The World Surf League has announced Surf Abu Dhabi, located on Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi, as an official venue on the 2025 Championship Tour. Surf Abu Dhabi is the world’s largest man-made surf facility and is expected to open to the public this month.
Owned and operated by Modon Holding, the facility uses cutting-edge wave technology developed by Kelly Slater Wave Company. This collaboration produced a high-performance wave system designed to deliver consistent, world-class surf conditions that will challenge and showcase the skills of the world’s best surfers.
© Surf Abu Dhabi
“We’re looking forward to seeing what the Surf Abu Dhabi facility can deliver for the world’s best surfers and for the broader surfing community,” said Ryan Crosby, CEO of the World Surf League. He noted that both the advancing wave technology and the region’s growing sports infrastructure create promising opportunities for the league.
Jeff Fleeher, president of Kelly Slater Wave Company, added that the WSL partnership expands the facility’s reach: “This collaboration creates a platform to showcase the world’s best surfers to new and existing fans, set within Hudayriyat Island’s wider sports ecosystem.”
The WSL Championship Tour represents the highest level of professional surfing, where annual World Champions are crowned. Surf Abu Dhabi will join other elite venues on the 2025 tour, providing a controlled, high-quality wave environment that complements traditional ocean breaks. The full 2025 schedule will be released after the Lexus WSL Finals, but Surf Abu Dhabi is already slated to join storied locations such as Banzai Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore, Snapper Rocks in Queensland, Australia, and Cloudbreak in Fiji.
By bringing a state-of-the-art, consistent wave experience to the Championship Tour, Surf Abu Dhabi is expected to broaden the appeal of professional surfing, offering fans reliable competition conditions and athletes a reproducible stage to perform at their best. The facility also aims to support local sport development and tourism on Hudayriyat Island, contributing to Abu Dhabi’s growing profile as a global sports destination.