year. The park is open seven days a week, with Fridays earmarked for families and Tuesdays for women. Entry per person is QR100 (£17.50) and allows unlimited access to the rides. For a family of six, a promotional rate of QR400 (£70) is being offered.