Ask any golfer where they escape to when the cold sets in, and the answers roll out on cue: Phoenix, Palm Springs, and the Algarve. This season, though, a fresh contender in the United Arab Emirates joins the list: Ras Al Khaimah.
Ras Al Khaimah has recently garnered global attention when Al Hamra Golf Club hosted the DP World Tour on five occasions since 2022. It piqued the curiosity of players and travelling golfers, motivating them to take a second look at this course.
The Tour isn’t returning to Al Hamra in 2026, but the excitement the event brought to the emirate hasn’t faded. This afterglow, together with Ras Al Khaimah’s championship golf courses, nearly year-round sunshine, and beautiful coastline, make this emirate a great winter golf vacation destination.
Ras Al Khaimah Golf Trip Itinerary
Here’s a sample itinerary for a golf vacation in Ras Al Khaimah:
Stop 1: Al Hamra Golf Club
Al Hamra Golf Club
The Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah is a par-72, 18-hole championship golf course designed by renowned Swiss architect Peter Harradine. First opened in 2007, it is a tour-tested layout that hosted the DP World Tour in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, and the HotelPlanner Tour from 2016 to 2018.
What it’s like to play:
The entire course measures around 7,400 yards (6,698 meters), winding around four interconnected lagoons that merge with the Arabian Gulf. Its front nine holes measure 3,578 yards (3,271.72 meters) and make their way out from the clubhouse. It warms you up with broad fairways and breeze-influenced approach shots.
The back nine holes, measuring 3,747 yards (3,426.26 meters), is where things tighten and the course reveals its personality. Holes 12 to 15 form the stretch many golfers talk about: its water-hugging doglegs and approach shots are not for the hesitant golfers.
Architectural character:
Five tee boxes on every hole
Tournament-style green complexes
Lagoon lines that influence club selection
A composite 9-hole routing for late-afternoon loops
A floodlit driving range and practice area
Al Hamra is the region’s first 100% plastic-free golf club, giving it an eco-edge now seen across most Middle Eastern courses.
Stop 2: Tower Links Golf Club
Tower Links Golf Course
Opened in 2004, Tower Links Golf Club is an 18-hole, par-72 golf course designed by landscape architect Gerald Williams. It is considered one of the most natural courses in the UAE, as its layout winds through a protected mangrove ecosystem framed by the Hajar Mountains.
The golf club hosted the MENA Tour from 2011 to 2016 and in 2019.
What it’s like to play:
The golf club covers 7,098 yards (6,490.41 meters) and features 11 courses winding through a mangrove area. Its greens are wavy and challenging, with many doglegs, water hazards, and curved sand bunkers.
The fairways bend around mangrove fingers, with wading birds frequently drifting across sightlines. The back nine holes look like a postcard you somehow get to walk through, especially at sunset.
Architectural character:
Four tee options on every hole
Eleven holes that interact directly with mangroves
Water and bunkering that force commitment
A separate teaching tee
The club is a cross between a desert and a parkland course.
Ras Al Khaimah hotels for golf holidays
Local experts from the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority recommend these top accommodation options near Al Hamra Golf Club:
Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort — perfectly convenient for golfers, as it’s adjacent to the Al Hamra Golf Club.
Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah — a luxury beachside resort with the easiest course access.
The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach — offers villas for groups who want a secluded, post-round wind-down.
Al Hamra Village Hotel — another hotel adjacent to the golf club that offers excellent views of the golf course and gardens.
The Rixos Al Mairid Ras Al Khaimah is a top accommodation option for those who choose to play and stay near Tower Links Golf Club.
Off-course activities
In addition to playing golf, there are plenty of other things to do in the “Nature Emirate.” Here are some of them:
Conquer the world’s longest zipline
Experience gliding on six different ziplines
Go on sky-high adventures aboard the EXTRA 330 or a hot air balloon
Join sightseeing tours via an abra or speedboat
Experience hiking and camping
Take a pearl farm tour
Embark on a desert safari
Enjoy both exciting and relaxing activities on Ras Al Khaimah’s beaches
The emirate’s selection of spas offers soothing, rejuvenating treatments perfect for post-golf activities.
Side trip: Watch the 2026 DP World Tour – Dubai Swing
Ras Al Khaimah is about 1 to 1.5 hours from Dubai. It’s the perfect reason for a little road trip if you’re planning to watch the 2026 leg of the DP World Tour (the Dubai Invitational, from January 16 to 19, and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, from January 22 to 25).
Winter weather conditions
The Ras Al Khaimah winter is made for long rounds. Average daytime temperatures range from 180C to 250C. At night, it can go as low as 120C. Although rare, it may rain.
Wind may also be present on the courses, but it won’t pose any problems with your tee time.
These conditions make winter the best time to play golf in the emirate, even for long hours.
Things to bring
In addition to your must-have travelling clothes, shoes, and other essentials, pack the following for the perfect Ras Al Khaimah golf vacation:
Travel-friendly golf equipment (if preferred)
Hat or visor, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen
Spikeless golf shoes
Two or three golfing gloves
Light but warm jacket or sweater
A lightweight umbrella for shade
Bring your swimsuit to soak in the pool or jacuzzi after a round of golf.
Why Ras Al Khaimah deserves a spot on your golf map
RAK won’t overwhelm you with hype. Al Hamra shows its tour credentials without shouting about them, and Tower Links gives you a walk through mangroves you didn’t know existed.
Put simply, RAK is a detour that may delightfully surprise even the most well-travelled golfer.
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Main Image: Supplied