What SurfX does

SurfX is a Qatar-based mobile and web booking marketplace that consolidates the country's water sports, beach clubs, hotel day passes, water parks, spas, and lifestyle experiences into a single consumer app. Founded in 2026 by Amr Osama Ibrahim and operated by the legal entity Surf X Digital and Services, headquartered at Lusail Towers 1 in Lusail, the company launched publicly in June 2026 in Doha and currently lists 38 verified live venues across eight Qatar geographies including Doha, Lusail, The Pearl, Qetaifan Island, West Bay, Mesaieed, Al Wakra, and Al Khor. The company explicitly does not operate in other GCC countries. SurfX replaces the fragmented WhatsApp-and-Instagram booking workflow that previously dominated venue reservations in Qatar with a unified app delivering real-time slot availability synced to venue calendars, transparent pricing that matches venue-listed rates, in-app payment via Google Pay and a Qatar-licensed payment gateway, and QR check-in tickets distributed to Apple Wallet.

The platform is built on a standard mobile-first stack: native iOS and Android apps plus a web client at surfxapp.com, backed by Supabase for authentication, Twilio for SMS one-time-password verification, Google Maps SDK for venue mapping, Firebase Crashlytics for crash reporting, Apple Push Notification Service and Firebase Cloud Messaging for transactional notifications, and a Qatar-licensed payment gateway that handles card data directly on the device. Median booking-to-QR flow is 90 seconds. SurfX monetizes as a marketplace facilitator, earning transaction fees or commissions on bookings while pricing venues at parity with their direct rates. Marquee supply partners include Four Seasons Doha (Makani), Grand Hyatt Doha, Marsa Malaz Kempinski, Monkey Tale, SUSHISAMBA Beach Club, Azure Beach Qetaifan, Doha Beach Club, Meryal Waterpark, and Desert Falls Waterpark. Demand is B2C, targeted at Doha residents and visitors, and acquired through app store optimization, a content-driven blog covering local lifestyle guides, and earned media in outlets such as Doha News, Wamda, Time Out Qatar, Marhaba, Vogue Arabia, and The Edge. Within roughly two months of public launch, the platform reported 2,400+ completed bookings and a 4.9-star average venue rating from first-party post-session feedback. The team is described as small (1–10 employees) and the company is founder-owned with no disclosed external funding.

Name

SurfX

Legal name

Surf X Digital and Services

Website

https://surfxapp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SurfX is a Qatar mobile and web marketplace that consolidates water sports, beach clubs, hotel day passes, water parks, and lifestyle experiences into one booking app. It serves Doha residents and visitors across 38 verified venues with real-time availability, transparent pricing, and QR check-in.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Experience & Activities Booking Marketplace

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Recreational Goods Rental (532284)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Surf, Kitesurf & Wind Sports Adventures (THAJABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC), Reef, Island & Coastal Ecotours (mangroves, lagoons, sea caves) (THAAAIAE)

Keywords

• Experience booking platform
• Water sports reservations
• Beach club marketplace
• Hotel day passes
• Lifestyle activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Lusail

HQ country

Qatar

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Booking transaction fees: SurfX acts as a facilitator between customers and venues. The platform enables booking and payment collection. Revenue is derived from transaction fees or commissions on bookings made through the platform, with prices matching what venues charge (no markup).
2. Marketplace commission: As a booking marketplace, SurfX likely earns commission from venues for bookings facilitated through the platform. The company states prices shown match what venues charge directly.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SurfX operates a mobile-first (iOS, Android) and web booking marketplace that consolidates Qatar's water sports, beach clubs, hotel day passes, water parks, diving, spa, sunset cruises, and an in-app gear marketplace into a single bookable directory. The platform enables consumers to discover, compare, book, and pay for activities at 38+ verified venues across 12+ categories with real-time availability, transparent pricing at venue-set rates, and QR-ticket check-in. The app is free to download; SurfX earns commission on transactions while displaying prices matching venue direct rates with no markup.

Product overview

SurfX is a lifestyle booking platform for Qatar, consisting of a core mobile and web app (iOS, Android, Web) that consolidates water sports, beach clubs, hotel day passes, water parks, and family experiences into a single bookable directory. The product portfolio includes the SurfX App (the primary booking interface with real-time availability, in-app payment, and QR check-in), the SurfX Website (launch-list and venue browsing), the SurfX Marketplace (in-app gear shop), and three venue directory sections covering Beach Clubs & Hotel Day Passes, Water Sports, and Water Parks, each with curated editorial content. The SurfX Blog publishes seasonal and activity-specific guides. The platform replaces fragmented WhatsApp and Instagram booking with a unified app that handles venue discovery, comparison, booking, payment, and check-in.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SurfX App Mobile booking application (iOS and Android) for Qatar residents and visitors to discover, compare, book, and pay for water sports, beach clubs, hotel day passes, water parks, diving, spa, sunset cruises, fishing, kayak/SUP, jet ski, and an in-app marketplace. Includes real-time availability, in-app payment via Apple Pay and Google Pay, QR check-in with Apple Wallet integration, and push notifications. Free to download; users pay only for bookings at venue-listed prices.
• SurfX Website Web platform at surfxapp.com for browsing venues, signing up to the launch list, accessing the venue directory (beach clubs, water sports, water parks), and reading editorial blog guides on Qatar lifestyle activities. Provides authentication via Supabase session cookies and supports launch-list email capture.
• SurfX Marketplace In-app shop within the SurfX app for purchasing boards, swimwear, sunscreen, and water sports gear. Users buy in-app and pick up at the venue, creating a venue-anchored retail experience integrated with the booking flow.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90 seconds from app open to QR ticket confirmation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SupabasecoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthentication provider for the SurfX platform. Sets authentication cookies for sign-in on the web. Stores user email addresses for the website launch list. Essential infrastructure for user identity management.
• TwiliocoreTechnology or IntegrationSMS verification provider for phone-number sign-in. Sends one-time passwords (OTP) at signup. Essential for the phone-number authentication flow in the mobile app.
• Qatar-licensed payment gatewaycoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing provider for in-app bookings. Receives transaction amount, customer name, and booking reference. SurfX does not store full card numbers, CVV, or expiry. Payment card data goes directly from device to gateway.
• Code WakecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium wakeboarding and water sports operator at The Pearl-Qatar. Currently bookable on SurfX. IKO-certified instructors, wakeboard, wakesurf, eFoil, kitesurfing at Marina Gate 22, West Bay Beach, and island shuttle destinations.
• Wake QatarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEstablished wakeboarding and wakesurfing operator at The Pearl-Qatar. Featured launch partner on SurfX platform.
• 365 AdventurescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdventure-focused operator with wake sessions at The Pearl plus kayaking through Al Thakhira mangroves. Featured launch partner. Wake sessions priced per boat (up to 6 people).
• Azure Beach QetaifancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBeach club on Qetaifan Island North with infinity pool overlooking the Gulf. Featured launch partner with beach club day passes on SurfX.
• Doha Beach ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBeach venue on West Bay coastline (operated by Discover Qatar, also known as Doha Sands). Featured launch partner with beach club day passes on SurfX.
• SUSHISAMBA Beach ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBeach club at Waldorf Astoria Lusail featuring Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian fusion. Featured launch partner with beach club day passes on SurfX.
• Monkey TalecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBeach club at Grand Hyatt Doha with 1,500 sqm private beach and DJ-led atmosphere. Featured launch partner with beach club day passes on SurfX.
• Four Seasons Doha (Makani)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFive-star hotel offering pool and beach day passes. Featured launch partner with hotel day passes on SurfX.
• Grand Hyatt DohacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHotel with four outdoor pools, indoor pool, and 400m private beach offering day passes. Featured launch partner with hotel day passes on SurfX.
• Marsa Malaz KempinskicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFive-star hotel at The Pearl offering pool and beach day passes. Featured launch partner with hotel day passes on SurfX.
• Meryal WaterparkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWater park on Qetaifan Island North featuring The Rig 1938 (85-meter drop tower, Guinness World Records). Featured launch partner on SurfX.
• Desert Falls WaterparkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWater park at Hilton Salwa Beach Resort with 56 rides and 3.5km private beach. Featured launch partner on SurfX.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rezdy: Booking and distribution platform purpose-built for tour and activity operators — comparable to SurfX's venue-side onboarding, real-time availability sync and QR check-in features.
• Headout: Mobile-first last-minute experiences and activities marketplace; comparable to SurfX's 90-second QR-ticket flow and last-minute beach-club / hotel-day-pass positioning.
• Bokun: Tour-operator booking engine and marketplace infrastructure now owned by Tripadvisor; comparable to SurfX as the operational backbone SurfX-style platforms use for venue inventory, calendar sync and payment.
• Viator: Tripadvisor-owned marketplace for tours, activities and attractions worldwide; comparable to SurfX in aggregating operator inventory and taking marketplace commissions on bookings.
• Peek: Curated activities booking platform emphasizing premium experiences, real-time availability and operator-direct inventory — closely aligned with SurfX's curated local-content and venue-verification approach.
• GetYourGuide: Worldwide tours and activities marketplace with a mobile-first booking flow, real-time availability and supplier-side onboarding — directly comparable to SurfX's 90-second booking and venue-partner model.
• Klook: Global activities and experiences booking platform that consolidates tours, attractions, transport and local experiences into one app — the same structural model SurfX uses for Qatar's water sports, beach clubs and hotel day passes.

Emerging players

• ClassPass: Subscription-based booking platform for fitness and wellness classes at partner studios; comparable to SurfX on the booking-flow and venue-supply mechanics, though focused on indoor fitness rather than outdoor water experiences.

Regional players

• Cobone: UAE-headquartered deals and experiences marketplace covering leisure, dining and activities across the Gulf; comparable to SurfX as the closest regional peer for lifestyle/leisure booking, though primarily UAE-focused rather than Qatar.

Broad incumbents

• Airbnb Experiences: Experiences marketplace layered onto Airbnb's broader accommodation platform; comparable to SurfX as a curated, locally-led activities booking product, though it operates as a wider portfolio play.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SurfX