The United Arab Emirates Must Play Courses
A guide to some of our favourite courses to play in The UAE
Our golfing focus in the UAE centres on Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah—destinations that have rapidly positioned the UAE as one of the premier golf break locations in the world. The region boasts an exceptional collection of world-class golf courses, all conveniently situated within a compact area and open to public play. Combined with luxurious accommodation options, outstanding dining experiences, a warm desert climate, and excellent accessibility via direct flights from the UK, the UAE offers everything needed for an unforgettable golfing getaway.
Below, we highlight some of our favourite courses worth experiencing during your visit. However, with so many exceptional options available that we haven’t mentioned here, a truly unforgettable golf trip awaits.
Located on Yas Islands western shore, and adjacent to Yas Marina Circuit - part of the Formula 1 schedule - lies the Middle East’s number 1 golf course, and a true links-style gem. This par 72 championship course was designed by Kyle Phillips - creator of both Kingsbarns Golf Links & Dundonald Links amongst many others – and his Scottish Links influences have been used to great effect on this Arabian plot.
Rolling, fast & undulating fairways, vast & deep bunkering, tee shots over water, all of this was created from scratch on a flat shapeless piece of land by Klye and his team. Ultimately what has been created here is a desert course with a true links feel to it. Whilst fairways are forgiving the shaping ensures that thought & execution is required, greens are fast & vast with classic roll off areas to punish the wayward iron shots, and when the wind blows, as it often does along the coast, the low penetrating ball flight is a real benefit to have in your repertoire of shots.
Yas Links features world-class practice facilities, including a floodlit par-3 academy course and a driving range, as well as a contemporary clubhouse to unwind over a beer post-round. A must visit for any thinking of heading Abu Dhabi & Dubai.
Located just along the peninsular from Yas Links, this unique & stunning course more than holds its own against the world-renowned Yas course. Designed by the legendary Gary Player, this par 72 links-style championship course plays nearly 7,300 yards from the back tees, although we wouldn’t recommend this. Set against a backdrop of pristine white sand beaches and turquoise waters, the course offers a unique blend of natural beauty, strategic challenges, and eco-conscious design.
Expansive, native dune landscapes and waste areas & Arabian Gulf coastal views are the incorporated in the courses design to great effect. A shared feature with its sister course of Yas Links are the fast, undulating fairways and contoured greens. Alongside the immaculate conditioning this is a great course to experience, stay out of the vast and bold bunkers and a decent score is on the cards and compliments perfectly the other 2 world-class courses in Abu Dhabi.
Nestled within the prestigious DAMAC Hills community, is this exceptional par-71 championship course designed by the acclaimed architect Gil Hanse. Trump is an admirer if Hanse’ work, and you can see why. This is a truly stunning course and incorporates the Dubai skyline as a backdrop wherever possible.
This is another links-style course – you’re really spoilt for them in The UAE – with fast, firm & undulating fairways surrounded by rugged wispy-grassed wasteland, leading to contoured, bold greenscapes.
As you would expect from a Trump course, especially in Dubai, the conditioning is exceptional, but what really makes this course stand out is the unique design on display here and strategy required to manoeuvre your way around successfully. This is course that will keep you thinking, from start to end, and has a great blend of strong & testing and risk & reward. A must visit on any Dubai golf trip.
The most renowned course in Dubai just had to be included in our line up. Designed by Greg Norman and opened to great acclaim in 2009, the Earth course annually hosts the DP World Tours Championship finale.
Set amidst the prestigious Jumeirah Golf Estates development, which also features the Norman designed Fire course, and will hopefully one day also host the planned Earth & Water courses, lies this now iconic par 72 Championship course. Designed to be both challenging and rewarding this is a very playable course, keep your ball in play off the tee, avoid the water and there’s every chance of posting a decent score.
The course provides a great mix of excellent & contrasting hole designs as it cuts its way through the surrounding desert scrub, but the final three of 16, 17 & 18 are as challenging as you’ll find in the Middle East and provide a great finale and championship feel to wrap up the round. Impecably maintained as with all courses mentioned here, another must visit for those heading to Dubai for a golf trip.
Located in the heart of Dubai Sports City, The Els Club opened in 2008 and coined the phrase ‘Desert-links’. Playing over 7,500 yards from the championship tees, this par 72 layout is reminiscent of Melbourne’s ‘sandbelt’ courses, it’s certainly as close as you can get to it in Dubai, and aesthetically it’s as good as it gets in the region.
A quote from the Big Easy himself - "The Els Club combines the best of all the great clubs that I have played worldwide. The golf challenge is second to none. I am really proud of what we have achieved here. Whether you are an 18 handicap or a scratch golfer, it will be a great test of golf. This course is something very special. I think you can make a course challenging for the best players in the world but at the same time enjoyable for the rest of the world's golfers. We've done that here." Ernie Els 2008.
Your short game will undoubtably come into play around here, and strategy is key to a good score, but this is another one for the bucket-list that will not disappoint.