Where to play golf in the UAE? Your ultimate golf course guide

From Al Dhafra's sand based golf course, to the world renowned Majilis course at Emirates Golf Club the variety, size and scale of golf courses in the UAE has to be seen to be believed.

A country which didn't have a single golf course until 1988, the United Arab Emirates now not only has over 30 different golf courses but they are some of the best in the world. So much so, some have hosted mutliple professional tournaments and therefore have become a destination visited by both amateurs and professionals.

18 holes, 9 holes and even night golf, the UAE has it all. Here is all you need to know about them next time you want to find a golf course to play!

Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Abu Dhabi

- 9 Holes (Floodlit)
- 3199 yards Mens
- 2733 yards Ladies
- Oldest Golf Course in Abu Dhabi
- Built originally in 1976 as 18-hole sand course. Transformed in 1998 into Abu Dhabi’s first all grass course. Nine holes then designed by Ian Scott Taylor.

Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi - The National Course

- 18 Holes
- 7283 yards Mens
- 5802 yards Ladies
- Designed by Peter Harradine and built in 1998
- Previous host to Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and Hero Cup on DP World Tour

Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi - The Garden Course

- 9 Holes (Floodlit)
- 3341 yards Mens
- 2530 yards Ladies

Al Ain Equestrian Golf & Shooting Club, Al Ain - Championship Course

- 18 Holes (Floodlit on back 9)
- 6622 yards Mens
- 5282 yards Ladies
- Desert style layout
- Opened in 2007 and upgraded by Peter Forresterin 2016

Al Ain Equestrian Golf & Shooting Club, Al Ain – Par 3

- 9 Holes (Floodlit)

Al Dhafra Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi

- 9 Holes
- 2881 yards Mens
- 2595 yards Ladies
- Sand Course
- Opened in 1988 and is still the only golf course in Al Gharbia

Al Dhannah Golf Club, Abu Dhabi

- 9 Holes (Floodlit)
- 3454 yards Mens
- 2730 yards Ladies
- The first grass golf club in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi
- Designed by John Hunt and opened in 2021

Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah

- 18 Holes (Floodlit)
- 7325 yards Mens
- 5815 yards Ladies
- Current host to DP World Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship
- Previous host to Challenge Tour
- Designed by Peter Harradine and opened in 2007
- Al Hamra Golf Club was the first golf club in the Middle East to go fully plastic-free

Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah – Par 3

- 9 Holes (Floodlit)

Al Zorah Golf Club, Ajman

- 18 Holes
- 7169 yards Mens
- 5283 yards Ladies
- Designed by Nicklaus Design and opened in 2015
- Natural environment, with flowing dunes and an in-land mangrove area

Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Dubai

- 18 Holes
- 7691 yards Mens
- 5503 yards Ladies
- True desert style
- Designed by Ian Baker-Finch in association with Nicklaus Design and built in 2004

Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Dubai – Par 3

- 9 Holes (Floodlit)

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Dubai – Championship

- 18 Holes
- 7009 yards Mens
- 5325 yards Ladies
- Dubai's 2nd oldest course, having opened in 1993 after being designed by Karl Litten
- Previous host in 1999 & 2000 Dubai Desert Classic
- DP World Tour venue in 2024 for Dubai Invitational

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Dubai – Par 3

- 9 Holes (Floodlit)

Dubai Hills Golf Club, Dubai

- 18 Holes
- 7283 yards Mens
- 5513 yards Ladies
- Designed by European Golf Design and opened in 2018

The Els Club, Dubai

- 18 Holes
- 7538 yards Mens
- 5343 yards Ladies
- Designed by US Open and Open champion Ernie Els and opened in 2007

Emirates Golf Course, Dubai – The Majilis

- 18 Holes
- 7319 yards Mens
- 5568 yards Ladies
- Designed by Karl Litten it was built in 1988 as the first grass course in the Middle East
- Host to the Dubai Desert Classic on DP World Tour

Emirates Golf Course, Dubai – The Faldo

- 18 Holes (Floodlit)
- 7052 yards Mens
- 5220 yards Ladies
- Opened in 1996 and originally named 'The Wadi'
- Redesigned in 2005 by golf legend and six-time major winner Nick Faldo. Then re-named 'The Faldo'
- Host to the Dubai Moonlight Classic on Ladies European Tour

Emirates Golf Course, Dubai – Par 3

- 9 Holes (Floodlit)

JA The Resort, Jebel Ali

- 9 Holes
- 3233 yards Mens
- 2394 yards Ladies
- Designed by Peter Harradine and opened in 1998
- Previous host to 10 Challenge Matches to raise valuable funds for charity

Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai – Earth Course

- 18 Holes
- 7706 yards Mens
- 5435 yards Ladies
- Designed by Greg Norman and opened in 2009
- Host to the season ending DP World Tour Championship on the DP World Tour and the G4D Tour Season Finale

Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai – Fire Course

- 18 Holes
- 7480 yards Mens
- 5619 yards Ladies
- Designed by Greg Norman and opened in 2010
- Previous host to the AVIV Dubai Championship on the DP World Tour

Montgomerie Golf Club, Dubai

- 18 Holes
- 7308 yards Mens
- 5401 yards Ladies
- Designed by Colin Montgomerie and Desmond Muirhead and opened in 2002
- A links-land style

Montgomerie Golf Club, Dubai – Par 3

- 9 Holes (Floodlit)

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi

- 18 Holes
- 7784 yards Mens
- 5290 yards Ladies
- Designed by Gary Player and opened in 2010
- Host to Challenge Tour & Ladies European Tour
- The Arabian Gulf’s first beachfront course

Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, Sharjah

- 9 Holes (Floodlit)
- 3671 yards Mens
- 2961 yards Ladies
- Designed by Peter Harradine and opened in 2005
- Host to The Sharjah Golf Senior Masters

The Track Meydan Golf, Dubai

- 9 Holes (Floodlit)
- 3667 yards Mens
- 2754 yards Ladies
- Designed by Peter Harradine and opened in 2012

Tower Links Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah

- 18 Holes
- 7098 yards Mens
- 5496 yards Ladies
- Cross between a Desert and Parkland style of course
- Designed by Gerald Williams and opened in 2004
- Home to the MENA Tour 2011 – 2016 & 2019

Trump International Golf Club, Dubai

- 18 Holes
- 7229 yards Mens
- 5119 yards Ladies
- Designed by Gil Hanse and opened in 2017

Trump International Golf Club, Dubai – Par 3

- 9 Holes (Floodlit)

Yas Acres Golf & Country Club, Abu Dhabi

- 9 Holes (Floodlit)
- 3700 yards Mens
- 2554 yards Ladies
- Designed by Fry/Straka and opened in 2021

Yas Links, Abu Dhabi

- 18 Holes
- 7414 yards Mens
- 5434 yards Ladies
- Designed by Kyle Phillips and opened in 2010
- Represents the first true Links Golf Course in the Middle East region
- Hosted the 2023 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the DP World Tour

Yas Links, Abu Dhabi – Par 3

- 9 Holes (Floodlit)