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Funded in large part by revenue from its vast oil reserves, Dubai underwent rapid urbanisation during the 21st century, transforming it from a small fishing destination into a cosmopolitan metropolis.
Today, Dubai it is home to the second most five-star hotels in the world; the tallest building in the world; the planet’s third busiest airport; and a string of other eye-popping records.
Tourism chiefs, meantime, have a stated goal of attracting 25 million visitors per year by 2025, which would see Dubai overtake Bangkok as the world’s most visited city.
All of which is a somewhat long-winded way of saying that if you haven’t considered Dubai as a holiday destination until now, you really should.
For golfers, Dubai ticks every box. Fantastic weather, easy to get to, exceptional accommodation, superb value for money, plenty to do outside of golf and, naturally, a selection of superb courses.
Emirates Golf Club will be many people’s first choice. Its Majlis Course was the first 18-hole course to open in Dubai, back in 1988. The host venue for the Dubai Desert Classic every year since 1989 – with the exceptions of 1999 and 2000 – it is a formidable test of golf.
Just a stone’s throw from Dubai International Airport (DXB), you’ll find Dubai Creek & Yacht Club. It opened in 1993 and is instantly recognisable by its distinctively sail-shaped clubhouse. The final two holes of the championship-standard course as are as good as you’ll find anywhere in this part of the world, with the eponymous creek guarding the entire left-hand side of both. If you can play them without dropping a shot, you’ll be doing very, very well.
Elsewhere, Jumeirah Golf Estates is home to two terrific courses. Those who follow the DP World Tour will already be familiar with the Earth Course, the Greg Norman-designed layout that plays host to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. Norman also turned his hand to the Fire Course, which is a superb complement to its sister course.
Scotland’s own Colin Montgomerie – a winner of the Dubai Desert Classic in 1996 – is another top player to have designed a course in this part of the world. The Montgomerie Club Dubai is billed as a place “where golf meets magnificence” and it’s hard to argue.
Then there’s Trump International Golf Club Dubai, a Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner design that sprawls out over 500 acres with a links-style feel. It’s got huge fairways and massive bunkers – lots of fun. There’s also the Els Club Dubai, probably the best manicured golf course on the planet. Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills, not to mention night golf under the floodlights on the Faldo Course at Emirates Golf Club, or Topgolf Dubai for those who want to hit shots in a more relaxed environment.
Dubai has it all.
