Emirates Golf Club Majlis
The course that brought grass golf to the Gulf. Karl Litten's Majlis opened in 1988 as the first all grass eighteen in the Middle East, threading emerald fairways between desert dunes on the edge of Dubai. Home of the Dubai Desert Classic since 1989, it remains the region's most famous and most loved course, framed by the tented clubhouse that gives it its name.
Photo: Emirates Golf Club Majlis course via Google.
The verdict
When the Majlis opened in 1988 it was a statement of intent: the first eighteen hole grass course in the Middle East, carved by the American architect Karl Litten through the dunes and native scrub on the desert edge of Dubai. It is a par 72 of 7,301 yards, and the contrast of bright green fairway against raw desert remains the image of golf in the Gulf. The tented Majlis clubhouse, the Arabic word for a meeting place, sits between the closing holes and gives the course its name.
It has been the home of the Dubai Desert Classic since 1989, and the roll of champions who have won here, from Seve Ballesteros to the modern greats, is the surest sign of its quality. The Majlis is not the longest or the most penal course in Dubai, but it is the one with the history, the atmosphere and the finish, and for a first round in the emirate it is the obvious and the most rewarding choice.
The Majlis at a glance
- Opened
- 1988
- Designer
- Karl Litten
- Type
- Desert championship
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,301 yds
- Green fee
- Around AED 995 to 1,100
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. The Majlis was the first all grass eighteen hole course in the Middle East and has hosted the Dubai Desert Classic since 1989. Green fees are indicative, around 995 UAE dirhams off peak to about 1,100 dirhams at peak times in the 2026 calendar. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Litten routed the Majlis to use the desert as the hazard, with waste and native planting framing fairways that are generous enough to encourage a free swing and tight enough to punish the careless. The early holes ease you in before the course shows its teeth.
The par 4 eighth is the hardest hole on the card, a long two shotter that demands an accurate drive and a committed uphill approach to a small, severely contoured green. The freshwater and saltwater lakes come into play through the round, framing greens and forcing decisions, and the closing par 5 eighteenth, reachable for the brave and flanked by water and the grandstands of Classic week, is one of the great finishing holes in the region.
The greens are quick and true and the Dubai sun keeps them firm, so distance control and a calm short game matter more than raw power. Play it early in the day or in the cooler months, soak up the contrast of green and desert, and the Majlis delivers the round every visiting golfer to Dubai wants on the card.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A members and visitors club; green fee players welcome by prior arrangement |
| Green fee | Around 995 dirhams off peak to about 1,100 dirhams at peak times (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve ahead in the cooler high season from October to April; tee sheets are busy |
| On the day | Buggies standard; the course can move to walking only around Classic week. Smart golf dress |
| Getting there | Beside Sheikh Zayed Road near Dubai Marina, around 25 minutes from Dubai International airport |
| Best months | November to March for comfortable daytime temperatures |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Dubai offers every level of luxury within a short drive of the Emirates Golf Club. The hotels of the Marina and Jumeirah Beach put you minutes from the first tee, with the beach, the dining and the nightlife of new Dubai on your doorstep.
For a pure golf base, several of the city's courses sit alongside hotels with direct access, and the compact geography of Dubai means a week can take in the Majlis, its sister courses and the best of the emirate without long transfers. Dubai International and Al Maktoum airports keep the city within easy reach worldwide.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near the Emirates Golf Club.
Build a Dubai golf trip
We pair the Majlis with the best of Dubai's courses, time the round for the cooler hours and book the hotel and transfers to suit. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Majlis questions
Who designed the Majlis at Emirates Golf Club and when did it open?
The Majlis was designed by the American architect Karl Litten and opened in 1988 as the first all grass eighteen hole course in the Middle East, routed through the desert dunes on the edge of Dubai.
What is the par and length of the Majlis course?
The Majlis is a par 72 measuring 7,301 yards from the championship tees, with desert waste, native scrub and several lakes in play.
How much does it cost to play the Majlis?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 995 UAE dirhams off peak to about 1,100 dirhams at peak times. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play the Majlis course?
Yes. The Majlis is a members and visitors club that welcomes green fee players by prior arrangement. Booking ahead is recommended in the busy cooler season from October to April.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.