Arabian Ranches

Arabian Ranches was transformed at the end of 2019 with a completely new set of greens. So it's position in our ranking isn't reflected by that, because it was completed in the summer of that year. For the next list, expect Arabian Ranches to nudge up a spot or two, because it is a sneakily good Dubai option. Designed by former Open champion Ian Baker-Finch in 2004, it was originally extremely tough, set down with paspalum grass that bounced your ball into the rough or the desert a lot if you missed its fairways. That has now been cleaned out a lot so it is not so exacting or time consuming now. It has a ‘linksy’, flattish look and sits nicely over gently undulating ground. There's a traditional golf club feel to the place, because it is very much the focal point of one of Dubai's friendliest communities.