Known as the "Marina Guru", Arrol has worked on marina projects in 40 countries. He graduated from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology with an honours degree in Civil Engineering and was later awarded a Fellowship of the Institution of Civil Engineers of Great Britain.

Arrol spent 15 years in the dredging and marine civil engineering industry, much of the time with Royal Bos Kalis Westminster Group, the world's largest dredging company. This was followed by 16 years as the Managing Director of world-famous Camper & Nicholsons Marinas Ltd; he expanded its activities internationally. He was then a founder director of a Dubai World company, Island Global Yachting Dubai LLC, responsible for the design and development of the marinas at Dubai's Palm Island and Festival City. Since 2008 Arrol has been in private practice, and currently has assignments on 4 continents.

Simon Arrol has hands-on experience from his time as a marina-group manager, a marina promoter, a marina developer, and as an investor.  His marina expertise is underpinned by his civil engineering knowhow.  These wide-ranging skills, plus the ability to write very clearly, have resulted in The Marina Manual.