Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
The Gulf's first beachfront course. Gary Player routed Saadiyat Beach along the dunes and shoreline of Saadiyat Island just north of Abu Dhabi, with six holes hard against the sea. It is one of the most natural feeling courses in the Emirates, and a regular host to professional golf.
Photo: Saadiyat Beach Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club opened in 2010 as the Arabian Gulf's first beachfront course, and it remains one of the most distinctive rounds in the Emirates. Gary Player laid it out along the coastline of Saadiyat Island, the cultural quarter of Abu Dhabi that is home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and he used the natural sand, the dunes and the saltwater lagoons to give the course a coastal character that most desert layouts can only imitate. Six holes run directly along the beach, with the Gulf as the backdrop and the breeze as the test.
It is also a serious championship venue. The course is the only one in the UAE certified as an Audubon cooperative sanctuary for its ecology, and it has hosted professional events including the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open on the women's tour. At a par of 72 stretching to around 7,806 yards from the back, it has the length and the bite to test the best, while the forward tees and the generous fairways keep it enjoyable for the holidaying golfer. For a trip to Abu Dhabi, it is the course with the sense of place.
Saadiyat Beach at a glance
- Opened
- 2010
- Designer
- Gary Player
- Type
- Coastal
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Up to 7,806 yds
- Green fee
- Around AED 525 to 675
Designer, year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. Saadiyat Beach plays to a par of 72 of up to around 7,806 yards from the championship tees. Green fees are indicative, roughly AED 525 to 675 for 18 holes in the 2026 season depending on time of year and day. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Player built Saadiyat Beach to reward the player who manages the wind and the angles rather than simply the one who hits it far. The fairways are framed by sandy waste and natural dune grasses, the bunkering is bold, and the greens are large but cleverly contoured, asking for the approach to finish on the right tier. The saltwater lagoons that wind through the property come into play on several holes, demanding a decision off the tee about how much to take on.
The stretch along the beach is the heart of the round and the reason to play it. With the Gulf glittering to one side and the breeze swinging in off the water, these holes feel a world away from the city skyline that frames the back nine. The course finishes strongly, with a closing run that has decided more than one professional event, and the whole layout sits in a protected coastal environment that keeps it green and alive with birdlife.
For the travelling golfer, Saadiyat Beach is the marquee public course of an Abu Dhabi trip. Pair it with the floodlit, championship parkland of Abu Dhabi Golf Club and the links of Yas, and you have a varied three course week in the capital, with this the round that lives longest in the memory.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A fully public, daily fee course open to visitors and resort guests, bookable online or through your trip planner |
| Green fee | Around AED 525 to 675 for 18 holes depending on season and time of day, with twilight rates available (indicative) |
| Booking | Tee times can be booked in advance online; the cooler winter months are the busiest and worth securing early |
| On the day | Buggies, caddies and a full academy are available; standard golf dress applies and the layout is comfortable to walk in the cooler season |
| Getting there | On Saadiyat Island around ten kilometers northeast of central Abu Dhabi, roughly 30 minutes from the airport |
| Best months | November to March for comfortable temperatures; high summer is extremely hot and best played at dawn or twilight |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Saadiyat Beach Golf Club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Saadiyat Island is lined with luxury beach resorts a short drive from the course, from the Park Hyatt and the St Regis to the Rosewood and the Jumeirah, all on the same stretch of white sand coast.
For a wider stay many visitors base in central Abu Dhabi or on Yas Island, both within easy reach of the island's golf and its attractions, from the Grand Mosque to the theme parks of Yas.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts on Saadiyat Island.
Build an Abu Dhabi golf trip
Saadiyat Beach is the centerpiece of golf in the capital. We pair it with the other championship courses of Abu Dhabi and Yas, the island beach resorts and the transfers, and price the trip to the head. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge handles the rest, with no obligation.
Saadiyat Beach questions
Who designed Saadiyat Beach Golf Club?
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club was designed by the nine time major champion Gary Player and opened in 2010. It was billed as the Arabian Gulf's first beachfront course, routed along the coastline of Saadiyat Island just north of Abu Dhabi city.
What is the par and length of Saadiyat Beach?
Saadiyat Beach plays to a par of 72 and can stretch to around 7,806 yards from the championship tees, with forward tees starting near 5,300 yards. Six holes run along the beach, where the sea breeze is the main defense.
Can visitors play Saadiyat Beach Golf Club?
Yes. Saadiyat Beach is a fully public, daily fee course open to visitors and resort guests. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly AED 525 to 675 depending on season and time of day. Always confirm current rates and tee times directly before booking.
Where is Saadiyat Beach Golf Club?
The course is on Saadiyat Island, around ten kilometers northeast of central Abu Dhabi and close to the city's cultural district, roughly 30 minutes from Abu Dhabi airport and within easy reach of the island's beach resorts.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Design, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.