How to Play the Best Golf in the Red Sea Coast
Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast has gone from zero to genuinely compelling in under a decade: Royal Greens, the Dave Sampson design that staged the Saudi International and LIV Golf Jeddah, and now Shura Links, a 7,400 yard island course that opened in September 2025. Winter is the season, the eVisa is simple, and indicative fees start around SAR 350. Here is how to get on.
Photo: Royal Greens Golf & Country Club via Google.
Why the Red Sea coast is different
This is frontier golf with tour pedigree. Royal Greens at King Abdullah Economic City, about an hour and a half north of Jeddah, opened in 2018 and almost immediately became the country's shop window: host of the Saudi International from 2019 and of LIV Golf Jeddah from 2022 to 2024. The course itself is a modern, immaculately kept resort championship layout of around 6,900 to 7,000 yards, par 72, with the closing stretch running along the water.
The bigger story is what opened next. Shura Links, designed by Brian Curley on Shura Island at The Red Sea destination, debuted in September 2025 as Saudi Arabia's first island golf course: par 72, 7,400 yards from the tips, routed through mangroves and dunes before reaching the shoreline, with just 70 acres of irrigated salt tolerant Paspalum turf. It is reached through the island's resorts, three of which opened by the end of 2025 with more following through 2026. For the wider national picture, start with our guide to golf in Saudi Arabia and our ranking of the best courses in the kingdom.
The courses that matter
| Course | Why it matters | Indicative fee (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Greens G&CC | Dave Sampson of European Golf Design, opened 2018 at King Abdullah Economic City. Par 72 and roughly 6,900 to 7,000 yards, host of the Saudi International from 2019 and LIV Golf Jeddah 2022 to 2024, with sea view closing holes | About SAR 350 weekdays, around SAR 650 weekends |
| Shura Links | Brian Curley design opened September 2025 on Shura Island at The Red Sea destination. Saudi Arabia's first island course: par 72, 7,400 yards, mangroves, dunes and shoreline holes on salt tolerant Paspalum | Via Shura Island resort packages; confirm with the resort |
Fees verified June 2026 from course and operator listings and are indicative for the 2026 season. Shura Links plays through the island's resorts and does not publish a simple public rate card; always confirm directly before booking.
How to book it, step by step
- Sort the visa first. Saudi Arabia's eVisa covers most major nationalities and is normally issued quickly online. Do it before you book flights, not after.
- Pick your base. For Royal Greens, stay at King Abdullah Economic City itself or in Jeddah, about 100 kilometers south. For Shura Links, you book a Shura Island resort, such as the SLS, InterContinental or EDITION properties that opened with the course, and the golf is arranged as part of the stay.
- Travel in the winter window. October to April gives warm, dry days with a sea breeze. June to September is fierce heat; if you must play then, take the earliest slot on the sheet and ride a cart.
- Book the golf direct or through the resort. Royal Greens takes direct visitor bookings with hire clubs available. Shura Links tee times run through the island resorts and concierge desks, which is exactly the kind of arrangement we build into a custom trip via our trip planning desk.
- Plan flights by course. Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International is the gateway for Royal Greens; Red Sea International Airport serves the Shura Island resorts. Pairing both courses in one trip means an internal flight or a long drive, so plan the order around your arrival city.
Dress codes are standard resort golf: collared shirt, tailored shorts or trousers, soft spikes. If you are weighing the Red Sea coast against the Gulf side of the peninsula, our guide to green fees in Dubai and our list of the best luxury golf resorts in the Middle East make a useful comparison.
Build a Red Sea golf trip
We arrange the tee times at Royal Greens, the Shura Island resort stay around Shura Links, and the flights that connect them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Red Sea coast golf questions
When is the best time to play golf on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast?
October to April is the season that matters. Winter days are warm and dry with a reliable sea breeze, while June to September is seriously hot and best limited to early morning tee times. The Saudi International has traditionally been played at Royal Greens in the winter window for exactly this reason.
What is the best golf course on the Red Sea coast?
Royal Greens Golf and Country Club at King Abdullah Economic City is the established flagship, a Dave Sampson design opened in 2018 that has hosted the Saudi International and LIV Golf Jeddah. Shura Links, the Brian Curley island course that opened at The Red Sea destination in September 2025, is the spectacular newcomer and already its rival.
How much does it cost to play Royal Greens?
Indicative 2026 rates at Royal Greens run from about SAR 350 on weekdays to around SAR 650 at weekends for 18 holes, with clubs and carts available to hire. Shura Links prices through its resort packages. Always confirm directly before booking.
Can tourists play golf in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Both Royal Greens and Shura Links welcome visiting golfers, and Saudi Arabia's eVisa makes entry straightforward for most nationalities. Royal Greens takes direct bookings, while Shura Links is arranged through the Shura Island resorts.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.