Best Golf Courses in the Middle East and North Africa: 70-51

Jebel Ali, Dubai

What are the best golf courses in the Middle East and North Africa? The Golf World Top 100 panel ranks and rates the finest designs in the UAE, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan.

JUMP TO: How we did it | 70-51 | 50-26 | 25-11 | 10-1

Let’s begin our inaugural countdown of the best Middle East and North Africa golf courses. Head over to our ‘How we did it’ for more information on the criteria we used to rank these extraordinary courses, our scoring system and the judging panel.

Please do feed back where you feel we’re right and, more likely, where you think we’ve gone wrong. We’d love to hear from you via email, on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

And, once you’ve enjoyed this ranking, please do take a look at some of our others – from the best courses in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Spain, Portugal, Europe and the USA, to GB&I’s best links, the most fun courses to play and the finest resorts in Europe and the World, we’ve got it covered.

Golf World Top 100 Courses in the Middle East and North Africa: 70-51

70. Carthage

Tunis, Tunisia

Design 26 Setting 10 Memorability 12 Playability 7 Consistency 7 Presentation 6 Total 68

Carthage lies on the north-east edge of the capital and dates back almost a century. It has been renovated twice in recent times, most notably by Frenchman Yves Bureau in the early 1990s. A short course, squeezed into a residential area that’s lined by a variety of mature trees.

69. The Montgomerie

Marrakesh, Morocco

Design 28 Setting 10 Memorability 10 Playability 7 Consistency 7 Presentation 6 Total 68

A technical and demanding course by Colin Montgomerie and European Golf Design. Located very close to the city’s Menara airport, it features deep bunkers – by Marrakesh standards –
with the very neat par-3 16th starting a fine closing stretch.

68. The Track, Meydan

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Design 26 Setting 11 Memorability 11 Playability 7 Consistency 6 Presentation 7 Total 68

A very different vibe to historic Musselburgh, but a horse racing track and golf course also sit cheek by jowl here. Some great holes on a fun course where natural lakes are a regular feature. It would be rated more highly but for so many great 18-holers so close by.

67. Flamingo Monastir

Monastir, Tunisia

Design 26 Setting 11 Memorability 11 Playability 7 Consistency 7 Presentation 6 Total 68

Changes in elevation and a clever routing by Ron Fream have helped Flamingo Monastir claim a place in the list. Renovated in the past decade, the result is a lush experience among olive trees with undulating fairways overlooking the Monastir lakes.

66. Jebel Sifah

Muscat, Oman

Design 26 Setting 12 Memorability 11 Playability 7 Consistency 6 Presentation 7 Total 69

Seamlessly integrated into the spectacular scenery and natural landscapes, Jebel Sifah’s nine-hole, par-36 course is another Peter Harradine creation. It offers views from the elevated tees, both towards the sea or mountain landscape.

65. Jebel Ali

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Design 27 Setting 11 Memorability 11 Playability 6 Consistency 7 Presentation 7 Total 69

Nine holes that are part of a complex that came very close to getting into our World Top 100 Resorts. Often hosts Tour players in Dubai events, which speaks of its quality. Much tighter than most, very quick greens and can get a little bouncy.
A little oasis minutes from Dubai.

64. Sharjah

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Design 28 Setting 10 Memorability 10 Playability 7 Consistency 7 Presentation 7 Total 69

A lovely nine-hole course with a couple of excellent holes. So well designed that playing the back nine off completely different tees can feel like Totally different holes. The seniors loved it when the Tour was hosted there. And when in good condition, it’s a true gem.

63. Golf du Soleil

Agadir, Morocco

Design 27 Setting 10 Memorability 10 Playability 8 Consistency 7 Presentation 7 Total 69

A well-bunkered course that isn’t particularly long, but where accuracy is required. Golf du Soleil has hosted a Ladies European Tour event, but is forgiving and far from punishing. A popular resort course south of Agadir, with water hazards adding thrills.

62. Palmeraie

Marrakesh, Morocco

Design 28 Setting 10 Memorability 10 Playability 7 Consistency 7 Presentation 7 Total 69

A very well-balanced, 27-hole complex (and hotel) north of Marrakesh’s centre, Palmeraie boasts some nice green complexes with knuckles and bumps providing interest. It’s notable, too, for the fact there are birds everywhere – including flamingos – attracted by the lakes. Expect variety across the nines.

61. Golf Les Dunes

Agadir, Morocco

Design 27 Setting 10 Memorability 11 Playability 7 Consistency 7 Presentation 7 Total 69

Three nine-hole loops designed by Cabell Robinson make up this offering that lies south of Agadir (close to Golf du Soleil – in fact, their holes are adjacent at one point). In good condition and with either tree-lined fairways or water to protect it.

60. Dreamland (Championship)

Cairo, Egypt

Design 27 Setting 10 Memorability 11 Playability 7 Consistency 7 Presentation 7 Total 69

Initially laid out by Karl Litten of Dubai fame and later redesigned by David Jones of Belek fame, Dreamland has some architectural pedigree and is in impressive condition. Five lakes feature on numerous holes, not least the long, dog-leg 6th and the 18th.

59. El Kantaoui (Sea)

Sousse, Tunisia

Design 26 Setting 12 Memorability 12 Playability 7 Consistency 6 Presentation 6 Total 69

The original course at this club, which was developed as part of a drive to attract tourists to the area in the early 1980s. Ron Fream was the architect and after a front nine on fairly flat land, the back nine lives up to the Sea’s name with a fine and welcome coastal stretch.

58. Mirage City

Cairo, Egypt

Design 28 Setting 10 Memorability 10 Playability 7 Consistency 7 Presentation 7 Total 69

A Peter Harradine design notable for the number of water hazards to negotiate. It’s somewhat hemmed in by housing but those properties sit far enough back to not be in your mind even if it’s in your eye line. Improving conditioning really adds to its appeal.

57. El Kantaoui (Panorama)

Sousse, Tunisia

Design 27 Setting 10 Memorability 12 Playability 6 Consistency 7 Presentation 7 Total 69

The newer course at this 36-hole resort (the Sea follows at number 59 on this list) was laid out by American Ron Fream. It sits on undulating land where elevation change is common, as are water hazards. Expect a shorter, tighter test than its sister course.

56. Citrus (Les Oliviers)

Hammamet, Tunisia

Design 27 Setting 10 Memorability 11 Playability 7 Consistency 7 Presentation 7 Total 69

Routed among an olive grove, a frequent breeze allied to holes often changing direction means clear thinking and good ball-striking are always required. The 9th is a stand-out; a blind, well-bunkered dog-leg with out of bounds lurking down the left.

55. Tower Links

Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

Design 28 Setting 11 Memorability 11 Playability 6 Consistency 7 Presentation 6 Total 69

Not your typical resort course. Tower Links is intimidatingly narrow more often than it is open-the-shoulders wide – although sandy waste areas rather than thick rough line the fairways. Water lies in wait on early holes – notably the superb par-4 3rd.

54. Palm Hills (A & C)

Cairo, Egypt

Design 28 Setting 10 Memorability 11 Playability 7 Consistency 7 Presentation 7 Total 70

Egypt expert John Sandford did much of the work on Palm Hills, under the Nicklaus Design name. Located on the western outskirts of the capital city, it is part of a large residential development and features numerous large and small water hazards.

53. Amelkis (Blue & Red)

Marrakesh, Morocco

Design 28 Setting 10 Memorability 11 Playability 8 Consistency 7 Presentation 6 Total 70

Snakes through a number of residences with a network of roads as well as cart paths to traverse. Characterised by palm trees, sandy waste areas, orange sand, greenery and water hazards. This Cabell Robinson Design hosted the Ladies European Tour in 2012.

52. El Gouna

Hurghada, Egypt

Design 29 Setting 10 Memorability 11 Playability 7 Consistency 7 Presentation 7 Total 71

Part of an eponymous small city just north of Hurghada, El Gouna was designed by Gene Bates and Fred Couples. It is routed among the Venice-esque lagoons that characterise the whole city – though they only come into play for the very wayward.

51. Sahara

Kuwait City, Kuwait

Design 29 Setting 10 Memorability 11 Playability 6 Consistency 7 Presentation 8 Total 71

Middle East expert Peter Harradine moved close to 750,000 cubic metres of sand to create the undulations at Sahara. There are 12 holes bordering the race track of the Hunting and Equestrian Club, and 5,000 trees and three lakes to avoid.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris Bertram is the Golf World Top 100 Editor.

He was born and brought up in Dumfriesshire and has been a sports journalist since 1996, initially as a junior writer with National Club Golfer magazine.

Chris then spent four years writing about football and rugby union for the Press Association but returned to be Editor and then Publisher of NCG before joining Golf World and Today’s Golfer as Senior Production Editor.

He has been freelance since 2010 and when he is not playing and writing about the world’s finest golf courses, he works for BBC Sport.

A keen all-round sportsman, Chris plays off 11 – which could be a little better if it wasn’t for hilariously poor lag putting which has to be seen to be believed.