General Talkî with Emirates Golf Federation, Vice President General Abdullah Alhashmi
The 2024–2025 season has been a strong and purposeful one for the Emirates Golf Federation. On the performance side, we’ve seen solid growth from grassroots to elite levels in our participation, player performance, and international visibility.
What’s been particularly encouraging is the momentum across different pillars—development programmes, international collaboration, and competitive structure. We’re on track with our strategic objectives and are seeing tangible results, not just in events but in capacity building and ecosystem expansion.
At the beginning of the 2024–25 season, the EGF launched the USGA GHIN World Handicap System software across the UAE, offering members a new, innovative handicap solution. We’ve received very positive feedback and continue to see an increase in membership as well as communication.
Collaboration with the Emirates PGA
In addition, we’ve made significant strides in our collaboration with the Emirates PGA. One of the key achievements has been aligning the licensing and registration system for all teaching professionals under a unified platform, ensuring higher standards and better oversight. We’re in the process of introducing joint professional development initiatives—including coaching summits and technical clinics—that offer both local and international learning opportunities for our professionals. This alignment strengthens the training base and elevates the entire coaching infrastructure in the UAE.
This month was an exciting time as the EGF and HotelPlanner Tour hosted back-to-back events in the UAE. The partnership with the European Tour group has gone far beyond just the 30-player exchange spots in each tournament. Operationally, our tournament and technical teams have gained valuable exposure to European Tour standards, which has elevated the quality and professionalism of how we run our events locally. From course setup to player services and media coordination, the knowledge transfer has been exceptional.
On the branding and commercial front, our association with the Tour has increased the visibility of UAE-based events significantly. This has attracted new sponsors, created wider international media coverage, and helped position the UAE as a serious player in global golf development—not just for professionals, but also for amateurs and emerging talent.
Leading the way for Arab Golf
It’s important to reflect on where we began. The EGF once struggled to field players for major championships, participating in only a handful of events annually such as the Eisenhower Trophy and Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. Today, we proudly have around 30 players representing the UAE National Team—men, women, boys, and girls—covering all age categories. We are now ranked among the top two Arab countries, a testament to the federation’s commitment to structured development and inclusivity.
I’d like to highlight Ahmad Skaik’s performance this season. Ahmad has been exceptional by every standard. Not only did he make the cut at the HotelPlanner Tour event (UAE Challenge), marking another important milestone in his journey, but he also delivered a stunning performance at the GCC Championship, winning the title with a remarkable 18-under-par.
His impact was equally notable during the Pan Arab Championship held at Al Zorah, where he played a pivotal role in leading the UAE National Team to a second-place finish behind Morocco with a team score of 10-under-par. Alongside his teammates Sam Mullane and Jonathan Sarkis, Ahmad helped elevate the profile of UAE golf through outstanding teamwork and consistency. Their collective effort this season reflects the growing depth and potential within the UAE’s elite amateur ranks, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements.
The EGF will be closing the season with a series of initiatives aimed at talent development and federation sustainability. We’re finalising plans for the Summer Performance Programme for elite juniors and amateur players to train overseas, and we’re also in talks to expand our Arab Golf Series initiative. Furthermore, we are enhancing our digital platforms to better track player performance and provide actionable data for both coaches and players across all levels. Internally, we’re working on refining our governance structure and strengthening regional partnerships.
Looking ahead, new phase for UAE golf will focus on global player placement, hosting more internationally sanctioned events, and deepening our footprint across Arab and Asian golf. We are building not just a federation, but a movement for sustainable excellence.
