Where do regular people eat in Abu Dhabi? I mean, it can’t be a 5-star dining experience for every meal – maybe in the glossy press materials, but not for the average visiting human. But that’s how many perceive this place. Former CT surfer Mitch Crews shares what it’s like surfing, working and dining on a reasonable budget at the world’s newest Kelly Slater Wave Co. creation.
Mitch’s role is overseeing surf operations, guest services, booking systems, coaches, surf guides, and water safety teams. His responsibilities include ensuring a seamless guest experience from check-in to session completion.
“My job is, well, I’m definitely not surfing the pool all day, every day,” said Mitch. “And I’ve got a lot of responsibilities like I’ve got to manage a team of about 55. I manage the entire water safety. I’ve got a lot of people under my watch.”
Mitch’s Employer
This wave pool jobs works to ensure the resort follows a luxury surf trip model. High-end means surfers participate in structured, high-performance sessions with small groups to maximize wave quality and exclusivity. Mitch’s job is to ensure the continuation of that lux vibe.
“We’re a surf resort with a perfect wave in front of it. That’s the way to describe us. We’re, you know, a five-star resort. We take people on surf trips, but the surf trip is condensed. So basically, our day consists of checking guests in and taking them on a one-day or a half-day surfing experience at a perfect wave.”
Since opening, Surf Abu Dhabi has attracted international visitors, professional surfers, and local Emirati surf enthusiasts, with increasing demand despite the premium pricing structure. That said, much of the customer experience was drawn from The Surf Ranch in Lemoore.
“Definitely give credit to the KSWaveCo guys. They literally have led the way in a whole new experience of surf hospitality with the Surf Ranch,” added Mitch. “We’ve tailored the Lemoore teachings or procedures maybe slightly, but we are also a little bit kind of unique in a sense. We’re like the airline’s business class of a surf trip and everything’s included and you get to arrive and the moment you arrive through the door, you’re going to never forget the experience. It’s just a beautiful facility and we have the surf club and two amazing restaurants on the property – there’s nothing really like it.”
Crews slipped and let out that Surf Abu Dhabi is still refining its programs. He expects the local surf scene to grow as accessibility to artificial waves improves. While primarily serving international travelers, the resort has started welcoming more local and expat surfers, expanding its reach within the UAE surf community.
Working in Salt Water
One really unique thing about this wave pool is that the water in saline. To date, there are no saltwater wave pools in the world. But seeing how Abu Dhabi is a chain of islands, positioned right on the Arabian Gulf where freshwater is scarce, it made sense. And the change does affect how the wave surfs.
“The water is pulled directly out of the sea,” added Mitch. “The pool is positioned on an island called Hudayriyat Island, just off the coast of Abu Dhabi. We pull the water directly from the sea, and it goes into a plant where it is reverse osmosis filtered and desalinated to a certain level before being sent into the basin. The saltwater from the sea in Abu Dhabi has a much higher salinity level than in Australia or California. We bring it down to a normal salt level, which affects the performance of the wave and the boards. It feels like an ocean wave.”
Want to learn more about this wave pool job? Check out the full podcast below.
Surf Communities
Dubai and Abu Dhabi have a significant expat community, making them among the most multicultural cities in the world. Both cities are striving to become global tech centers and are heavily investing in renewable energy. Many people are unaware of the extent of these developments.
Mitch said the Emirati community is initially perceived as daunting, but they are generally accommodating and open-minded.
“Emiratis are deeply passionate about their cultural beliefs and their country. Respect for local customs is essential, as it is in any country.”
Mitch notes that contrary to some online reports, many misconceptions about Emirati culture do not reflect the reality he’s seen here. Overall, both cities are normal places with ambitious aspirations for the future, focusing on cultural progress and development within the United Arab Emirates.
“I would never judge their belief system because I’m not from this place,” said Mitch. “But to be honest, that was quite fascinating to me. There’s a lot of reports online with certain beliefs and things like that, which is simply just not true from my perspective or from what I’ve seen. And yeah, it’s really just a normal place with big aspirations and big ideas for what the future can be. And that’s what they’re striving towards.”
For more wave pool jobs, check out wavepooljobs.com
