Rich in heritage
First staged in 1989, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is the longest-running professional golf tournament in the Middle East. One of the DP World Tour’s most historic events, it has helped pave the way for the growth of golf across the region and created some of the sport’s most memorable moments.
Promoted and organised by Falcon and Associates, the tournament is known as the “Major of the Middle East”, attracting world-class fields to the iconic Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club year after year.
The tournament’s roll of honour includes 12 Major champions, who have won 41 Major championships between them: Seve Ballesteros (1992), Ernie Els (1994, 2002 and 2005), Fred Couples (1995), José María Olazábal (1998), Mark O’Meara (2004), Tiger Woods (2006 and 2008), Henrik Stenson (2007), Rory McIlroy (2009, 2015, 2023 and 2024), Danny Willett (2016), Sergio García (2017), Bryson DeChambeau (2019) and Patrick Reed (2026).
South African great Ernie Els has enjoyed a special relationship with the tournament, winning the Dallah Trophy three times. On his way to his first victory in 1994, he carded an opening-round 61, featuring 12 birdies, to set a tournament course record that still stands.
Tiger Woods has also lifted the Dallah Trophy twice, winning in 2006 and 2008.
Rory McIlroy holds the record for the most Hero Dubai Desert Classic victories, having won the title four times. His first triumph, in 2009, came at the age of 19, making him the youngest winner in the tournament’s history. He went on to win again in 2015, before claiming back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.