Updated on November 10, 2026
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Which is the best golf course in the Gulf countries? Yas Links, in Abu Dhabi, is ranked No. 1 in the Middle East by both Top100GolfCourses and Golf World. It hosts the Abu Dhabi Championship, one of the major tournaments on the DP World Tour, while the Race to Dubai season concludes each year in Dubai on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The United Arab Emirates is home to twelve of the fifteen courses in our selection; Oman (Al Mouj, No. 2), Qatar, and Saudi Arabia round out the list.
The 15 best golf courses in the Gulf states: the ranking
15 courses shown.
| Rank | Course | Location | Top100 Middle East | Golf World MENA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yas Links | Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Al Mouj Golf (Championship) | The Wave, Muscat, Oman | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Trump International Golf Club Dubai | Damac Hills, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | The Els Club Dubai | Victory Heights (Dubai Sports City), Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 6 | 4 |
| 5 | Emirates Golf Club (Majlis) | Emirates Hills (Al Thanyah 3), Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | Jumeirah Golf Estates (Earth) | Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 4 | 8 |
| 7 | Al Zorah Golf Club | Ajman, United Arab Emirates | 9 | 5 |
| 8 | Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club | Deira, Dubai (on the banks of the Creek), United Arab Emirates | 7 | 10 |
| 9 | Saadiyat Beach Golf Club | Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | 8 | 11 |
| 10 | Dubai Hills Golf Club | Dubai Hills Estate (Mohammed Bin Rashid City), Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 10 | 9 |
| 11 | Abu Dhabi Golf Club (National) | Abu Dhabi (Khalifa City), United Arab Emirates | 16 | 7 |
| 12 | Education City Golf Club (Championship) | Education City, Doha, Qatar | 12 | 12 |
| 13 | Royal Greens Golf & Country Club | King Abdullah Economic City (about 100 km north of Jeddah), Saudi Arabia | 11 | 14 |
| 14 | Jumeirah Golf Estates (Fire) | Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 15 | 15 |
| 15 | Al Hamra Golf Club | Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates | 13 | 18 |
Consensus ranking = average of the rankings from Top100GolfCourses (Middle East, November 2025) and Golf World (Middle East and North Africa, February 2025). The rankings shown are those from published lists, including countries outside the Gulf region. “—”: Course not included in the ranking. Click on a column header to sort.
Where are the best golf courses in the Gulf states?
Click on a number to view the golf course, then click on its name to read its profile. Base map © OpenStreetMap.
How We Ranked Golf Courses in the Gulf Countries
We ran into the Top 100 Golf Courses' Top 25 in the Middle East (November 2025) and Golf World’s Top 100 Middle East and North Africa (Today’s Golfer, February 2025), including only courses from the six Gulf countries (United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait): Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, and Israel are excluded. The consensus ranking is the average of the Gulf courses’ positions in each ranking; a course not included is assigned rank 33 in the Top100 and 38 in Golf World. In the event of a tie, the Top100 rank is used to break the tie. The tournaments listed are taken from published results (Wikipedia, tour websites), as of November 10, 2026. Most golf courses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi sell tee times at variable prices, without a public price list: we only display a green fee when it is published. For Dubai alone, see Our ranking of golf courses in Dubai and the Emirates.
The Rankings in Detail
Architects and years of opening: official websites of the courses and the ranking lists cited, accessed on November 10, 2026; no information is provided when the source does not specify it. Photos under a free license via Wikimedia Commons.
1. Yas Links 🇦🇪
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 1 · Golf World MENA 1
Architect: Kyle Phillips; opened in 2010. Ranked No. 1 in the Middle East by Top100GolfCourses (Middle East Top 25, November 10, 2025) and No. 1 on Golf World’s Top 100 MENA (2025). Nearly 2 million cubic meters of dredged sand were used to cover the course; eight holes run along the coastline (Top100GolfCourses). Tournaments: Abu Dhabi HSBC / Abu Dhabi Championship (DP World Tour, Rolex Series): 2022–2026 seasons. Access: open to the public (reservations via Viya Golf).
2. Al Mouj Golf (Championship) 🇴🇲
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 2 · Golf World MENA 2
Designer: Greg Norman; opened in 2012. Ranked No. 2 in the Middle East by Top100GolfCourses (2025) and No. 2 on Golf World’s Top 100 MENA list, which describes it as a “contender” for its global Top 100. The course opened in September 2012 at the heart of The Wave development, featuring a 9-hole, par-3 course with lighting (Top100GolfCourses). Tournaments: Oman Open (European Tour): 2018, 2019, 2020; International Series Oman (Asian Tour) in 2024. Access: Open to visitors (published “Visitor” rates). Published green fee: Visitor 18 holes, winter rates (October 2026–April 2027): 69 OMR on weekdays, 89 OMR on weekends; golf cart and driving range included, VAT included — Golf Rates.
3. Trump International Golf Club Dubai 🇦🇪
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 3 · Golf World MENA 3
Architects: Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner; opened in 2017. The first new 18-hole course to open in Dubai in seven years when it opened in early 2017 (Top100GolfCourses). Voted “Middle East’s Best Golf Course” at the 2025 World Golf Awards. Access: online tee time reservations (“Book Tee Times”); members-only club.
4. The Els Club Dubai 🇦🇪
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 6 · Golf World MENA 4
Designer: Ernie Els; opened in 2008. Designed by Ernie Els (4 major titles), opened in 2008, managed by Troon Golf (Top100GolfCourses). A sequence of holes known as the “Lion’s Den,” open to both visitors and members (club website). Access: open to visitors (“Not exclusive to Members, we invite all,” club website).
5. Emirates Golf Club (Majlis) 🇦🇪
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 5 · Golf World MENA 6
Architect: Karl Litten; opened in 1988. The Middle East’s first 18-hole grass course, opened in 1988 (Top100GolfCourses). Royal pavilion shaped like a Bedouin tent behind the 8th green (Top100GolfCourses). Tournaments: Dubai Desert Classic (DP World Tour): since 1989. Access: open to the public (“Visitor” reservations via Viya Golf, dubaigolf.com).
6. Jumeirah Golf Estates (Earth) 🇦🇪
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 4 · Golf World MENA 8
Designer: Greg Norman; opened in 2009. Greg Norman’s first course in the Middle East, built for a championship and inaugurated with the first tee shot of that championship (Top100GolfCourses). Host of the Race to Dubai finale every year since November 2009. Tournaments: DP World Tour Championship (DP World Tour finale): every season since 2009. Access: open to the public (“Visitor” reservations via Viya Golf, dubaigolf.com).
7. Al Zorah Golf Club 🇦🇪
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 9 · Golf World MENA 5
Architect: Jack Nicklaus (Nicklaus Design); opened in 2015. Opened in December 2015: the first course to open in the Emirates in over six years (Top100GolfCourses; date confirmed by the club’s website). 1.5 km of boardwalks winding through the tidal mangroves (Top100GolfCourses). Access: open to the public (online “Best Available Rate” pricing, managed by Troon).
8. Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club 🇦🇪
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 7 · Golf World MENA 10
Opened in 1993, just a few minutes from the international airport (Top100GolfCourses). The clubhouse, shaped like sails, is one of Dubai’s landmarks. Tournaments: Dubai Invitational (DP World Tour): 2024 and 2026 seasons; Dubai Desert Classic (European Tour): 1999, 2000. Access: open to the public (“Visitor” reservations via Viya Golf, dubaigolf.com).
9. Saadiyat Beach Golf Club 🇦🇪
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 8 · Golf World MENA 11
Designer: Gary Player; opened in 2010. Opened in March 2010 and billed as the first oceanfront course on the Persian Gulf (Top100GolfCourses). 7,806 yards from the back tees, with five tees per hole (Top100GolfCourses). Hosted the Ladies European Tour’s Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open in 2016, 2017, and 2019 (no event in 2018; tournament subsequently discontinued). Tournaments: Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open (Ladies European Tour): 2016, 2017, 2019. Access: open to the public (reservations via Viya Golf).
10. Dubai Hills Golf Club 🇦🇪
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 10 · Golf World MENA 9
Architect: European Golf Design (Gary Johnston); opened in 2018. A 2018 course by European Golf Design, built on the site of a former camel stable, featuring two nine-hole loops (Top100GolfCourses). Developed by Emaar, the developer of the Burj Khalifa (Top100GolfCourses).
11. Abu Dhabi Golf Club (National) 🇦🇪
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 16 · Golf World MENA 7
Architect: Peter Harradine. The 27 holes were designed by Peter Harradine in 1998; the clubhouse is shaped like a falcon with outstretched wings (Top100GolfCourses). Ranked No. 12 on Golf World’s Top 100 MENA list, ahead of Saadiyat. Tournaments: Abu Dhabi Golf Championship (European Tour): 2006–2021. Access: open to the public (online reservations; daily rates available only to UAE residents).
12. Education City Golf Club (Championship) 🇶🇦
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 12 · Golf World MENA 12
Architect: José María Olazábal (Olazábal Design); opened in 2019. Opened in 2019: 33 holes in total (18 championship holes, 9 par-3 holes, and 6 floodlit holes) set amid university campuses (Top100GolfCourses). Olazábal’s first project in the Middle East (Top100GolfCourses). Tournaments: Qatar Masters (DP World Tour) in 2020 and 2021. Access: open to the public (published rates, online reservations). Published green fee: 18-hole “Rack Rate”: 770 on weekdays / 995 on weekends (6:00 a.m.–12:50 p.m.); “Best Available Rate”: 375 / 495 (11:00 a.m.–12:50 p.m.); currency not specified on the page — Golf Rates.
13. Royal Greens Golf & Country Club 🇸🇦
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 11 · Golf World MENA 14
Architect: European Golf Design; opened in 2017. Construction began in 2008, was interrupted by the economic crisis, and the course opened in late 2017 (Top100GolfCourses; Wikipedia: September 2017); managed by Troon. Paspalum Dynasty turf, salt- and heat-tolerant (Top100GolfCourses). Tournaments: Saudi International (European Tour 2019–2021, Asian Tour 2022–2023): 2019–2023; Aramco Saudi Ladies International (Ladies European Tour): 2020–2023; LIV Golf Jeddah starting in October 2022, before its move to Riyadh. Access: Online “Visitors” reservation.
14. Jumeirah Golf Estates (Fire) 🇦🇪
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 15 · Golf World MENA 15
Designer: Greg Norman; opened in 2010. The resort’s second Greg Norman course, opened in January 2010 (Top100GolfCourses). More exposed to the wind than the Earth course, with tall grass along the edges (Top100GolfCourses). Access: Open to the public (“Visitor” reservations via Viya Golf, dubaigolf.com).
15. Al Hamra Golf Club 🇦🇪
Rankings: Top 100 Middle East 13 · Golf World MENA 18
Architect: Peter Harradine; opened in 2007. Opened in 2007, according to the club’s website; the fairways wind around four interconnected lagoons. Nine mixed-par holes with lighting for night play (club website and Top100GolfCourses). Tournaments: Ras Al Khaimah Championship (DP World Tour): 2022–2025 seasons; Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge (Challenge Tour): 2016, 2017. Access: open to the public (online reservations, managed by Troon).
See also
The 12 Best Golf Courses in Dubai and the Emirates
The Countries with the Most Golf Courses
The 20 Best Golf Hotels in the World
Top 100 Golf Courses in the WorldFrequently Asked Questions About Golf Courses in the Gulf Countries
Which is the best golf course in the Gulf countries?
Yas Links, in Abu Dhabi, is ranked No. 1 in the Middle East by Top100GolfCourses (2025) and Golf World (2025), ahead of Al Mouj in Muscat (Oman) and the Trump International Golf Club in Dubai.
On which courses is the Race to Dubai played?
In our selection: Yas Links (Abu Dhabi Championship), the Emirates Golf Club (Dubai Desert Classic, since 1989), Dubai Creek (Dubai Invitational), Al Hamra (Ras Al Khaimah Championship, from 2022 to 2025), and the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, where the season-ending DP World Tour Championship is held each year.
How much does a green fee cost in the Gulf?
Al Mouj, in Muscat, charges 69 OMR on weekdays and 89 OMR on weekends for visitors during the winter. The golf courses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi managed by Viya Golf have variable rates, which can be viewed at the time of booking (as of November 10, 2026).