Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, the inaugural World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour event in the Middle East, got underway on Friday in the UAE capital to begin an incredible weekend of elite surfing.
Surf Abu Dhabi Pro is being held from February 14-16 at Surf Abu Dhabi on Hudayriyat Island featuring the world’s top surfers in both the men and women’s categories.
The men’s heats on Friday saw Connor O’Leary, Jackson Bunch, Jack Robinson, Griffin Colapinto, Italo Ferreira, Yago Dora, Jordy Smith, Rio Waida, Filipe Toledo, Kanoa Igarashi and Liam O’Brien qualify automatically for the Round of 16 on Saturday. Miguel Pupo, Joel Vaughan, Deivid Silva and Mateus Herdy joined them after successfully coming through Friday’s night-time elimination session involving 24 surfers.
Brazilian surfer Miguel Pupo said: “It feels great to qualify. All my practice runs were at night, so I was used to the environment – the conditions and the light – and took advantage of that. I felt at home. It gives me a lot of confidence for tomorrow. It makes you happy and gives you a lot of joy when you make your waves.”
He added: “I hope the fans come and enjoy the surfing. Having this environment to watch so close and see those airs at just 15 meters away, it’s pretty nice. I hope the fans enjoy it. It’s nice having the pressure too – usually in the ocean you train a lot and don’t have that opportunity. Here you’re going to have your waves and it’s just a matter of whether you’re going to make them or not. I think the stadium vibe is really good.”
Surf Abu Dhabi – which was created in collaboration with Kelly Slater, widely regarded as the greatest surfer of all time – features state-of-the-art wave technology, powered by Kelly Slater’s WaveCo. The innovative man-made system holds multiple Guinness World Records, including the longest and largest artificial wave pool.
Everyone taking part on the incredible waves in Abu Dhabi this weekend is competing for a shot at the World Title at the season-ending WSL Finals. The women’s heats take place on Saturday at Surf Abu Dhabi Pro with the men in Round of 16 and quarter-final action.
For more information:
See World Surf League 2025 Championship Tour – Surf Abu Dhabi Pro
For images: https://photos.worldsurfleague.com/galleries/
For video content: https://mab.to/Lk6W5CoP4xo6f/eu1
Tickets and Hospitality:
For tickets, see Surf Abu Dhabi PRO Tickets Abu Dhabi | Ticketmaster AE | Hudayriyat Island, Abu Dhabi |
General Admission: Starting at AED59 per day (free for children under 12).
Hospitality Deck: Enjoy premium views and exclusive amenities.
