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Well, by now you’ve heard about the newest wave pool: Surf Abu Dhabi. It is, as the name implies, in Abu Dhabi. Hudayriyat Island, to be precise. Kelly Slater’s first test waves just hit the internet, and there were hints that he wasn’t testing it alone. Now, Filipe Toledo has given the world his view of the place, and it looks really, really fun. “Believe it or not I found a wave in Abu Dhabi,” he wrote on Instagram. “And it’s incredible! Thanks for having me here and for the hospitality.”
The pool was announced in a WSL press release in June of 2023, and uses Kelly Slater Wave Company technology, the same tech that creates the waves at the Surf Ranch in Lemoore. This pool, however, is far bigger.
“When we opened the first wave, the mystery it created and excitement that ensued was something I’m not sure many have experienced,” said Kelly Slater in the WSL’s press release. “Surfing reaches people in all corners of the globe and I’m always surprised with who gravitates towards this world. Having a KSWC wave in Abu Dhabi is something I’ve never dreamt would happen but here it is. Unbelievable. While not many would have predicted the location for the project there are great synergies with Abu Dhabi, and like KSWC, they are always innovating and ahead of the curve. This is gonna be a lot of fun for so many people.”
It wasn’t just Filipe there, either. Gabriel Medina was on hand to sample the Arabian wares, and he appeared to be a fan. “I’ve found my wave,” he wrote on Instagram.
Kelly Slater was happy to have them there to promote it to the social media masses. “So stoked you guys came to surf,” he commented. “Thanks man. Means a lot to me personally and it’s always good to see you shredding like a remote controlled surfer!”
