Ranked · 8 resorts · updated 2026

The Best Stay and Play Golf Resorts in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates has turned desert into a winter sun golf machine: floodlit links, beachfront championship courses and five star hotels a buggy ride from the first tee. Here are the eight best stay and play pairings across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, ranked, with our verdict and how to plan a stay.

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By the GolfForKings editorial desk · How we rank · Last reviewed June 2026

Photograph: Yas Links Abu Dhabi, Yas Links Abu Dhabi, via Google

How we chose them

Stay and play in the Emirates is about the marriage of course and hotel, so we ranked the pairings rather than the courses alone. We weighed the quality and pedigree of the golf, how close and how good the lodging is, the strength of the practice facilities and the wider resort, and the all round winter sun experience for a visiting golfer. The UAE season runs opposite to northern Europe and America, from roughly October to April, which is exactly when these properties are at their best and busiest. Several courses offer floodlit evening golf to beat the midday heat at the shoulders of the season.

All architects and opening years were verified at the time of writing. Some of these pairings put the hotel and course on the same estate, while others sit a short transfer apart but trade as a single stay and play package; we say which is which. Green fees and packages move with the season, so we describe access rather than quoting prices. The verdicts and order are ours. If you want a Dubai or Abu Dhabi golf trip built around any of these, with transfers and tee times handled, that is exactly what our concierge does.

The ranking

Yas Links, Abu Dhabi

Kyle Phillips, 2010 · Crowne Plaza and Radisson Yas Island

The finest course in the Emirates and the first true links in the Middle East, routed by Kyle Phillips along a saltwater channel on Yas Island. Firm fairways, deep revetted bunkers and water on the closing stretch give it a genuine seaside character, and it has ranked inside Golf Digest's world top 25. The Yas Island hotels, including the Crowne Plaza and Radisson, sit minutes away alongside the theme parks and the Formula 1 circuit, making it a brilliant family and golf base. The standout play in the country.

Plan a Yas Links stay and play

Saadiyat Beach, Abu Dhabi

Gary Player, 2010 · St Regis and Park Hyatt Saadiyat

The most beautiful resort golf in the Emirates, a Gary Player design opened in 2010 that runs hard against the Arabian Gulf on Saadiyat Island. Several holes play along the dunes and the beach, gazelles wander the fairways at dawn, and the conditioning is immaculate. The five star St Regis and Park Hyatt sit on the same beach, putting world class lodging, the sand and the first tee within a short stroll. Pair it with the cultural draw of the Louvre Abu Dhabi nearby for a refined, low key trip.

Plan a Saadiyat Beach stay and play

Abu Dhabi Golf Club

Peter Harradine · The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa

A long standing host of European Tour golf and the most established championship resort in the capital. The 27 hole layout by Peter Harradine, crowned by its dramatic falcon shaped clubhouse, has staged the Abu Dhabi Championship for years and tests every club in the bag. The Westin sits directly on the property, so the practice ground and the first tee are an elevator ride from the room, and the spa and dining make it an easy all in one base. Big tournament pedigree with the convenience of an on site hotel.

Plan an Abu Dhabi Golf Club stay

Address Montgomerie, Dubai

Colin Montgomerie and Desmond Muirhead, 2006 · on site hotel

The most complete single property stay and play in Dubai, with a boutique hotel set right on the course in the leafy Emirates Hills district. Colin Montgomerie and Desmond Muirhead's design, opened in 2006, is best known for the enormous island green at the par 3 thirteenth and the largest single green in the world. Floodlights allow evening golf, the academy is first rate, and you can walk from your room to the range. Central, polished and purpose built for a golf focused city break.

Plan an Address Montgomerie stay

Jebel Ali Golf Resort, Dubai

Peter Harradine, 1998 · JA The Resort, beachfront

A genuine beachfront golf resort on the quieter southern edge of Dubai, with a charming nine hole Peter Harradine course set among peacocks, gardens and the Gulf. JA The Resort wraps it in a relaxed, family friendly complex of hotels, a long private beach, stables, a marina and a sprawling range of activities. The golf is gentler than the city's championship layouts, but the all in one beach and golf setting, away from the high rise bustle, makes it a favorite for families and couples on a winter sun stay.

Plan a Jebel Ali stay and play

Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai

Greg Norman · the Earth course · DP World Tour finale

Home of the season ending DP World Tour Championship, Jumeirah Golf Estates is the marquee tournament venue in Dubai. The Earth course by Greg Norman is a manicured, water laced parkland test that the world's best play each November, supported by the sister Fire course. The estate is residential rather than a single hotel, but it pairs seamlessly with the city's five star hotels a short transfer away, and the championship clubhouse and academy are superb. The Dubai round most visiting golfers most want to tick off.

Plan a Jumeirah Golf Estates round

The Els Club, Dubai

Ernie Els, 2008 · Dubai Sports City

Ernie Els's first Middle East design, opened in 2008 at Dubai Sports City, a wide, links inspired layout with sweeping bunkers and a grand clubhouse. It has hosted the Dubai Desert Classic and rewards bold, strategic play across firm, generous fairways. There is no hotel on the course itself, but it packages neatly with the hotels of Dubai Marina and Sports City a few minutes away, and the value can be strong relative to the beachfront names. A serious, well regarded test for a city based golf trip.

Plan an Els Club round

Emirates Golf Club, Dubai

Karl Litten, 1988 · the Majlis · Dubai Desert Classic

The grass course that started it all in the desert, the Majlis at Emirates Golf Club, designed by Karl Litten and opened in 1988. It remains the long time home of the Dubai Desert Classic, with the famous par 5 closing hole beneath the wave shaped clubhouse, and floodlit evening golf is available. There is no hotel on the property, but its location beside Dubai Marina and the Jumeirah Beach hotels makes it the easiest championship course to fold into a luxury city stay. History, tournament pedigree and a central base.

Plan an Emirates Golf Club round

Architects and opening years verified June 2026. Some pairings place the hotel on the course; others sit a short transfer apart but trade as one stay and play package. The UAE season runs roughly October to April. Green fees and packages vary by season and evening floodlit play; always confirm access and rates directly before booking. Check tee time availability. For where to stay, see our partner hotel rates.

Plan your UAE golf trip

Tell us whether you lean Dubai, Abu Dhabi or both, how many in your group and roughly when. One concierge pairs the right courses with the right hotel, handles transfers and tee times, and costs the trip to the head, with no obligation.

UAE golf resort questions

What is the best golf course in the UAE?

Yas Links in Abu Dhabi, Kyle Phillips's 2010 design, is our pick and the only true links in the Middle East, ranked inside Golf Digest's world top 25. Saadiyat Beach is the most scenic, and the Majlis at Emirates Golf Club is the most historic as the long time home of the Dubai Desert Classic.

When is the best time for a UAE golf holiday?

October to April is the season, when daytime temperatures are comfortable and the courses are at their best. December to February is peak and busiest. The summer months are very hot, so play is limited to early mornings and floodlit evenings, but green fees and hotel rates fall sharply out of season.

Should you base in Dubai or Abu Dhabi?

Dubai offers the most hotels, dining and the famous Majlis and Earth courses, ideal for a city break. Abu Dhabi has the two strongest courses for design, Yas Links and Saadiyat Beach, plus a calmer beach feel. Many golfers split a week between the two, which sit about ninety minutes apart by road.

Can you play floodlit evening golf in the UAE?

Yes. Several courses, including Emirates Golf Club's Faldo course, the Address Montgomerie and others, offer floodlit nine or eighteen hole golf, which is invaluable at the warm shoulders of the season and for late arrivals. Confirm floodlit availability and tee times when you book.

The Tee Sheet

Winter sun openings, tournament week deals and the Dubai and Abu Dhabi dates worth booking early. Every other week.

Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course designers, founding years and host events verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.