The UAE packs three DP World Tour venues, a beachfront course with wild gazelles and a links-style layout on Yas Island into a drive of under two hours. Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis, the region’s first grass course, has hosted the Dubai Desert Classic since 1989; Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course stages the DP World Tour Championship each November; and Yas Links hosts the Abu Dhabi Championship. Golf here is cart-based, well organised and priced dynamically through apps rather than fixed rate cards. The calendar shapes everything: November to March is warm and dry, while in summer you play at dawn or under floodlights. Dress codes are stricter than many visitors expect, and some clubs insist on a handicap certificate.
A 2018 desert course with the Burj Khalifa on the horizon from many tees.
Destination imagery
Where to base yourself.
Dubai
The obvious first base. Emirates Golf Club offers the Majlis and the fully floodlit Faldo Course, and Jumeirah Golf Estates adds Greg Norman’s Earth and Fire about 20 minutes south. Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, nearer the old town, runs weekday twilight golf from 2.30pm at the nine-hole rate. A hotel in Dubai Marina or Jumeirah Beach Residence keeps all three within easy reach.
Abu Dhabi
Two Viya Golf courses make a strong pair. Yas Links, Kyle Phillips’ links-style design on Yas Island, has a floodlit nine-hole par-3 academy course with tee times until 8.30pm. Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Gary Player’s beachfront course, reopened with a reworked back nine in 2025. Stay on Saadiyat for the beach and the Louvre, or on Yas Island for the circuit and theme parks.
Ras Al Khaimah
About an hour north of Dubai, Al Hamra Golf Club is a Peter Harradine par 72 of 7,400 yards set around four open-water lagoons, and host of the DP World Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship since 2022. It also offers floodlit evening golf on a composite nine. It suits a quieter add-on, with the Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort nearby.
When to go.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
November to March is the core golf season, with warm, dry days and the busiest tee sheets. Tour weeks need planning: the Hero Dubai Desert Classic takes over Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis in January, and the DP World Tour Championship closes or restricts the Earth Course in November. October and April are shoulder months, warmer but quieter. From June to September daytime heat regularly exceeds 40°C. Golf carries on, but the rhythm changes: first tee times at dawn, twilight rounds such as Dubai Creek’s weekday offer, and floodlit golf on the Faldo Course at Emirates Golf Club, the Yas Links par-3 course and Al Hamra’s composite nine.
Getting around.
Dubai International (DXB) is the main gateway, and Al Maktoum International (DWC), south of the city, is the closer airport for Jumeirah Golf Estates. Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International (AUH) is about 30–40 minutes from both Yas Links and Saadiyat, and Ras Al Khaimah has its own airport (RKT). The E11 links Dubai and Abu Dhabi in around 90 minutes by road, and Ras Al Khaimah is roughly an hour north of Dubai. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are reliable and the easiest way to travel with clubs; a hire car makes sense for a multi-emirate trip. Shared carts are included in green fees at the Dubai Golf and Viya clubs, so you never need to walk in the heat.
Plan it well.
Most big clubs no longer publish rate cards. Dubai Golf (Emirates Golf Club, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai Creek) and Viya Golf (Yas Links, Saadiyat) both sell tee times through the Viya app and online booking sites, with dynamic prices and rewards on each round. Peak rates at Dubai Golf apply on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. Handicap rules vary: Emirates Golf Club requires a certificate with a maximum of 28 for men and 36 for women, while Jumeirah Golf Estates asks only for that playing standard. Dress codes are firm: collared golf shirts, no T-shirts, denim, gym kit, cargo shorts or national dress, and soft spikes only.
Questions golfers ask.
When is the best time to play golf in the UAE?
November to March offers the most comfortable conditions and the best-presented courses, so it is also the busiest and most expensive period. Avoid tournament weeks at the Majlis in January and the Earth Course in November if you want those courses. October and April are good compromises.
Can you play golf at night in Dubai?
Yes. Emirates Golf Club’s Faldo Course has LED floodlights on all 18 holes; when installed in 2019, play ran until midnight on weekdays and 10.30pm at weekends. In Abu Dhabi, the Yas Links par-3 course is floodlit with a last tee at 8.30pm, and Al Hamra in Ras Al Khaimah runs evening golf on a lit composite nine.
Is golf in the UAE possible in summer?
Yes, with planning. Book the first tee time of the day, look for twilight offers such as Dubai Creek’s weekday deal from 2.30pm at the nine-hole rate, or play under floodlights. Shared carts are included at the main clubs outside each club’s walking season.
Do I need a handicap certificate to play golf in Dubai?
It depends on the club. Emirates Golf Club requires a valid certificate, with a maximum index of 28 for men and 36 for women. Jumeirah Golf Estates asks for the same standard of play but does not insist on a certificate. Carry proof of your handicap anyway.
What should I wear to play golf in the UAE?
A collared golf shirt with golf shorts, a skirt or trousers, plus soft-spiked shoes. The Dubai Golf clubs ban T-shirts, denim, sports or gym clothing, pool wear, cargo shorts, sandals and national dress on the course, and staff will ask you to change before playing.
