Rory McIlroy confirms Dubai Desert Classic return in 2027

The 38th Hero Dubai Desert Classic takes place at Emirates Golf Club from Thursday January 21 to Sunday January 24, 2027

Four-time Dubai Desert Classic champion Rory McIlroy has confirmed he will be returning to the Emirates Golf Club in 2027, aiming for a fifth win when play starts from Junuary 21, 2027.

A stalwart and hugely popular golfer in the region, McIlroy has been full of praise for the Majlis Course in the past and this is not just a familiar stop on the golfing calendar for the Northern Irishman.

Speaking exclusively to Golf Digest Middle East ahead of his return, McIlroy said: “The Majlis is where it all started for me as a professional, and I still get that feeling every time I come back to Emirates Golf Club. It’s a course that has always suited my eye.”

McIlroy first played the Desert Classic as a 16-year-old amateur in 2006. Three years later, on the same course, he won for the first time as a professional. Victories followed in 2015, 2023 and 2024, making him the most successful player in the tournament’s history.

His most recent Desert Classic victory, in 2024, came after he clawed back a 10-shot deficit, and it’s a performance McIlroy still looks back on fondly. A win in January would take his record at the event to five titles.

“A fifth Dallah Trophy would mean a huge amount, and I’ll be doing everything I can to give myself that chance in January,” he told Golf Digest Middle East.

The 2027 appearance will also come with McIlroy returning as a six-time Major champion following his successful Masters title defence at Augusta National in April. According to the tournament announcement, that made him only the fourth player after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods to win successive Green Jackets.

“I love coming to Dubai and the UAE, and I’ve always considered Dubai a second home,” McIlroy said of the announcement of his participation. “It’s where my professional career really started, and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic will always mean a lot to me.”

The 38th Hero Dubai Desert Classic takes place at Emirates Golf Club from Thursday January 21 to Sunday January 24, 2027. General admission on Thursday and Friday is free with advance registration, while early-bird weekend tickets are Dhs85. Tickets rise to Dhs110 before the tournament and Dhs135 on the day. Under-17s, along with companions and carers, can attend free across all four days.

Tickets and registration are available through the Hero Dubai Desert Classic website.