5 Day Dubai and Abu Dhabi Golf Itinerary
Two emirates, five championship courses, one easy winter sun trip. This route plays the best of Dubai, the Emirates Majlis, the Earth Course and Dubai Creek, then crosses to Abu Dhabi for Yas Links and Saadiyat Beach, all in five comfortable days. The driving is short, the standard is uniformly high, and the cities either side of the golf are among the most exciting in the world. Here is the plan, with indicative 2026 green fees and drive times.
Photograph: Emirates Golf Club, Majlis Course, via Google
Who this trip suits
This is the complete UAE golf break, for the golfer who wants guaranteed winter sun, tournament courses they have watched on the DP World Tour, and two world class cities to enjoy off the fairways. Dubai and Abu Dhabi sit about an hour and a half apart, each a cluster of immaculate, internationally run courses, so five days covers the marquee names of both with only short drives and at most one change of hotel. It works equally as a couples trip with golf at its heart or a buddies break with a competition running across the rounds, with the beach, the dining and the desert filling the evenings.
The single most important decision is timing. UAE golf is glorious from November to March and punishing in high summer. Get the season right, book the marquee tee times ahead, and the trip falls into place around two comfortable bases.
The 5 day plan
Emirates Golf Club, Majlis Course
Open in Dubai with the course that started it all, the first grass course in the Middle East and the long time home of the Dubai Desert Classic. The Majlis is a proper championship test threading between dunes, lakes and native desert, with the famous island green eighth and a thrilling closing stretch beneath the clubhouse. Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 660 dirhams and up to roughly 900 at the seasonal peak, so this is the day to book first.
Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth Course
Move to the season ending stage of the DP World Tour. The Greg Norman designed Earth Course is bold and tree lined, more American in feel than the open desert layouts, with water and risk and reward decisions all the way to the grandstand finish. Indicative 2026 fees start around 475 dirhams on a weekday and rise toward 580 at the weekend, with twilight and nine hole rates much lower if you want a relaxed second round.
Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Swap the desert fringe for the water, with a city centre round beside the Creek and its marina, framed by the unmistakable sail shaped clubhouse. It is the most urban and arguably the most relaxing day of the trip, a well conditioned championship course with the skyline as a backdrop and a long history of hosting professional golf. Confirm current visitor green fees directly, and consider a late afternoon tee time to finish with the lights coming on across the water before the drive to Abu Dhabi.
Yas Links Abu Dhabi
Cross to Abu Dhabi for the finest course in the emirate, a Kyle Phillips design that is the first true links in the Middle East and now the home of the Abu Dhabi Championship. Laid along the shore of Yas Island, it offers firm turf, sea views and the genuine links examination, a striking change of character from the Dubai desert courses. Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 880 to 1,100 dirhams depending on the season; pair it with the Yas Island hotels and attractions.
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
Close the trip on Saadiyat Island with Gary Player's beachfront course, where several holes run hard by the Gulf and the dunes and the sea define the back nine. It is the most scenic round of the week and a relaxed, memorable finish, with the island's beach, museums and resort hotels on hand for the final evening. Confirm current visitor green fees directly, and consider a late tee time before flying home or a last night on Saadiyat.
Green fees, drive times and logistics
| Round | Indicative 2026 fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates Majlis | From around 660 dirhams, up to 900 at peak | Buggy normally included; book early |
| Jumeirah Earth | Around 475 dirhams, near 580 at the weekend | Twilight and nine hole rates lower |
| Dubai Creek | Confirm current rates directly | City centre, floodlit options |
| Yas Links, Abu Dhabi | Around 880 to 1,100 dirhams | About 90 minutes from Dubai; true links |
| Saadiyat Beach | Confirm current rates directly | Beachfront; 20 minutes from Yas Island |
Green fees and drive times verified indicatively in June 2026 from course and operator listings; they vary by season and time of day and change without notice, so always confirm current rates directly before booking. Find a UAE golf hotel.
When to go and where to stay
Play the UAE between November and March, with December to February the prime window for comfortable temperatures and peak course conditioning, which is also when fees and hotels cost the most. Summer is searingly hot, so golf shifts to dawn and floodlit evenings and prices tumble. The simplest plan is two bases: three nights in Dubai near the Marina or on the Palm for the first three courses and the city, then two nights in Abu Dhabi on Yas or Saadiyat Island for the final two rounds and the flight home. A hire car or a driver makes the hour and a half hop between the emirates and the short daily transfers easy, and leaves the evenings free for the cities.
Plan your Dubai and Abu Dhabi trip
We book the five courses at the right times of day, match the two bases to the golf and the cities, and arrange the transfer between the emirates so the days run smoothly. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi golf questions
Can you combine Dubai and Abu Dhabi in one golf trip?
Easily. The two emirates are about an hour and a half apart by road, so a five day trip can play the best of both from a single base or with one short move. Spend three days on the Dubai courses, the Emirates Majlis, Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course and Dubai Creek, then two in Abu Dhabi for Yas Links and Saadiyat Beach. The drive between them is straightforward, and the standard of courses, hotels and service is uniformly high. Always confirm current tee times and fees directly before booking.
How much does golf cost in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 2026?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 475 dirhams at the Earth Course on a weekday up to roughly 660, and as much as 900 at peak, on the Emirates Majlis. In Abu Dhabi, Yas Links runs from around 880 to 1,100 dirhams depending on the season. Rates rise sharply in the cooler November to March peak and fall in summer, when golf shifts to dawn and floodlit evenings. Always confirm current fees directly before booking.
What is the best time to play golf in the UAE?
From November to March, when daytime temperatures are comfortable and the courses are in peak condition, which is also when green fees and hotel rates are highest, with December to February the prime window. Summer, roughly June to September, is extremely hot, so golfers play at dawn or under floodlights and pay much less. Spring and autumn are pleasant shoulder seasons. Always confirm current seasonal rates directly before booking.
Is five days enough for a Dubai and Abu Dhabi golf trip?
Yes. Five days lets you play the courses that define golf in both emirates, the Emirates Majlis, the Earth Course and Dubai Creek in Dubai, then Yas Links and Saadiyat Beach in Abu Dhabi, with time for the cities, the beach and dining. The courses are within reasonable drives, and the hour and a half hop between the emirates is easily managed with a hire car or a driver, so the golf never feels rushed.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Indicative green fees and drive times verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.