UAE: Why the world's best surfers are competing in Abu Dhabi
Surfing is one of the last sports that you might associate with the Gulf region. But this won't be the case for long.
This weekend, Surf Abu Dhabi is hosting the first World Surf League Championship Tour event in the Middle East, helping the UAE to further establish itself as a thriving surfing hotspot.
Until Surf Abu Dhabi, the world's longest and largest man-made wave facility, opened last year, surfing in the UAE was limited to just a few spots in Dubai and small indoor wave rider machines. But now, with the state-of-the-art facility on our doorsteps and the best surfers in the world descending here to compete, the surfing scene in the UAE is ready to explode.
Inspiring surfers
Ramzi Boukhiam, Morocco's first professional surfer, is accustomed to breaking boundaries in the world of surfing.
Along with being the only MENA athlete competing in Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, he was also first Arab to compete in surfing at the Olympics.
A well-established Arab sporting icon, he is on a mission to inspire and nurture surfing talents from across the region.
Speaking to Khaleej Times at the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro pre-tournament press conference, he said: 'Having the World Surf League in Abu Dhabi will introduce so many kids to surfing, including many who probably haven't really heard of the sport.
'Being able to watch the best surfers on the planet compete right in front of them will show them that surfing is really cool and exciting, and that it's possible to try it right here in Abu Dhabi. Who knows, hopefully the UAE will have an Emirati surf champion in future years. To push surfing in this part of the world really is a testament to the sporting ambitions of the UAE,' he added.
Born and raised near the beaches of Agadir on Morocco's southern Atlantic coast, Boukhiam has been competing in surfing championships since he was a young child.
He said: 'I am very proud to be the first professional surfer from Morocco and represent my country. We have 3,200 kilometers of coastline and some crazy waves, and so Morocco is very famous in the surfing world. Surfing has also hugely boosted tourism and the local economy in Agadir in recent years. We now have around 300 surf schools and many big hotels that have provided so many jobs for local people. I want to show kids from Morocco that they can do whatever they want to do. After all, I chased my dream, believed in myself, and now here I am competing across the world.'
From the first wave
From his very first wave, 31-year-old Boukhiam was hooked on the feeling of surfing. It's a sensation that he wants everyone to experience.
'Catch waves is so much fun and an amazing feeling. To grow surfing in the Middle East, the first step is simply making people aware of just how enjoyable it is. Once people try it, they will then naturally fall in love with it.
'The next step is then bringing in more specialised coaches and facilities, and of course we are already off to an amazing start with Surf Abu Dhabi,' noted Boukhiam.
Liking the vibe
Olympic gold-medal winning surfer Caroline Marks is another athlete competing at Surf Abu Dhabi Pro. Along with topping the podium at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the American made history as the youngest woman to ever compete on the World Surf League, having made her debut aged just 15.
The 2023 World Surf League Women's World Tour champion expressed how impressed she was with Surf Abu Dhabi: 'I have been to Surf Abu Dhabi before to train and it was a great experience. It's a really fun concept and the wave pool has an almost stadium-like vibe. It's our only structured event out of the entire season, and I think that's really exciting for fans and surfers.'
UAE resident Ryan Watkins is the General Manager of Surf Abu Dhabi. He believes that Abi Dhabi will grow into one of the world's top surfing destinations.
He noted: 'Hosting the World Surf League Championship Tour here elevates Abu Dhabi to a prominent position within the global surfing landscape, and it puts us alongside destinations like Hawaii and Australia.
'By showcasing the world's best surfers in a region not traditionally associated with the sport, we hope to inspire potential new surfers, and further demonstrates Abu Dhabi's ability to host premier global events,' Watkins added.
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