With the announcement of a brand new, international standard leisure facility for Bahrain, FACT caught up with Victoria Williams, General Manager of Bahrain Surf Park, to find out what’s in store.

We know much of the detail about the just announced surf park project is still under wraps but it sounds really exciting. Please tell us as much about it as you can.
It’s very exciting! I am extremely proud to be involved. We are building the first Wavegarden Cove Surf Park in the Middle East at the heart of Bilaj Al Jazayer, which will be a key tourism attraction both for Bahrain as a country and for Bilaj Al Jazayer as a tourism destination. We expect to open early 2026.
This is going to be a world class visitor attraction for Bahrain – not just a surf destination, so don’t worry if you’ve never picked up a surfboard in your life. It will be a hub for enjoying waves and water for all ages and all backgrounds. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time, or if you’re a seasoned wave rider – there will be a wave for you at Bahrain Surf Park.
It will be a sight to see – the lake is the size of four football pitches and, incredibly, holds over a million cubic feet of fresh water! The waves, of all sizes, are made by the state-of-the-art Wavegarden Cove technology– the best in the world – which makes pristine waves every time and can accommodate around 90 surfers per hour at once.
And it’s not just about surfing – even if you just want to come and enjoy the waves, we will have lots of different types of sessions to participate in. We’ll also have plenty of places to eat, drink, play and enjoy the vitality of the place. With a large restaurant, a rooftop bar, kiosks, cabanas and our beachside area, visitors can watch the action whilst eating, drinking and relaxing. There’ll be temperature-controlled pools, a splash area, a kids’ club, play areas and seating areas for everyone to soak up the unique atmosphere.
There’ll be a fully stocked surf shop, with everything you’ll need to enjoy our space and we’ll be running lots of different kinds of events, with spaces for corporate use and corporate team building.

What was the vision and reasoning behind bringing a surf park to Bahrain?
This project has the full backing of the Bahrain Government and has been several years in development. We are committed to creating a world-class surf destination that sets a new benchmark within the MENA region.
We wanted to create an attraction for Bahrain to be proud of. It’s all about generating big smiles too. Waves are fun. We want everyone to experience the unique joy of harnessing nature’s rolling energy and learn to command the waves. Take your own skills up a notch. If you’re a total beginner or the competitive elite, we all have one thing in common: we all love being in the water.
We will have something for everyone, including children and adults who can’t swim. Beginners will be able to safely enjoy and build their confidence in and around the water, with lifeguard supervision and monitored water quality.
The opening of Bahrain Surf Park will mark the start of a new generation of surfers. We are creating a platform to create a passion for waves and then nurture Bahrain’s up-and-coming surfers, shine a light on their talent and help them compete on the world stage. With perfect conditions every single day, Bahrain Surf Park will become the home of Arab surf culture.

With our limited tidal action, how will the required wave levels be achieved and what sort of activities will be available?
We have a huge inland lake and we are using the state-of-the-art technology, which generates a variety of perfectly consistent waves at every level, from gentle waves for our ‘Play in the Surf’ sessions to powerful barrelling waves and peeling perfection for experienced surfers. Inexperienced beginners and the skilled pros will leave the water with the biggest smiles on their faces. The team who designed it share our mission to always be seeking joy in the waves.
We will have a selection of activities – there will be something for everyone – truly Waves for All! If you want to learn how to swim or go bodyboarding for the first time, our popular Play in the Surf experience features our smallest waves and is suitable for the whole family to enjoy. Our surf coaches and lifeguards will be there to guide you every step of the way.

Is it intended as an international facility – could there be the potential for competition surfing?
Absolutely – with waves as good as you find in some of the world’s top surf spots such as Hawaii and Indonesia, competitive surfing is definitely in the plan. We already intend to host a major international surfing competition at Bahrain Surf Park in 2026. We will put Bahrain on the map for international surfing as much as it is a destination for Formula 1 racing.

What will your local target market be and how do you plan to get the Bahraini people and local residents involved, what will you be offering to attract them?
Obviously, we’d like to appeal to the very broadest demographic but, that said, we’ve a specific target market in mind defined largely by transportation and ease of access to Bahrain. And with the new airport and Gulf Air’s collaboration, our message ‘Waves for All’ should resonate from Kuwait to Oman and Saudi to Sudan. I would like everyone to come and have a look and have a go at surfing though – it’s so much fun. You’ll be ‘popping up’ and riding the waves within an hour of starting your first session. Come and watch a lesson if you don’t believe me.
There are already plenty of Bahrainis and local residents who enjoy water sports and some are already surfers who will no longer need to go farther afield to get the perfect wave. We will have numerous offers, promotions and packages which should appeal to all skill levels and budgets.
The really important thing is to sign up on our website, for the latest news and developments as we build the park over the next year. We’ll be going out with early bird offers, vouchers to buy and memberships well before we open.

Will it also be a facility that can be used by schools and youth groups?
Schools, youth groups and groups of every shape and size will be key to our success, so yes. We are already involved with the Royal Lifesaving Society who are concerned with water safety in the Kingdom, and we are hoping to collaborate with many schools for swimming lessons as well as learning to surf and other activities at Bahrain Surf Park.    

Please tell us a bit about your leisure industry background. What made you the perfect choice to develop and realise this vision?
I have worked in the hospitality and leisure industry all my life, most recently as a senior leader in world class leisure attractions in the UK and Dubai. I have run theme parks, family entertainment centres, ‘Kidzanias’ (children’s edutainment attractions) in London and Dubai, an ice rink and have even set up the Game of Thrones studio tour visitor attraction in Ireland. I thrive in these environments, have a real passion for excellence and great guest service, and am well versed in what it takes to work on the project, and then lead such an attraction to success – it’s all about teamwork.

Tell us a bit about your team – who’s on board to bring the project to fruition in terms of expert input?
I am working with the very best!
The project is being developed by a team of experts, run by Craig Stoddart, who was behind the very first Wavegarden Cove project in the world – THE WAVE, in Bristol, UK. The team not only developed and opened this world-class facility but worked closely with Wavegarden to ensure the technology developed apace to bring the exceptional experience which they are now delivering worldwide. I am privileged to work with this team, who are leading the project and collaborating with Edamah and GFH who are the partners supporting me on a daily basis.

Find out more about the project at bahrainsurfpark.com