How to Play Yas Links
Yas Links is the finest course in Abu Dhabi and the first true links ever built in the Middle East, a Kyle Phillips design that opened in 2010 and now hosts the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the DP World Tour. A par 72 of about 7,414 yards wrapped around the shoreline of Yas Island, with firm fairways, tumbling dunes and the sea in play, it is fully open to visitors. Here is exactly how to play it in 2026, what it costs, and when to go.
Photograph: Yas Links Abu Dhabi via Google.
The short answer
Book online and turn up with a handicap. Yas Links is a fully public, championship links open to visitors every day, so you simply reserve a tee time through the club's official booking, a tee time platform, or a trip planner as part of an Abu Dhabi golf week. A valid handicap is expected, with limits around 28 for men and 36 for women. Pricing is dynamic: the indicative 2026 green fee runs from around AED 880 off peak to around AED 1,100 at peak times, roughly 240 to 300 US dollars, with a buggy usually included, higher in the prime winter season and lower in the hot summer and at twilight. Smart golf attire is required. Always confirm current availability and fees directly before booking.
How to book, step by step
| Detail | 2026 position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Fully open to visitors, seven days | Advance booking essential in winter peak |
| How to book | Online via the club or a tee time platform | Or through a trip planner on an Abu Dhabi golf week |
| Handicap | Valid handicap required | Indicative limits around 28 men, 36 women |
| Dress code | Smart golf attire | Collared shirt and tailored shorts or trousers; soft spikes |
| Buggy | Usually included in the green fee | Caddies available; carts standard in the heat |
Access and booking details verified in June 2026 from the club and tee time platform listings; they can change, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before booking. Check tee time availability.
Yas Links green fees, 2026
| Period | Indicative 18 hole fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Peak winter | Around AED 1,100, about 300 US dollars | November to April; best conditions, scarcest tee times |
| Off peak and shoulder | Around AED 880, about 240 US dollars | Lower demand days; buggy usually included |
| Summer and twilight | Lower than the winter rate | Very hot; play early morning or twilight slots |
| Championship week | Premium and books out far ahead | Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, usually January |
Green fees verified indicatively in June 2026 from the club and tee time platform listings; dynamic pricing means the figure changes by season, day and time, so always confirm current fees directly before booking.
The round, caddies and what to expect
Yas Links is real links golf in the desert, the ground game alive, the wind off the Arabian Gulf the principal defence, and the sea visible from much of the property. Kyle Phillips, the architect behind Kingsbarns, moved enormous quantities of sand to create tumbling dunes, firm fescue fairways and greens that reward the running approach over the aerial one. The closing holes work back along the water and demand commitment in the breeze, and the par 3s are a varied, demanding set. A caddie or a forecaddie helps with the lines and the wind, and a buggy is standard in the heat. It is among the best resort links anywhere, demanding but fair, and a genuine thrill to play.
When to go and what to pair it with
Play in the cool season from November to April for the best conditions and weather, accepting the peak fee and booking tee times well ahead, or take the summer for much lower rates and early or twilight starts to beat the heat. Abu Dhabi and neighbouring Dubai form the most concentrated golf region in the world, so pair Yas Links with Saadiyat Beach alongside it, the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, and a short hop to Dubai for the Emirates Majlis and the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. A long weekend covers three or four marquee courses with short transfers. Build it that way for the complete Gulf golf trip.
Plan a Yas Links and Abu Dhabi trip
We book the Yas Links tee time you want, pair it with the best of the Abu Dhabi and Dubai courses, and match the golf to the right hotel and transfers so the week runs smoothly. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Yas Links booking questions
How do you book a tee time at Yas Links Abu Dhabi?
Yas Links is fully open to visitors every day of the week and books like a championship resort course. You reserve a tee time online through the club's official booking, a tee time platform, or a trip planner as part of an Abu Dhabi or Dubai golf week. A valid handicap is required, with limits around 28 for men and 36 for women, and advance booking is essential in the cool winter season. Always confirm current availability and rates directly before booking.
How much does it cost to play Yas Links in 2026?
Yas Links uses dynamic pricing, with an indicative 2026 green fee in the region of AED 880 off peak to around AED 1,100 at peak times, which is roughly 240 to 300 US dollars, higher in the prime winter season and lower in the hot summer months and at twilight. A buggy is normally included. Treat these as indicative figures and always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Who designed Yas Links and what tournaments does it host?
Yas Links was designed by the American architect Kyle Phillips and opened in 2010 as the first true links course in the Middle East. A par 72 of about 7,414 yards on Yas Island, it became the home of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, a Rolex Series event on the DP World Tour, and is rated among the best courses in the region and the wider world. Always confirm current course information directly before booking.
When is the best time to play Yas Links?
Play Abu Dhabi in the cool season from November to April, when daytime temperatures are pleasant and the course is in peak condition, which is also when green fees are highest and tee times scarcest. The summer, from May to September, is very hot, so play early morning or twilight and expect much lower rates. The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, usually in January, is a special time to visit but books out far ahead. Always confirm conditions and fees for your dates.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.