Golfing in Dubai: Your guide to Dubai's golf courses and resorts

Dubai has risen to claim a spot among the world’s best golf holiday destinations, and rightfully so. This emirate is the proud host of major golf tournaments and is home to golf courses and clubs that are fit for the champions. This guide will give you the low-down on golfing in Dubai, from the best golf courses and venues for night golf to the golfing tournaments not to be missed.

Dubai’s golf scene is dominated by 18-hole championship golf courses designed by prominent names in the golfing world such as Karl Litten, Gil Hanse, and Nick Faldo. These golf courses are a visual feast that features undulating fairways, lakes, valleys, and natural hazards in the form of water and sand.

In Dubai, golf isn’t just a sport; it’s an experience that’s accompanied by top-notch facilities and services. For the pros, Dubai tests the best of skills with devilishly challenging golf layouts such as the world-famous Majlis Course. For beginner golfers, Dubai’s charm lies in its vibrant golfing atmosphere and academies that provide coaching classes.

For a fully immersive golf holiday, stay in one of the many golf hotels or golf resorts in Dubai. A top choice is JA The Resort, which comes with three accommodation options at the doorstep of the Jebel Ali Golf Course: JA Beach Hotel, JA Palm Tree Court and JA Lake View Hotel.

Alternatively, consider Park Hyatt Dubai which is located in Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, or Address Montgomerie, a golf resort adjoining the Montgomerie Golf Club. For a boutique hotel experience, Arabian Ranches Golf Club has 11 luxurious guest rooms that feel like a home away from home.

Arabian Ranches Golf Club is a links course that embraces the desert landscape of the Gulf. The mix of expansive desert and immaculate fairways fringed by a ‘sandy wasteland’ for missed shots provide an exciting landscape to play the great game.

For tourists, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club is best known for its iconic sail-shaped clubhouse that embellishes the city’s waterfront. For golfers, it's the championship course that takes the spotlight with its groomed fairways containing plenty of water hazards. A round of golf here climaxes in a poetic challenge at the 17th and 18th finishing holes.

Dubai Hills Golf Club is a new golfing destination that opened in 2018. This 18-hole par 72 golf course is built on sand dunes, with lakes and bunkers placed strategically amid the rolling fairways. Just 15 minutes from downtown Dubai, it offers breathtaking views of Burj Khalifa, particularly in the front nine.

Montgomerie Golf Club is a links-style course designed by Colin Montgomerie. It’s set in a 200-acre oasis in Emirates Hills and comprises green complexes, man-made lakes and landscaped gardens. Stop to admire the 13th hole, where the greens are shaped in the form of the United Arab Emirates.

Tucked in Dubai Sports City, The Els Club is designed by the golfing legend Ernie Els. The course incorporates some of Els’ favorite golfing elements across the globe, while the clubhouse features influences from his homeland, South Africa. With four tees at every hole, The Els Club is suitable for golfers of every handicap.

The Trump International Golf Club delivers a five-star golfing experience in the heart of DAMAC Hills. This championship-style course can be played between 5,200 and 7,200 yards and is friendly for all abilities. For a quick game to perfect those strokes and putts, tee away at the 9-hole par 3 academy course.

Jebel Ali Golf Resort offers a 9-hole par 35 golf course with lush greens that are a delight to putt on. The desert flora, free-roaming peacocks, and views of the Persian Gulf add to the charm of this 50-acre golf course in the outskirts of Dubai.

The Track Meydan Golf is a 9-hole course that spans over 3,600 yards. This playground for golfers exudes a casual and fun vibe that welcomes players of all ages. Each hole has five tee box options that vary in length and difficulty. To get expert help in lowering your scores, book a lesson at the Meydan Academy by Troon.

Dubai plays host to the prestigious DP World Tour Championship, which is the culmination of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai. First held in 2009, this championship’s most recent victory in 2020 was claimed for the second time by Matthew Fitzpatrick. The latest season is scheduled at the Jumeirah Golf Estates from 18 to 21 November 2021.

Other much-anticipated golf tournaments in Dubai are the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour, whose 2021 title is held by Paul Casey, and Omega Moonlight Classic on the Ladies European Tour which will commence on 27 October 2021. Both these tournaments are held at the Emirates Golf Club.

On top of that, the 2023 edition of the World Amateur Team Championships will be played in Dubai – the first time ever that it’s held in the Middle East since its inception in 1958.

Established in 1988, the Emirates Golf Club boasts the Majlis Course, its flagship championship course with an 18-hole par 72 layout, and Faldo Course, a 9-hole course that welcomes golfers of all levels. Emirates Golf Club is also equipped with facilities for swimming, tennis, squash and other sports.

Jumeirah Golf Estates is home to two championship golf courses. The site of the DP World Tour Championship, the iconic Earth Course is inspired by the parklands of Europe and North America. The Fire Course, which is equally worthy of the pros, is a thinking challenge with wind, bunkers and elevation changes.

When the sun goes down, the floodlights turn on and the game keeps going in a handful of golf courses in Dubai. A prominent venue for night golf is the Faldo Course at the Emirates Golf Club. This 18-hole par 72 course is the playing grounds of the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic, the world's first professional day-night golf tournament event.

Other options include The Track Meydan, a 9-hole fully floodlit course designed by Peter Harradine, and the Trump International Golf Club, which has a 9-hole floodlit course and a driving range with LED lighting.

Dubai is known for its desert climate with temperatures that soar as high as 45°C (113°F) in the hottest months of July and August. Therefore, while the city is a year-round golfing destination, the best time to play golf in Dubai is between December and February when the weather is cool and pleasant.

That said, if you don’t mind the heat, the warmest season brings with it summer golf sales in courses and clubs across Dubai. On top of that, it’s possible to play golf in Dubai comfortably in the mornings, evenings, and in floodlit golf courses, at night as well.

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