Abu Dhabi National
Peter Harradine designed the National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, the flagship desert eighteen beneath the landmark falcon shaped clubhouse. A par 72 of about 7,600 yards with seven saltwater lakes and 90 bunkers, it hosted the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from 2006 to 2021.
Photo: Abu Dhabi Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
The National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club is one of the best known championship courses in the Gulf, the long time home of a flagship European Tour event and the host of some of the biggest names in the game. Peter Harradine, the veteran architect behind many of the region's courses, laid it out as a generous yet demanding desert eighteen, and the swooping falcon shaped clubhouse that overlooks the closing holes has become one of the most recognisable buildings in world golf.
It is a big, polished resort test, a par 72 stretching to about 7,600 yards across lush paspalum fairways, with seven saltwater lakes and around 90 bunkers shaping the strategy. From 2006 to 2021 it staged the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, won by a roll call of major champions, before the event moved on. For the travelling golfer it offers tournament conditioning, faultless service and a finish in the shadow of the falcon that is hard to forget.
Abu Dhabi National at a glance
- Opened
- 2000
- Designer
- Peter Harradine
- Type
- Desert parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,600 yds
- Green fee
- From about 150 to 200 euros
Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Abu Dhabi Golf Club and leading course databases. Peter Harradine designed the National Course, which opened around 2000, a par 72 of about 7,600 yards with seven saltwater lakes and roughly 90 bunkers. It hosted the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from 2006 to 2021. The indicative 2026 visitor green fee is about 150 to 200 euros, lower in the summer heat and higher in the peak winter season; multi round bundles are available. Figures change by season and year, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The National Course is the kind of test that flatters the good player and exposes the wayward one. Harradine framed wide paspalum fairways with desert sand, water and well placed bunkering, so there is room off the tee but a clear premium on the right side for the angle into greens that are large, fast and full of movement under tournament conditioning.
Water is the defining hazard, with seven saltwater lakes threading the routing and forcing decisions on several par 4s and the par 3s in particular. The course can be set up gently for resort play or stretched to its full 7,600 yards for the professionals, and that flexibility is part of why it served the European Tour so well for fifteen editions.
The finish is the signature, the closing holes sweeping back beneath the vast falcon shaped clubhouse for one of the most dramatic backdrops in the game. It is desert golf at full resort polish, and a round here belongs on any Abu Dhabi or wider UAE golf itinerary.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to visitors every day with advance booking; a valid handicap certificate or card is required |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 fee about 150 to 200 euros, lower in summer and higher in peak winter; bundles available; confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve ahead through the golf club or a golf travel specialist, especially in the cooler high season from October to April |
| On the day | Buggies are standard in the heat; caddies can be arranged; soft spikes and proper golf attire are expected |
| Getting there | Sas Al Nakhl, about 20 to 30 minutes from central Abu Dhabi and close to Abu Dhabi International Airport |
| Best months | October to April for comfortable temperatures; summer is very hot, so early tee times and twilight rounds are best |
Access and the indicative green fee verified June 2026; rates change by season and year, so always confirm current pricing, handicap requirements and availability directly with the club or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Abu Dhabi offers a deep choice of luxury hotels, from the resorts and beaches of the Corniche and Saadiyat Island to properties closer to the golf club and the airport. Many travelling golfers base themselves on Saadiyat or Yas Island and play several of the emirate's courses across a few days, with the city's culture, dining and attractions filling the downtime.
For a golf focused trip, a base near Yas Island or Sas Al Nakhl keeps the National Course and its neighbours within an easy drive, and Dubai is little more than an hour away for those wanting to combine both emirates. It is an ideal region to build a winter sun golf trip around, with reliable weather and faultless service.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Abu Dhabi National.
Build an Abu Dhabi golf trip
We book the National Course tee times, pair them with the best of Abu Dhabi and Dubai and arrange the hotel, transfers and downtime around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Abu Dhabi National questions
Who designed Abu Dhabi Golf Club and when did it open?
The National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club was designed by the veteran architect Peter Harradine and opened around 2000 at Sas Al Nakhl. The club is best known for its dramatic falcon shaped clubhouse overlooking the closing holes.
What is the par and length of the National Course?
The National Course is a par 72 of about 7,600 yards, played over lush paspalum fairways with seven saltwater lakes and roughly 90 bunkers shaping the strategy.
Did Abu Dhabi Golf Club host the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship?
Yes, the National Course hosted the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the European Tour from 2006 to 2021, won by a long list of major champions, before the event moved to another venue.
How much does it cost to play Abu Dhabi Golf Club?
The indicative 2026 visitor green fee is about 150 to 200 euros, lower in the summer heat and higher in the peak winter season, with multi round bundles available. Always confirm current rates directly before booking, as they change by season.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.