The construction of Gemswell Surf Madrid, the future largest artificial wave beach in Europe, has now reached 40% completion. The complex, located next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, is set to open in spring 2027.
The dream of surfing waves up to two metres high with the Madrid skyline as a backdrop is getting closer. The works for Gemswell Surf Madrid, Europe's largest artificial wave beach, have reached 40% completion and are progressing well in the Atlético de Madrid Sports City.
The complex, which is being built next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, expects to welcome half a million visitors a year and offer 180,000 hours of surfing for all levels, from beginners aged four to professionals.
A lagoon of 23,000 square metres
The main lagoon will measure 181 metres in width and 23,000 square metres, equivalent to two football fields, with a maximum depth of 2.90 metres. It will feature two distinct areas: 'Bay', for beginners, and 'Reef', for experienced surfers, with a combined capacity of 120 people per hour of session.
The managing director of Gemswell Ventures, Sergio García Castillo, explained during a visit to the construction site that currently 123 people are working against the clock to complete the construction by February 2027. After two months of testing, the public opening is scheduled for spring of that year.
30,000 cubic metres of water and a Basque wave machine
The lagoon will be filled with 30,000 cubic metres of water through a single discharge via the Canal de Isabel II. According to García, water will only be lost through evaporation, meaning the complex will only close for one month a year, starting on January 7, for maintenance of the wave machine.
This system, developed by the Basque company Wavegarden, is capable of generating a wave every eight seconds and will offer more than 20 types of waves. A professional surfer can catch up to 18 waves in an hour. The machine will arrive at the site in September for assembly, which will take two months and require 60 experts to assemble the 153 modules that make it up.
“The machine will be monitored from San Sebastián and there will be a person on-site throughout its operation,” García noted.
Additionally, the facility will feature a storm pond that will recover around 7,000 cubic metres of water per year.
Surf school with a luxury ambassador
Gemswell Surf Madrid will host a Surf Academy for all audiences, with programmes for beginners or to improve technique. There will be one instructor for every 15 students and groups of up to 20 people will have two instructors. The project's ambassador is Andy Criere, the first male Spanish surfer, who will be able to train at this beach just 15 minutes from the city centre.
According to various studies, the Community of Madrid is the second Spanish region with the highest number of registered surfers, only behind Galicia, and around 35,000 Madrilenians have a surfboard at home. The project is being replicated in Birmingham, where it will open in 2028.
A lifestyle complex with a pool, yoga, and concerts
The complex is not just for surfers. It is designed as a leisure and sports space with a two-storey building whose exterior design will evoke the movement of waves. It will house a social club with a pool, gym, pilates and yoga classes, two saunas, a contrast pool, and changing rooms, covering a total of 6,000 square metres.
In addition to the lagoon, there will be four additional pools, two of which will be 25 metres long. It will also feature a concert space with a total capacity of 2,850 visitors, a surfskate area for beginners, and a specialised shop.
Access will be direct and will include 860 parking spaces spread over two floors, for both members and visitors. The dining options will include five food outlets, three of which will be around the main building.
With views of the Kio Towers, the Four Towers, Ifema, and the planes taking off from Barajas, Gemswell Surf Madrid promises to become a benchmark for leisure in Madrid. Residents of the capital and nearby municipalities such as Coslada or San Fernando de Henares will have a unique entertainment option just minutes from home. The countdown to catch the first wave has already begun.
