Dubai was built for the golfing couple: championship courses minutes from the beach, floodlit twilight rounds in the cool of the evening, world class spas and some of the best dining in the Gulf, all wrapped around the round. These are the seven best courses for couples in the city, ranked, with our verdict on each and how to play them together.
Photograph: Emirates Golf Club, Majlis Course, via Google.
A couples golf trip asks more of a club than a great eighteen. It wants a course a mixed pair can enjoy together, easy access to twilight and nine hole rates, a clubhouse and terrace worth lingering on, and a spa, a hotel or a dinner reservation to turn the day into an occasion. Dubai delivers all of that better than almost anywhere, which is why we judged these courses on the round and the experience around it in equal measure.
We weighed the quality and playability of the design, the setting, the strength of the dining and wellness on site or nearby, and how relaxed a round feels for two players of different standards. Every fact here, from designers to opening years, was checked at the time of writing. The order is our editors' view, and the gap between the top few is small. If you want any of these built into a costed Dubai trip for two, that is exactly what our concierge does.
Reviewed June 2026 by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts verified at publication. How we research and review.
Our top pick for couples and the most famous round in the city. Karl Litten's Majlis, opened in 1988, was the first grass course in the Middle East and still hosts the Dubai Desert Classic, with the skyline rising beyond its fairways. It is a fair, enjoyable test from the right tees, and the clubhouse, terrace and dining make a glamorous base for a celebration round for two.
The season ending DP World Tour Championship venue, a Greg Norman design threaded through mature planting and water with a grandstand finish at the eighteenth. Polished, generous off the tee and a thrill to play where the stars finish their year. The estate's dining and the sister Fire Course make it an easy place for a couple to spend a relaxed two course day.
The newest of the marquee clubs and arguably the most stylish, a sleek European Golf Design layout rolling across the Dubai Hills estate with the Burj Khalifa on the horizon. The modern clubhouse and its restaurants are a destination in themselves, and the smooth, contemporary course suits a couple who want their golf with a side of design and good food.
A Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner design opened in 2017, the most architecturally admired modern course in the city, with bold bunkering and a lavish clubhouse. It is a strong, interesting test and a striking floodlit round after dark. The dining and the sense of occasion make it a fine choice for a special evening eighteen for two.
The most romantic setting in Dubai golf, set on the historic Creek with its sail shaped clubhouse, marina and the Park Hyatt alongside. The course, recently refreshed, plays around the water with the old city across the way, and the waterside restaurants are among the loveliest in town. A natural pick for a couple who want golf, a sundowner and dinner by the water.
Ernie Els's own design, a big, links inspired layout with vast greens, deep bunkering and a handsome clubhouse. It plays firm and fast and rewards the bold, a proper golfers' course that is still a pleasure for a mixed pair from the forward tees. The relaxed terrace and good food round out an enjoyable, less hectic day out.
A Colin Montgomerie design with Desmond Muirhead, famous for its enormous thirteenth green and set beside The Address hotel in Emirates Hills. The on site hotel, spa and pool make it the most turnkey golf and wellness stay on the list, ideal for a couple who want to roll from the course to the spa to dinner without leaving the property.
Designers and opening years verified June 2026 from the clubs and recognized golf databases. The Majlis is a Karl Litten design; Jumeirah Earth and The Els Club are by Greg Norman and Ernie Els respectively; Trump Dubai is by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner; Dubai Hills is by European Golf Design. Access, floodlighting and rates change, so always confirm directly before booking. Looking for tee times? Check availability and book a round.
| Course | Setting | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates Majlis | Skyline, near the Marina | The famous round and the clubhouse |
| Jumeirah Earth | Estate parkland | Playing where the Tour finishes |
| Dubai Hills | Central, Burj Khalifa views | Style, design and dining |
| Dubai Creek | Historic waterfront | The most romantic setting |
| The Address Montgomerie | Emirates Hills, hotel on site | A turnkey golf and spa stay |
A shorthand only; tell us your dates and what matters most and we will match the courses to you.
Tell us roughly when you want to travel and which courses you have your heart set on, and a concierge will secure the tee times, build the itinerary around the dining and spa and cost it for two, with no obligation.
The Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club is our top pick for couples, a Karl Litten design from 1988 that hosts the Dubai Desert Classic, sits minutes from the Marina and pairs a famous round with one of the city's best clubhouses. Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai Hills and Trump International all make superb romantic golf days too.
Yes. Most Dubai clubs welcome mixed ability pairs, offer twilight and nine hole rates, have excellent academies and floodlit ranges, and several courses are floodlit for evening play. Booking a twilight tee time and a buggy makes a relaxed round for couples of different standards very easy to arrange.
From November to April the weather is warm, dry and comfortable, which is peak season for golf and for couples. The summer months from June to September are very hot, so play is best at dawn or under floodlights, and green fees fall sharply, which can suit a value break.
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course designers, opening years and access verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.