The Best Golf Courses in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi has grown into one of the Gulf's finest golf cities, led by Kyle Phillips' Yas Links, the Middle East's only true seaside links, and Gary Player's oceanfront course on Saadiyat Island. Our ranked five, with verdicts, fees and how to play them.
How we ranked them
The emirate has built its golf quickly and to a high standard, anchored by the long running European and DP World Tour event that put the city on the calendar. The best courses sit on the islands close to the capital, Yas, Saadiyat and the city itself, where irrigation and design have turned desert and reclaimed coast into lush, championship golf. We weighed the quality and conditioning of the golf, the strength of the setting and its lodging, how easily a visiting group can get on, and the pedigree of the design.
Every fact here, the designers, the opening years and the indicative green fees, was checked at the time of writing in June 2026 by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Fees move sharply with the season, high in the cooler winter and far lower in the summer heat, so treat the numbers as a guide and always confirm directly before booking. The verdicts are ours. If your group wants any of these built into a costed itinerary, with the flights, the transfers and the right hotel secured, that is exactly what our concierge does.
The 5 best golf courses in Abu Dhabi
Yas Links Abu Dhabi
The best course in the emirate and one of the finest in the Middle East, Kyle Phillips' Yas Links is the region's only genuine seaside links, wrapped around the Arabian Gulf with several holes hard against the water. Firm, rumpled and strategic in a way desert target golf rarely is, it has taken over as host of the Abu Dhabi Championship on the DP World Tour. The clear number one and a course that would stand out anywhere.
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
Gary Player's Saadiyat Beach is the Gulf's first true oceanfront course, laid along a protected stretch of white sand and dune where gazelles roam and turtles nest on the adjacent beach. Beautiful and varied, with the sea framing many holes, it pairs with the island's luxury hotels to make one of the most relaxed high end golf bases in the UAE. A worthy second to Yas Links.
Abu Dhabi Golf Club, National Course
The grand old host of the Abu Dhabi Championship, Peter Harradine's 27 hole layout with its vast falcon shaped clubhouse staged the city's flagship tournament for two decades. Lush, generous and framed by water and bold bunkering, the championship eighteen is a polished, accessible resort test and a piece of the emirate's golf history that every visiting group should play.
Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club
The standout away from the coast, an eighteen hole grass course at the oasis city of Al Ain, set against the slopes of Jebel Hafeet about ninety minutes inland from the capital. Cooler and greener than the city in the heart of winter, with a genuine desert backdrop, it is a worthwhile day trip for golfers who want to see the older, gentler side of the emirate.
Abu Dhabi City Golf Club
The original golf in the capital, a compact nine hole grass course close to the city centre that long predates the island resorts. Modest beside the championship venues, it is a handy, low key option for a quick round, an evening under lights or a warm up on arrival, and a reminder of where golf in Abu Dhabi began before the boom.
Designers and opening years verified June 2026 by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Abu Dhabi's leading courses are resort and daily fee venues that welcome visitors year round, with peak rates in the cooler months. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
Where they are, and indicative costs
Abu Dhabi's best golf is clustered on and around the islands by the capital. Yas Island, with Yas Links, sits beside the airport and the theme parks, Saadiyat Island and its oceanfront course are minutes from downtown, and Abu Dhabi Golf Club lies just inland at Khalifa City. The City Golf Club is central, while Al Ain is a ninety minute drive inland for those who want the desert oasis. Almost everything is within forty minutes of the airport, which makes Abu Dhabi one of the easiest golf cities to navigate. Many groups combine it with neighbouring Dubai.
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Peak season green fee | Around US$190 to US$260 | Per round in the cooler months, October to April, with cart |
| Summer green fee | Around US$70 to US$130 | June to September heat, early or twilight tee times advised |
| A week, all in | Around US$3,000 to US$5,500 per person | Hotel, several rounds, transfers, excluding flights |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Plan your Abu Dhabi golf trip
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head, secures the resort and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Abu Dhabi golf questions
What is the best golf course in Abu Dhabi?
Yas Links Abu Dhabi, Kyle Phillips' 2010 design on Yas Island, is the clear number one, the only true seaside links in the Middle East and the current host of the Abu Dhabi Championship on the DP World Tour. Gary Player's Saadiyat Beach and the historic Abu Dhabi Golf Club complete the top three. Our ranking weighs the golf, the setting and the ease of access together.
When is the best time to play golf in Abu Dhabi?
October to April is the prime season, with warm, dry days ideal for golf and the lowest humidity around December to February. The summer from June to September is very hot, so play is limited to early morning or floodlit twilight rounds, though green fees fall sharply. The cooler winter months coincide with peak rates and the tournament season. Always confirm conditions before you travel.
How much does a golf trip to Abu Dhabi cost in 2026?
Indicative 2026 peak season green fees run from around US$190 to US$260 per round in the cooler months, falling to roughly US$70 to US$130 in the summer heat. A week with a hotel, several rounds and transfers typically lands between US$3,000 and US$5,500 per head excluding flights, with Abu Dhabi often combined with Dubai. Always confirm directly before booking.
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