• Fourth edition returns January 16–18, 2026; second year with WAGR® status
• Friday night golf on Faldo; Majlis finale on Sunday morning ahead of Hero Dubai Desert Classic week.

 

Dubai, UAE – October 20: Registrations are now open for the 2026 Junior Dubai Desert Classic (JDDC), with the fourth edition set to welcome the next generation of golfers to Emirates Golf Club from January 16–18, 2026.

Delivered in partnership with the Emirates Golf Federation, 2026 marks the second year the event carries World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) status – giving young players a meaningful step on the performance pathway.

The JDDC is open to all boys and girls aged 18 and under with a handicap of 14.4 or below. If you’re an aspiring junior in the UAE or visiting from overseas, this is your chance to compete in a genuine tour-style event on two iconic courses.

2026 schedule

• Friday (Jan 16): Opening round under the lights on the Faldo Course
• Saturday (Jan 17): Afternoon shotgun on the Faldo Course, followed by a cut to the top 30 players (and ties)
• Sunday (Jan 18): Final round on the Majlis Course (AM) – days before the world’s best, including record four-time winner Rory McIlroy and defending champion Tyrrell Hatton, arrive for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the same championship layout.

Louis Klein of Czechia claimed a superb victory in 2025, posting rounds of 69, 63 and 69 and the JDDC continues to broaden its global reach, with juniors for the 2026 edition expected from India, Thailand, Europe, Argentina and, for the first time, Canada, as well as the GCC.

Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, said: “The Junior Dubai Desert Classic is about opportunity – giving boys and girls 18 and under a true pathway event with WAGR® points, a world-class setting and a field that grows more international each year. We’re committed to keeping it aspirational and accessible, welcoming rising players from the UAE and overseas – including first-time entrants from Canada – to compete on a genuine stage. With meaningful prizes and invitations that help juniors progress, the JDDC continues to be the region’s benchmark for elite youth competition and a place where talented young golfers can test themselves and thrive.”

Prizes include places in the Faldo Series Grand Final, Shubhankar Series Grand Final, HDDC Driving Range Experience and Clutch Tour starts, thanks to the Emirates Golf Federation.

How to enter: Full details and registration at dubaidesertclassic.com/juniors. T&Cs apply.

About Hero Dubai Desert Classic

The Dubai Desert Classic was founded in 1989 as the first DP World Tour event to take place in the Gulf, and the first and only GEO-certified golf event in the Middle East, highlighting the event’s continued dedication to environmental responsibility and sustainable golf events. Regarded as one of the most significant events on the DP World Tour, and part of the prestigious Rolex Series, it has been credited with paving the way for golf’s presence in the Middle East, as well as creating some of the most iconic moments in golfing history.

Promoted and organised by Falcon and Associates, the tournament played on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club, is fondly referred to as the ‘Major of the Middle East’, due to its legacy and world-class players drawn to the tournament every year.

The tournament is supported by title sponsor, Hero MotoCorp, and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), a founding partner of the Dubai Desert Classic. The 37th edition of the event will take place 22–25 January 2026 in Dubai.

To learn more about the tournament, visit www.dubaidesertclassic.com and follow Hero Dubai Desert Classic on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, (@dubaidcgolf), or download the new app (Desert Classic) for all the latest event information.