Dubai, UAE – 10 September 2025 – The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) is proud to unveil the official schedule for the 2025/26 season, which promises to be the most exciting and inclusive season to date. With more tournaments than ever before, the EGF continues to strengthen its commitment to providing opportunities for every demographic of golfer across the UAE.

For the first time, the season will feature dedicated Mid-Amateur and Senior categories. The Mid-Amateur category will welcome golfers aged 25–49, while the Senior category will be open to golfers aged 50 and above. These additions are designed to celebrate the game at all stages of life and give players new avenues to compete at a high level.

“The Emirates Golf Federation is committed to building pathways for every golfer in our community,” said General Abdulla Alhashmi, Vice Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation. “The introduction of Mid-Amateur and Senior categories ensures that our tournaments reflect the diversity of the game and provide opportunities for golfers of all ages to compete, develop, and enjoy the sport. This season will showcase the strength of golf in the UAE and reinforce our vision of making the game accessible to all.”

The 2025/26 schedule also includes fantastic opportunities for the winners of the Orders of Merit across categories, with exciting incentives and pathways to be announced later this month. These opportunities will highlight those players who rise to the top of their divisions and represent the next stage of golf development in the region.

To participate in the upcoming season, golfers must be a member of an EGF-affiliated club or hold an EGF Direct Membership. Membership ensures eligibility for all events and access to the wide range of benefits provided by the Federation.

The Emirates Golf Federation looks forward to an outstanding season ahead and encourages all golfers across the nation to join, compete, and be part of this exciting journey.

Five golfers will fly the flag for the United Arab Emirates on home soil this October, as Ahmad Skaik, Sam Mullane, Jonathan Selvaraj, Abdulla Kalbat and Rayan Ahmed tee it up at the 16th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, hosted at Emirates Golf Club’s iconic Majlis Course from October 23–26, 2025.

Created in 2009, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship was established by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A and the Masters Tournament to further develop amateur golf in the Asia-Pacific region.

The champion will receive an invitation to the 2026 Masters Tournament and an exemption into The 154th Open; the runner(s)-up will receive an exemption into The Open Qualifying Series; the top-three finishers will receive an exemption into The 131st Amateur Championship.

Skaik is no stranger to the Championship, making his sixth appearance in the prestigious event. One of his standout moments came at the 2021 edition at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, where he became just the second Emirati to make the cut – a decade after Ahmed Al Musharrekh etched his name in the history books at Singapore Island Country Club.

Skaik’s UAE National Team teammate, Ahmed, added to that history on his debut at Japan’s Taiheiyo Club last year, becoming the third player representing the UAE to make the cut. His achievement was marked by special congratulations from Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley and Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) Vice Chairman General Abdullah Alhashmi.

Kalbat also made his Championship debut last year, while both Mullane and Selvaraj are set to make their first appearances this year on home soil.

“I’m really excited, it’s always special to play significant events like this on home soil,” said Skaik.

“I know the Majlis Course well, and it’s an incredible venue with a rich history of hosting some of the world’s best players. I’m thrilled to have the chance to compete there for the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, and I can imagine the other players feel the same.”

Alongside the UAE quintet, players from an additional 41 APGC member organizations have accepted invitations with 116 players confirmed thus far for the 120-player field. The field is highlighted by Harry Takis of Australia, 2024 runner-up Ziqin Zhou of China, Kent Hsiao of Chinese Taipei, Jeffrey Shen of Hong Kong, China, Rayhan Latief of Indonesia, Taisei Nagasaki, Taishi Moto and Rintaro Nakano of Japan, and Fifa Laopakdee, Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat and Chanachon Chokprajakchat of Thailand. Representatives from four countries have claimed titles at the Asia-Pacific Amateur, including China with five victories, Australia and Japan with four each and the Republic of Korea with two.

Other Middle Eastern representatives in the field include Mousa Shana’ah, Mohammad Alrawashdeh, Salem Alabdallat and Hashem Shana’ah of Jordan, Azzan Al Rumhy and Ahmed Al Wahaibi of Oman, Saleh Ali Alkaabi and Ali Abdulla Al Shahrani of Qatar and Ali Alsakha and Khalid Saud AlFaisal of Saudi Arabia.

“To see such an exceptional field of amateur golfers coming together at Emirates Golf Club is a proud moment for us,” said General Abdullah Al Hashmi, Vice Chairman of the EGF.

“The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship continues to showcase the very best emerging talent from across our region, and this year is no exception. For the United Arab Emirates, having five of our own players competing on home soil makes the occasion even more special.

“It is a chance for them to test themselves against the strongest amateurs in Asia-Pacific, to inspire the next generation of Emirati golfers, and to demonstrate the progress our nation has made in the game. We look forward to welcoming every player to Dubai for what promises to be a historic week of golf.”

Notable past competitors include 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, a two-time winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur, and 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith. Over the Championship’s 15-year history, the Championship has served as a springboard to some of the world’s top players, including Matsuyama, 2018 champion Takumi Kanaya and 2021 champion Keita Nakajima of Japan, Smith, Cameron Davis and Min Woo Lee of Australia, New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, the Republic of Korea’s Si Woo Kim and Chinese Taipei’s C.T. Pan. Collectively, alumni of the Asia-Pacific Amateur have gone on to win 33 tournaments on the PGA Tour to date and more than 140 events across major professional tours.

Designed by Karl Litten and established in 1988 as the first grass course in the Middle East, Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course is located south of downtown Dubai and enjoys views of the city’s skyline. The Majlis Course annually serves as the host of the DP World Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic, an event won by the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Ernie Els, the latter of which owns the course record of 61. Australia’s Lucas Herbert won the Dubai Desert Classic in 2020 to become the first alum to win the event five years after his final appearance at the Asia-Pacific Amateur. Emirates Golf Club will host the Asia-Pacific Amateur for the first time.

The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) is proud to announce that Mohammed Thabet and Aasiya Saleem, both members of the UAE National Golf Team, will represent the United Arab Emirates at the upcoming ISF World School Golf Championship, taking place at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, Morocco, from 14–21 July 2025. The prestigious event will feature over 130 young golfers from 17 countries, competing in 72-hole stroke play (18 holes per day) across U15 and U18 boys and girls categories. Players will also participate in two practice rounds and an Education & Culture Day, making this championship not only a test of golfing ability but also an opportunity for cultural exchange and growth.

Flora Peuch, Senior Manager at the Emirates Golf Federation, expressed her excitement ahead of the championship:

“We are extremely proud of Mohammed and Aasiya, who continue to demonstrate the high standards of golf being developed within the UAE National Team programme. The Royal Golf Dar Es Salam courses are in fantastic condition, having just hosted an International Series event last week, which will provide the perfect stage for these young athletes to test themselves against the world’s best.”

The EGF wishes all four players the very best as they represent the UAE on this international stage, continuing to showcase the growing talent and diversity of golf in the region.

On May 8-10 2025, the EGF sent nine players to compete in the Ladies and Junior Golf Championships in Egypt. Representing the UAE in coming home with a Silver Medal in the Individual Ladies Division was Hannah Cheryl Alan, while Sara Ali Abubaker took home the Bronze Medal. The Ladies’ team finished as the overall Runner-Up in the championships.

In addition, the UAE Boys 18 & Under team also captured the Silver Medal with Rashid Alnaqbi capturing the Individual Bronze.

 

Traveling with the team were EGF Vice President Abdualla Alhashmi, Secretary General Kahlid Mubarak Al Shamsi, and UAE National Team Head Coach Faycal Serghini.

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