Dubai is a fantastic destination to go for a golf holiday. There are a large number of courses to choose from, in a range of different price brackets. The climate is pleasant and the temperatures are extremely comfortable. The hotels are world class and there are many attractions to visit. Here are six of the best reasons for you to choose Dubai for your next golfing adventure.
Attend a Tournament & Play the Course after the Event
Just down the road, The DP World Tour (formerly known as The European Tour) kicks off its calendar year at The HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championships. There’s little doubt that this is one of the biggest events on said former European Tour, but it’s in Dubai where world-class golf in the desert really got its ball rolling.
When founded in 1989, The Dubai Desert Classic was the first European Tour event to be staged in the Arabian Peninsula, which is fitting considering the history of the event’s host course.
Dubbed “The Desert Miracle” when it opened for play in 1988, the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club was the first all grass course to emerge in the Gulf and has paved the way for countless other world-class layouts in the region since that day.
One of those said courses is the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates which plays host to the season-ending DP World Tour Championships, so whether it’s an New Year’s escape to the sun or an end of year treat to yourself, a golf holiday in Dubai offers you the chance to combine watching the world’s best players compete at marquee DP World Tour events with some golf of your own, maybe even on the very same courses the pros have played just a few days prior to teeing it up yourself.
? Emirates Golf Club, Dubai
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DP World Tour Championship
Each year, players on the European Tour battle it out to reach the DP World Tour Championship, hosted in Dubai and for the leading 60 players in the Race to Dubai standings.
It comes as a last chance to secure vital points and propel yourself up the leaderboard, with many of golf’s big names in the running.
Aside from the majors, World Golf Championships and probably the flagship event for the Tour at Wentworth for the BMW PGA Championship, this is the tour’s most significant tournament…and it’s played in Dubai.
Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course
Of course for a tournament which culminates a season of playing, travelling and competing, there is bound to be drama in abundance; you just have to look at this year’s Tour Championship for evidence of that.
To match the significance of the tournament is the course on which its contested and The Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates is the perfect host. Designed by two-time Open Championship winner, Greg Norman, the course sits at over 7,700 yards from the back tees and definitely favours the big hitters; but not always.
While the likes of Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy are among recent winners, so is Matt Fitzpatrick, who isn’t renowned for length of the tee, showing that accuracy is just as rewarding round this mesmerising track.
The strong parkland influence from classic American courses is there to see and the surrounding nature is a huge factor in making this course what it is.
Large white bunkers, colourful bark and towering trees perfectly embody the title of this course, however the Earth Course is part of a much wider project. Along with Norman’s Fire Course, Vijay Singh is currently creating a Water Course with the much anticipated Wind course yet to be confirmed.
Dubai Desert Classic
As part of the Desert Swing on the European Tour, with the Abu Dhabi Championship, the Dubai Desert Classic has been a constant on the European Tour for nearly 30 years, seeing greats of the game claim victory like Tiger Woods, Seve Ballesteros and Ernie Els.
Dubbed ‘The Major of the Middle East’, the tournament never fails to deliver, with exciting golf right up until the final hole. In 2017, Li Haotong clinched his first tour win after Rory McIlroy pushed him right until the 18th, a scenario not uncommon.
In 2016 and 2017, Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia looked to begin a trend of the winners of the DDC going on to claiming a green jacket at Augusta just a couple of months later.
The timing of the tournament is key, with golfers looking to get in form ahead of the year’s big tests; another testament to just how vital Dubai is to the golfing world.
Emirates Golf Club – Majilis Course
As the first all-grass course to open in the middle east back in 1988, the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club is, without doubt, one of the biggest attractions for the region.
The course is more in line with what you would expect from a Dubai golf course, carved out of the desert and with a lot of sand, but it has gone through mass development, or at least the land around it has.
Originally in the middle of nowhere, skyscrapers are now a prominent backdrop and a reminder of the severe growth of Dubai’s financial landscape.
The iconic 18th on the Majlis Course shows off key features which are rife throughout the course; the incredibly fast green is protected by a huge water hazard and on the last day, pin positions can be cruel enough to see many hit a splash ball…or two.
Amazing Golf Courses
We’ve already covered the courses that host some of the biggest events on the DP World Tour (the Dubai Desert Classic and DP World Tour Championship) which, needless to say, are two of the best golf courses in Dubai, but with 14 golf clubs in total, there is plenty of choice for golfers visiting the UAE on their next golf holiday.
The Majlis Course at The Emirates Golf Club lead the way in the late 80s, and since then countless world-class golfing facilities have followed. Arabian Ranches lies on the outskirts of Dubai’s developed city hub and offers a quintessential desert golf experience, while the likes of Dubai Creek, The Els Club and Dubai Hills along with many others boast incredible conditioning (the norm for golf in Dubai), world-class practice and off-course facilities and an end to end service that makes visitors feel like a member for the day.
The sun shines constantly in Dubai, but those who simply can’t get enough golf during their Dubai golf holiday can rest assured in the knowledge that they can tee it up at numerous courses long after the sun has set. Night Golf is an unforgettable experience and with Dubai being one of only a handful of destinations around the world that affords the chance to tee it up under the floodlights in the dark of night, a few holes perhaps after a few drinks and a slap up meal is simply a must.
Dubai Hills Golf Club
Aside from the two courses which feature under the European Tour spotlight each year, Dubai has many more jewels in its crown, and few shine brighter than Dubai Hills Golf Club.
Just 15 minutes from downtown, Dubai Hills shares the impressive landscape of the modern infrastructure, which is a staple of golf in Dubai. Locations like these are perfect for travelling golfers, with premier golf on offer just a stone’s throw away from the tax-free shopping, Michelin standard restaurants and of course some of the most opulent resorts you’ll find around the world.
The course itself is a part of the Dubai Hills Estate, an area which spans 2,700 acres and provides guests with the tools for an unforgettable golf holiday. Measuring at 7,220 yards from the back tees, the wide sweeping fairways make it an exciting round for all handicaps, despite the stern tests of undulating greens and demand for strategic approach play.
Off the course, there are many bespoke community villas which are elegantly designed and a nod to the sheer grandeur of the whole estate.
This emerging property is sure to become one of the leading UAE golf venues and is ideal for any golfer looking to get fully indulge in Dubai’s excellent and unique appeal.
Luxury Hotels
As one of the world’s richest cities, it hardly comes as a surprise that Dubai is home to some of the best hotels in the world. The most famous is most certainly the “world’s only 7* hotel”, the Burj Al Arab, which is the pinnacle of luxury for anyone looking to make the most of their Dubai Golf Holiday.
It goes without saying that a few nights in such an establishment comes at a price, so for those looking to “slum it” in a regular 5* luxury hotel, it’ll be music to the ears that Dubai boasts an endless array of world-class hotels to suit many a taste and budget.
Exciting Activities away from the Golf Course
As a travel destination, Dubai is somewhat of a juxtaposition, where fascinating Arabian culture and traditional desert living sit alongside some of the most incredible modern attractions that have been born out of the region’s outrageous wealth.
More on traditional desert life and an ancient culture waiting to be explored in a bit, but for now, let’s take a little peek at what golfers can get up to when they’re enjoying their holiday time away from the golf course.
From taking a run down black slope at Ski Dubai, to enjoying an evening meal on the 122nd floor of the world’s tallest building, everything is bigger, better and bolder in Dubai. Those with a penchant for a spot of retail therapy will be right at home at The Mall of The Emirates, while others who prefer a bit of the beach life can soak up the sun and enjoy adrenaline fueled watersports on one of Dubai’s many beaches.
Of course, as a land that emerged from the desert, sand is never in short supply in Dubai. Before spending the night under the desert sky and a traditional taste of Arabian living, be sure to take to the dunes for some sandboarding or indeed dune bashing in a speedy 4×4!
The Weather is Perfect for Golf
With only just over 20 days of precipitation falling on average each year, playing golf with the sun on your back is all but guaranteed for those who opt for a Dubai golf holiday.
Temperatures range between 20 and 35 degrees throughout the year, so while it can get extremely hot in the summer months, golf is on the cards pretty much around the clock in Dubai, with an average monthly temperature of 27.5 degrees providing you with ample opportunity to work on your golfer’s tan!
Golf can even be enjoyed long after the sun has gone down in Dubai too. Every now and again you might need a light golf jumper, but with warm temperatures lasting well into the night, a round of golf is very much on the cards at the various courses in the region that offer night golf under the floodlights.
Rich Culture & Heritage of the UAE
With such an array of incredible modern day, mega-money attractions, you’d be forgiven that Dubai is all skyscrapers, man-made islands and supercars, but there is also a great deal of history, heritage and culture in this part of the world.
You need look only to the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood to catch a glimpse of what life in Old Dubai was like during the mid-19th century. Located alongside Dubai Creek, each alley, twisting pathway and breezy tower tells a story of a life before the seven emirates.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the Emirates Golf Federation, there are 22 golf clubs in the UAE. A total of 14 are located within Dubai with 6 in Abu Dhabi and 2 in Ras Al Khaimah.
Take a look at some of the best golf courses you can play here.
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