Emirates Golf Club: The Majlis, Faldo and Par 3 Academy

Emirates Golf Club holds a special place in Dubai’s golfing history. Opened in 1988, it introduced The Majlis, the Middle East’s first grass championship course, and later added The Faldo and a Par 3 academy course. Today, the club combines a landmark golfing heritage with modern practice facilities and options for daytime and evening play.

Opened in 1988 and designed by Karl Litten, The Majlis is an 18-hole, Par 72 championship course measuring 7,301 yards from the back tees. It became an established venue on the international golf calendar through its long association with the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The Majlis building itself, positioned between the eighth and ninth holes, gives the course its name and distinctive identity.

The club’s second championship course opened in 1996 as The Wadi. Nick Faldo later redesigned it, and it reopened as The Faldo in October 2006. The layout has 18 holes, a Par of 72 and a published length of 7,052 yards. Integrated floodlighting makes night golf a signature part of the Faldo experience.

The club also has a separate nine-hole academy course with a published length of 1,239 yards, providing a shorter format for learning and short-game practice. The Peter Cowen Academy offers group programmes and junior development, while the TrackMan Range and practice facilities give golfers additional ways to work on their game.