Steph Gilmore, stationed in the Middle East.
Photo: Instagram/Stephanie Gilmore
The wait is over…almost. After months of hype and first glimpses of Surf Abu Dhabi—the newest synthetic surf pool from the United Arab Emirates-based Kelly Slater Wave Co.—the world will finally have the chance to surf it in October.
In several social media posts, Surf Abu Dhabi, located on Hudayriyat Island in the UAE capital, announced the grand opening, claiming: “We’re in.” It continued: “Can’t wait to see you all in October. Thanks for staying curious and sharing your love for Surf Abu Dhabi, it’s all in full swing! And before you flood our DMs – bookings for the October sessions will be available on our website in September.”
As mentioned, there was a lot of hype surrounding this pool – mainly due to its size, the length of the ride, and the stature of the tube. However, due to secret setbacks, the grand opening has been pushed back from late 2023 to now, October 2024.
In a press release, Modon Properties (the people who worked with KSWC on Surf Abu Dhabi) made the following statements about the potential and size of the pool:
“Surf Abu Dhabi will be the world’s largest and most advanced artificial wave facility. Designed in collaboration with Kelly Slater Wave Co., the landmark will offer a world-class surfing experience, with the world’s longest ride, biggest wave and largest artificial wave pool. The exclusive surf complex underlines Abu Dhabi’s sport and leisure qualities and is designed to attract everyone from beginners to professional surfers. Surf Abu Dhabi will be an ideal location to host major international events and will play an important role in the development of the surfing community locally, regionally and globally.”
And since the first footage of the pool surfaced, many of the world’s best players have had their first taste of it. Here are just a few of the experiences from the past few months:
“WOW, congratulations on another incredible project! Thank you for having me and for the great hospitality.” – Caroline Marks
“I am absolutely thrilled to experience the biggest artificial wave. It is suitable for every surfer, from beginners to professionals.” – Emirates surfer Mohammed “Mo” Rahma
“So much respect for you (Kelly Slater)! Thanks for the invite, brother. It was one of the craziest experiences.” – Filipe Toledo
“Really, really cool. A high quality wave. It’s a wonderful place for a man-made wave, so it makes sense to be here. This is definitely the longest, highest quality ride you can experience as a surfer.” – Stephanie Gilmore
“I never thought I would get waves in Abu Dhabi, you know? You just want to get the most out of every corner.” – Gabriel Medina
Surf trip to the Middle East in October? Here we go.
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