By the GolfForKings editorial desk · Last reviewed June 2026
Who this trip suits
A dubai golf trip built around a group of friends is one of the easiest wins in travel. Every element that makes an individual holiday comfortable scales perfectly for eight, twelve or sixteen mates: the courses are wide open, the hotels do group rooms and shared suites without fuss, transfers are short and frequent, and the evenings offer enough variety that golfers and the occasional non golfer in the group are equally happy. It is the trip where nobody argues about the itinerary because the itinerary essentially plans itself.
- Groups of four to sixteen who want a confirmed winter sun escape with zero weather anxiety from October to April.
- Mixed handicap groups who need courses that work at every level, from tour standard back tees to friendly forward positions.
- Friends who want the golf to be genuinely memorable, not just a sunny round on a resort track, including a Desert Classic venue and a DP World Tour Championship course.
- Groups who want evenings to match the days: rooftop bars, waterfront dining, and floodlit twilight golf to extend the fun after dark.
- Anyone who wants the logistics handled as one package, with costs per head that are easy to split and share before booking.
- Groups adding a day trip to Yas Links in Abu Dhabi for a genuine links experience without an extra overnight.
See the full Dubai golf destination guide for hotel areas, transfers and practical logistics, or compare the full roster in our ranked list of the best golf courses in Dubai.
The courses to build around
Every course detail below was verified at the time of writing. Green fees are indicative and seasonal; treat them as a planning guide and always confirm directly before booking. The season runs October to April 2026.
Emirates Golf Club, Majlis
The original desert grass course and home of the Dubai Desert Classic since 1989. A group tee time here carries genuine bragging rights. The closing run beside the clubhouse is one of the most recognized finishes in the game. Photo: Emirates Golf Club via Google.
Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth
The season ending DP World Tour Championship is played here each November. Norman described the final four holes as "the most difficult mile in golf." A genuinely serious test that gives a group trip a shared talking point for years.
Dubai Hills Golf Club
Managed by Troon, with views of the Burj Khalifa from nine holes. The value pick of the marquee city courses: outstanding conditioning, friendlier green fees, and close to Downtown for group dinners afterward.
Trump International
A bold Hanse design that weaves through 500 acres of previously flat desert. The back nine is a par 35 and plays noticeably shorter, keeping the pace up for a group. The floodlit par 3 course alongside is ideal for an evening warm up or a quick after dinner challenge.
The Els Club
Ernie Els drew on links design principles to create what he called a "desert links." Two returning loops keep the whole group together between nines. Best Golf Course in UAE and Dubai at the 2025 World Golf Awards. The Big Easy Bar at the clubhouse is a natural group lunch stop.
Yas Links, Abu Dhabi
The first true links course in the Middle East, ranked 48th in the world by Golf Digest. Saltwater carries, fast greens and a spectacular finishing stretch on the western shore of Yas Island. About an hour from central Dubai, it is the one round that changes the character of the whole trip.
A sample structure
A five night framework that fits four to five rounds and leaves room for the evenings. Tee times, hotel and handicap range can all flex. This is a starting point, not a fixed schedule.
Arrive, check in and let the group settle. Book a floodlit twilight tee time at the Trump International par 3 course or an evening nine somewhere across the city to shake off any stiffness from the flight. Dinner at a rooftop restaurant in the Marina. The group WhatsApp already paying dividends.
The Emirates Golf Club Majlis in the cool of the morning. Tee off early to walk the same fairways as the Dubai Desert Classic field. Lunch at the clubhouse, then an easy afternoon at the hotel pool with the scorecard being dissected at length. This is the round the group will talk about at home.
The Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Walk the closing four holes that Norman called the most difficult mile in golf and find out whether the group agrees. Afternoon free for the city or a recovery session. A floodlit evening nine at the Faldo Course or Trump International for any group members who need more golf to process the day.
Day trip to Yas Links in Abu Dhabi. Hire a minibus for the group, roughly an hour each way, and play the only genuine links in the region. Fast greens, saltwater carries and a finishing stretch that will divide opinion. Lunch at the Yas Links clubhouse, back to Dubai by late afternoon. Optional evening at leisure.
Dubai Hills Golf Club with views of the Burj Khalifa. The best value round of the week and a course that plays well for the full range of handicaps in the group. Afternoon free for shopping, the city or the spa. Group dinner to settle side bets and confirm the next trip destination.
Optional extension. The Els Club for another strong test in a relaxed setting, or a morning at Dubai Creek if the group wants a mix of golf and the older waterfront neighbourhood. Fly home on day seven. The group chat transitions to planning the next one before the gates close.
For the full range of trip formats, see our Dubai golf holidays overview or the luxury golf tours of Dubai page for higher end options.
Indicative costs
These are third party green fees and package ranges gathered during research for this page, not GolfForKings pricing. We are an independent guide and trip planning service, never the operator. Numbers are indicative for the 2026 season. Always confirm directly before booking.
| Course or item | Indicative green fee or cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates Golf Club, Majlis | AED 700 to 900 per head and above | Peak December to March; includes shared cart |
| Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth | AED 475 weekday to AED 900 peak | Includes cart and one hour range access; highest around the tour window |
| Dubai Hills Golf Club | AED 465 to 595 per head | Best headline value of the marquee city courses; Troon managed |
| The Els Club | AED 400 to 650 per head indicative | Two returning loops; group rates may apply for larger parties |
| Yas Links, Abu Dhabi | AED 500 to 750 per head indicative | Plus shared minibus transfer from Dubai, roughly AED 50 to 80 per head |
| Floodlit twilight round or par 3 evening | AED 100 to 300 per head indicative | Cooler, social and often the cheapest golf of the trip |
| Five night buddies package, 4 rounds, four star hotel | about USD 2,500 to 3,800 per head | Excluding flights; indicative 2026 season range |
| Five night buddies package, 5 rounds, five star hotel | about USD 3,800 to 5,500 per head | Excluding flights; indicative 2026 season range |
All figures are indicative for the 2026 winter season and move with demand, exchange rates and group size. Always confirm directly before booking. See the dedicated Dubai green fees guide for a current breakdown by course.
Looking for a fully managed quote for the group? Use the enquiry form below or visit our trip planner for a cost per head breakdown with hotels included.
Best time to go and to book
The Dubai golf season runs October to April. Daytime temperatures across those months sit between roughly 20 and 30 degrees Celsius, making early morning and floodlit evening tee times the preferred pattern for most groups. December through March is the peak window for both weather quality and green fee pricing, so groups aiming for that period should lock tee times at the Majlis and the Earth six to ten weeks ahead and secure hotel rooms even earlier over the Christmas and New Year period.
October, November and April represent genuine shoulder season value. The temperatures are slightly warmer but still very comfortable, green fees at several courses ease noticeably, and the courses are quieter. For a group focused on playing as much golf as possible rather than ticking off a specific calendar date, those months often deliver more rounds per dirham.
Floodlit twilight rounds are one of Dubai's defining experiences for a group. Most floodlit tee times start from around 5 p.m. and run to close to midnight, making them a natural second session after an earlier morning round or a perfect standalone evening round on a travel day. The Faldo Course at Emirates is the only fully floodlit 18 hole layout in the city; Trump International's floodlit par 3 course and the Track at Meydan are the other group favorites for night sessions. Booking these in advance during peak season is recommended, especially for groups of eight or more.
Plan your buddies trip to Dubai
Tell us the group size, the dates and how many rounds you want. A concierge will send back a costed itinerary with tee times, hotel options and a total per head within one working day. No fee, no obligation.
Buddies Dubai golf trip, answered
How many rounds can a group realistically fit into a week in Dubai?
Most groups of friends fit four to five rounds comfortably across a five to seven night trip, combining morning tee times for the big venues with a floodlit evening nine or twilight round. Adding a day trip to Yas Links in Abu Dhabi is straightforward and gives the trip genuine variety without extra hotel nights.
Is Dubai a good group golf destination for a mixed handicap group?
Very much so. Courses such as Dubai Hills and the Els Club offer multiple tee options that keep the pace comfortable for higher handicappers, while the Majlis and the Earth Course give better players a proper test. The shared buggy format keeps things moving and the group together.
Are floodlit rounds worth booking for a buddies trip?
Absolutely. Floodlit twilight rounds are one of Dubai's signatures and a genuine group experience. Tee times from around 5 p.m. let the group play into the evening under lights, cooler than the afternoon and often at lower green fees than peak morning slots.
How far is Yas Links from Dubai for a day trip?
Yas Links on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi is about an hour to 75 minutes by road from central Dubai. Most groups hire a minibus or shared taxi, play the round, have lunch at the clubhouse and return the same afternoon. It is an easy addition that adds the only true links experience in the region.
When is the best time to book a buddies golf trip to Dubai?
The season runs October to April. December through March is peak demand, especially over Christmas and New Year, so book the Majlis and the Earth Course six to ten weeks ahead and secure hotels even earlier over those windows. October, November and April offer the same quality at lower green fees and hotel rates.