Our Story
From the cockpit to the backyard — building outdoor spaces with the precision of a pilot and the heart of a homeowner.
The Beginning
It started with his own backyard.
Ayoub Elkhoudiri spent over a decade as a commercial pilot — flying thousands of hours, mastering precision under pressure, and developing an eye for detail that most people never need. But when he came home to Raleigh, he wanted something more than four walls and a roof. He wanted an outdoor space that felt alive.
So he designed and built his own pool. Not a quick weekend project — a full custom build. He obsessed over every detail: the tile patterns, the water features, the way the LED lights hit the stone at night, the exact angle of the fire pit so you'd feel the warmth without the smoke. He treated it like a flight plan — every step calculated, every outcome considered.
When it was finished, the neighbors noticed. Then their friends noticed. Then their friends' friends. Everyone had the same question: “Can you do this for us?”
The Philosophy
If it's not good enough for my family, it's not good enough for yours.
That's the standard Ayoub set from day one. When you spend a decade making split-second decisions at 35,000 feet, you develop a zero-tolerance policy for “good enough.” Every pool Oasis builds is held to the same standard as the one in Ayoub's own backyard — the one his kids swim in every weekend.
That means premium materials, proven engineering, and a team that treats your project like their own. No shortcuts. No subcontractor roulette. Just one team, one vision, and a commitment to getting it right the first time.
Pilot to Pool Builder
Same discipline.
Different altitude.
People ask Ayoub what flying has to do with building pools. His answer: everything. A flight checklist has hundreds of items — skip one and people get hurt. A pool build is no different. Structural steel, plumbing, electrical, drainage, shotcrete, tile, coping, equipment — each phase is a checkpoint that has to be perfect before moving to the next.
In aviation, you learn that the best outcomes come from thorough preparation, constant communication, and never rushing a step just to save time. Ayoub brought that mindset to Oasis, and it shows in every project.
“I flew planes for ten years. Now I build backyards. Both require trust, precision, and an obsession with doing things right. The altitude changed — the standards didn't.”
— Ayoub Elkhoudiri, Founder
Our Journey
How we got here.
Ayoub begins his career as a commercial pilot
Builds a custom pool at his own Raleigh home
Neighbors and friends start asking for the same quality
Oasis Outdoor Living is officially founded
First 50 projects completed across the Triangle
Expanded team and full-service outdoor living offerings
What Sets Us Apart
Our standards.
Built Like It's Our Own
Every pool we build gets the same obsessive attention Ayoub put into his own backyard. We don't cut corners — because we wouldn't accept that for our own families.
Design-First Approach
Great outdoor spaces start with great design. Every project begins with a thorough consultation and custom 3D visualization so you see every detail before we break ground.
Precision & Discipline
A decade in aviation teaches you that details matter and checklists save lives. We bring that same discipline to every excavation, every plumbing run, every tile set.
Transparent Communication
Just like a pilot briefs passengers, we keep you informed at every stage. Weekly updates, transparent pricing, and a process designed around your schedule.
500+ projects. One standard.
Let's build something together.
Start with a free consultation — we'll treat your backyard like our own.