What are the best places for watersports in Abu Dhabi?

The exciting capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, offers a myriad of experiences for visitors with its vast desert, incredible beaches and an array of architectural marvels. As lovers of watersports, discover the best places for indulging in your favourite sports, given that there are many possibilities in this city.

Wakeboarding 

Wakeboarding is one of the best things to do in Abu Dhabi for adventurous watersport enthusiasts. Al Forsan International Sports Centre provides the ideal experience for them in its modern facility. With a cutting-edge water cable system, this facility is bringing the perfect experience for adventure lovers. They have a massive overhead cable that spans a purpose-built beginner lake and pro lake to propel beginners and experienced participants on their boards up to 35 kmph. With the capacity to accommodate multiple riders, Al Forsan delivers an adrenaline-pumping experience—perfect for groups seeking high-energy thrills and action-packed fun together.

Surfing

Surf Abu Dhabi, situated on Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi, commenced operations in October 2024 and is home to the world’s first saltwater-based wave pool. Using 75,000 sqm, this unique surf basin’s wet surface area is a massive 560 m by 85 m, considering the widest point, making it the world’s biggest man-made wave park.

Upon witnessing the wave pool, the perfection of saltwater waves resembles the ocean, with the waves ranging from mellow beach break whitewash to perfect barrels and beyond. It offers the world’s longest artificial wave ride, the tallest man-made wave and the largest barrel-breaking experience in an enclosed water body. Thus, this new attraction keeps enticing not only experienced surfers but also novices to Surf Abu Dhabi.

A smooth Kayaking

This relaxing and picturesque glide covers the urban areas of Abu Dhabi, surrounding the acclaimed Louvre Museum on Saadiyat Island. Sea Hawk Water Sports Abu Dhabi offers this smooth ride of one hour duration with a professional accompanying the travellers on the kayak after a safety briefing and a paddle briefing. Most families enjoy this relaxing sport as it also gives them an insight into the iconic landmarks of this capital city.

Since you would want to make the most of your time in Abu Dhabi by experiencing different watersports, using a centrally placed accommodation is best; towards this, Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat is a popular choice due to the many special offers extended to guests.

Snorkelling and Scuba Diving

Discover the rich underwater world in Abu Dhabi by engaging in snorkelling or diving. Both watersports enable you to witness a rich, kaleidoscopic canvas of marine life. Abu Dhabi is an enchanting archipelago made up of over 200 islands, thus, there is so much of the Arabian Gulf with many dive sites and snorkel spots to explore, teeming with marine life and even shipwrecks.

Based on your preference of what you like to witness, it can be a reef dive, a deep-water dive, or a wreck dive in the warm waters of the Arabian Sea. Snorkellers will be fascinated by stingrays, barracudas, spotted eagle rays, turtles and more. Many professional watersports centres in Abu Dhabi are offering these services along with trained experts for coaching novices, upon request.

Jet Cars

Enjoy the rush of adrenaline at the seat of a cutting-edge luxurious Jet Car in Abu Dhabi. Have the wind whizz through your hair and the breeze soothe your skin as you slice through the clear blue-green waters of the Arabian Gulf with the roaring power of modern engineering under your fingertips with Jet Car Water Sports Abu Dhabi.

Relax as you learn to slice through in style, navigating the waterways in charge of the speed, the allure of water and the vista in front of your eyes like the Abu Dhabi skyline when you are at a vantage point. This exciting watersport can be done by even novices under expert guidance, with graceful glides and powerful accelerations being a part of the ride.