Emirates — Majlis Course

Emirates Golf Club was the vision of Peter Harradine, whose son David later contributed to its development, but it was American designer Karl Litten who shaped the Majlis Course into its celebrated final form. When the course opened in November 1988, it was greeted worldwide as a near-impossible achievement: sustaining living grass turf in one of the earth's hottest and driest climates. The Dubai government and the Emaar Properties group backed the project, recognising that a world-class golf course could serve as an anchor for the city's ambitions as a global tourism and business destination. Within just a few years the course hosted its first Dubai Desert Classic in 1989, won by Mark James, and the event grew rapidly into one of the most prestigious on the European Tour calendar. Over subsequent decades, winners including Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy have all lifted the trophy here. The club expanded over the years, adding the Faldo Course in 1996, designed by Sir Nick Faldo, giving the facility two championship layouts. The Majlis has undergone several renovation programmes to maintain its conditioning and tournament-standard playability, and today it remains the flagship course of the club and a cornerstone of Middle Eastern golf.

The par-5 18th hole, known simply as The Closing, is the Majlis Course's defining moment. Playing to approximately 547 yards from the championship tees, it sweeps gently left toward the floodlit Bedouin tent clubhouse in a finale that has produced some of professional golf's most dramatic scenes. Water flanks the left side of the fairway on the second shot, demanding a decision between laying up safely to the right and committing to a heroic carry that shortens the approach considerably. The par-4 8th is equally celebrated, a dogleg right where precision off the tee is essential to open the correct angle into a green protected by deep bunkers front left. The par-3 7th, playing across water to a shallow green framed by palms and desert scrub, is among the most photographed short holes in the Middle East and consistently tests players of all abilities.

The optimal window for playing Emirates Golf Club runs from November through April, when Dubai's temperatures settle into the low to mid-twenties Celsius and humidity remains manageable. January and February represent the peak of the season, offering cool mornings ideal for comfortable 18-hole rounds. The Dubai Desert Classic typically takes place in late January or February, so booking several weeks either side of the tournament avoids the heaviest demand on tee times. From May through September the heat and humidity become extreme, with daytime temperatures regularly exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, making early morning tee times before 8am the only practical option during the summer months.

Book tee times well in advance, particularly during the November to April high season when the course operates at near capacity. Twilight rates offer significantly reduced green fees from mid-afternoon onward and represent excellent value. Soft spike or spikeless shoes are required on the course. The club's buggy policy is flexible but buggies are strongly recommended during summer visits to manage the heat between holes. Golf attire standards are enforced at the clubhouse, and collared shirts are mandatory. The pro shop carries a comprehensive range of equipment and apparel. Airport transfers from Dubai International take approximately 20 minutes, making the club easily accessible for visitors staying in the city centre.