Can you drive a car under water with no motor on board? At the Aquarabia water park in Qiddiya City near Riyadh, you can. The ride, called Aquaticar: Legend of the Glowing Guardian, drew fresh attention after international technology outlets wrote about it on 13 November 2026, calling it the world's first underwater car ride powered by air bubbles.
When did it open? The ride welcomed its first guests on 23 April 2026, the day Aquarabia opened. The park is the largest water park in the Middle East, with 22 rides and attractions across eight themed zones.
How does the car move? Points built into the track release air as each vehicle passes over them. The bubbles turn vertical rotors at the back of the car, which drive the rear wheel. The maker calls this a "Bubble Engine" and says the vehicle carries no electric motor or propeller.
Do riders get wet? Each car carries two people and dips to roughly 2.4 metres below the surface, yet riders stay dry from mid-chest up and can take photos with their phones. The journey lasts about five minutes, past reefs, mythical creatures and large underwater screens.
Who can ride, and who built it? Riders must be at least 122 centimetres tall, and Arab News reported that the ride is not included in the park's annual pass. It was built by Sub Sea Systems of California and certified by TUV SUD.
Is it really the first? That claim comes from the maker, which bills it as the first underwater theme park ride. No second location has been announced.
Source: Arab News, Blooloop, Gadget Review
