The Arab golfing calendar turns its attention to Doha, where the 45th edition of the Pan Arab Men’s Golf Championship and the 17th edition of the Ladies’ Championship will bring national teams from across the region to Doha Golf Club. The competitions will take place from 7 to 10 November 2026.
The men’s event will feature 73 golfers representing 14 Arab countries, while the ladies’ competition will include players from nine countries. Four titles are at stake across the men’s and ladies’ team and individual competitions, making the championship another important gathering for Arab amateur golf and continuing a tradition that dates back five decades.
An opening ceremony is scheduled for 6 November at 3:30 p.m., with competition beginning on 7 November. The ladies’ event will conclude on 9 November, followed by the men’s final round and the closing ceremony on 10 November. The men will compete over 72 holes of stroke play, while the ladies’ titles will be decided over 54 holes.
A championship with five decades of history
The origins of the Arab Golf Championship date back to 1975, when the inaugural championship was held in Beirut, Lebanon. What began as a regional competition has developed into an established fixture on the Arab golf calendar, bringing together national federations and providing a platform for the region’s leading amateur players. Golf Alarab previously covered the 42nd Pan Arab Men’s Championship, another chapter in the event’s long history.
The growth of the championship reflects the wider development of golf across the Arab world. Countries that once had relatively small competitive programmes have invested in golf academies, junior development and national-team structures, creating a broader pool of players capable of competing at regional and international level.
The 2026 championship also carries particular significance for Qatar, which has an established history of hosting major golf events and an opportunity to place Arab national-team competition at the centre of its golfing calendar.
Morocco arrives as the team to beat
Recent editions provide a clear indication of the competitive standard Doha can expect.
At the 43rd Arab Amateur Golf Championships, held at Al Zorah Golf Club in the UAE in November 2024, Morocco dominated the men’s competitions. Adam Bresnu claimed the men’s individual title with an impressive 16-under-par total, while the Moroccan team won the championship at 36 under par.
Morocco continued that form in Riyadh in November 2025. Youssef El-Halli secured the men’s individual title with a 16-under-par total of 200, finishing one stroke ahead of Egypt’s Issa Abouelela. Reda El-Halli completed the individual podium in third place.
Morocco also captured the men’s team title, ahead of Egypt in second and the United Arab Emirates in third.
The ladies’ competition has also seen Morocco establish itself as a major force. At the 2024 Pan Arab Ladies and Youth Championship in Tunisia, Sofia Cherif Essakali won the ladies’ individual title, while Morocco secured team gold.
The Moroccan success continued in Cairo in May 2025. Rim Inmi won the ladies’ individual title, and Morocco again claimed the team championship at the Pan Arab Junior and Ladies Golf Championship.
These results make Morocco an important reference point ahead of Doha. Egypt’s recent men’s individual performances and the UAE’s consistent presence on the podium, however, demonstrate that the regional competition is far from one-sided.
Doha Golf Club: A championship venue with international pedigree
The venue will provide an interesting setting for the championship.
Established in 1998, Doha Golf Club is one of the region’s recognised golf destinations. Its 27-hole facility includes an 18-hole Championship Course and a nine-hole Academy Course, with the main layout designed by renowned golf-course architect Peter Harradine.
The Championship Course is a par-72 layout and has become closely associated with the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, which has been hosted at the club since its inaugural edition in 1998.
For the Arab championship, the course offers a different kind of test from the venues that have hosted recent editions. Its desert setting, strategic hole design and championship layout will place an emphasis on accuracy, decision-making and the ability to manage a full competitive round. Golfers planning to explore the country can also consult Golf Alarab’s MENA Golf Course Guide.
With the men’s competition extending to 72 holes, consistency will be essential. In the ladies’ 54-hole format, every round will carry significant weight in the race for both individual and team honours.
Four titles, two fields and a regional benchmark
The championship will award four trophies: Men’s Team, Men’s Individual, Ladies’ Team and Ladies’ Individual.
The distinction between individual and team honours is central to the event. Individual titles recognise the best performances across the field, while the team competitions provide a measure of the depth and consistency of each country’s national programme.
For federations investing in junior and amateur development, these championships offer an important opportunity to assess progress against regional competition.
The 2026 field will also provide a valuable indication of how the balance of Arab golf is evolving. Morocco’s recent results set a high standard, while Egypt, the UAE and the other participating nations will be looking to turn their development work into championship success.
As the 45th men’s championship and 17th ladies’ edition arrive in Qatar, the focus will be on more than the four trophies. Doha will host another chapter in the history of Arab golf, bringing together the region’s players, federations and ambitions on one championship stage.
