Malibu Bay: UAE's first residential wave pool is now open – in pictures

The wave pool is free to use for residents and inspired by Southern California

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  Damac Hills has become the first residential community to have a wave pool in the UAE. Courtesy Damac Properties

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  The giant ball that generates the waves in the centre of the Malibu Bay pool at Damac Hills. Courtesy Damac Properties

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  The Malibu Bay logo has a vintage California-feel. Courtesy Damac Properties

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  The wave pool is free for Damic Hills residents to use. Courtesy Damac Properties

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  The Malibu Bay pool spans 24,700 square feet, which is one and a half times as big as a professional hockey rink. Courtesy Damac Properties

A Dubai community has become the first in the UAE to have a wave pool for the exclusive use of its residents.

The free-to-use Malibu Bay wave pool offers the benefits of being at the beach but is located within the Damac Hills gated community, which is approximately a 20-minute drive from the nearest beach on the Dubai coastline.

The pool spans 24,700 square feet, about one and a half times as big as a professional ice hockey rink. The waves are created by a giant wave ball, which has been imported from Belgium and plunges up and down in a gated area in the centre of the pool.

The giant ball that generates waves in the centre of the Malibu Bay pool at Damac Hills. Courtesy Damac Properties

“While the UAE has several artificial islands, I haven’t seen anything like the wave pool in Malibu Bay. It's definitely unique and one of a kind,” said Niall McLoughlin, senior vice president of Damac Properties.

“From a creative standpoint, you really feel like you are in California’s Malibu Bay, with the serene green landscape, palm trees surrounding the wave pool and the graffiti artwork and surfboards integrated into the design.”

He added: “There has been a lot of exciting chatter from residents about the beach and the opening is really a milestone for Damac Hills, which continues to offer its residents unique attractions.”

The pool is not the only attraction at Malibu Bay, which has a retro California-style logo, in keeping with its namesake. The 72,000 sq ft area also offers food trucks and leisure activities, such as table tennis and a splash park for children. The larger park area at Damac Hills also has a skate park, a horse stable, an ice rink, a petting zoo, a dog park and fishing lakes.