False cracks and coconuts.
Joy, this morning, in the oil-rich sheikdom of Bahrain as shovels have entered the sand for a brand new state of the art surf park. Floating there in the mostly waveless Persian Gulf, Bahrain is home to nearly 1.5 million souls who have spent entire lives surf starved. Dreaming, maybe, that someday their island might become just a little more like Hawaii.
Well, dreams sometimes come true and construction on Bahrain Surf Park – Club Hawaii Experience is officially underway.
The 52,000 square meter facility will feature a spacious terrace, a retail store, cabanas, event space, and a large private entertainment area for corporate or school groups but, most importantly, a Wavegarden Cove.
Mr. Khalid Abdulrahman Al Majed, CEO of Edamah, the real estate arm of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, attended the sandbreaking ceremony and declared, “(Club Hawaii Experience) will provide a range of activities, including training programs for beginners and professionals. In addition to positioning the Kingdom as a global destination for entertainment and leisure, it will create new opportunities for economic growth and the employment of national talent, supporting Bahrain’s vision to lead through innovation.”
Mr. Hisham Alrayes, CEO of GFH Financial Group, was also there and added, “We are pleased to partner with Edamah and Poullaides as the main contractor. The Bahrain Surf Park – Club Hawaii Experience project represents a milestone addition to Bahrain’s tourism landscape, offering a unique surfing experience for all levels within the unique atmosphere of the Club Hawaii Experience brand, which encapsulates the spirit of Hawaii, the birthplace of modern surfing.”
Very cool.
While Bahrainis danced late into the evening, practicing hula etc., worry percolated in nearby Abu Dhabi. The Surf Abu Dhabi facility, which opened last year, features Kelly Slater’s patented plow. While the tub appears on the World Surf League Championship Tour, it does not have any Hawaiian vibe and also costs nearly $1,000 United States Dollars to experience for 90 minutes. Wavegarden technology, on the other hand, allows for many people to surf at once for a fraction of the price.
Might Bahrain become the go-to Middle Eastern surf destination?
We’ll all have to wait and see.
