By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 3 min read
The Hero Dubai Desert Classic is the long-running DP World Tour stop at Emirates Golf Club, on the Dubai Metro corridor between Dubai Marina and Downtown. The organiser’s message for 2027 is plain: do not drive and expect to park.
When is it?
The 38th edition runs from Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 January 2027. It is the first Rolex Series event of the 2027 season. The ticket page lists general admission by day, hospitality options and free entry for children aged 17 and under with a registered ticket and an adult. Prices were not yet published on 17 October 2026.
Can you park?
No public parking is planned. The organiser lists one exception: on Saturday and Sunday only, limited first come first served spaces at two nearby car parks, Reem Al Sahra Car Park Rental and American University Dubai. You walk to the club over the footbridge.
Do not count on those spaces. For the other days, plan another way in.
The ways in, compared
| Option | What the organiser says |
|---|---|
| Dubai Metro | Al Fardan Exchange, Red Line, Exit 2, outside the entrance. About 12 minutes from Dubai Marina, 25 from Downtown. |
| Bus | Stop Emirates Golf Club 2, routes 8, 84 and F55, about 5 minutes on foot. |
| Taxi | Available 24/7, direct drop-off at the main entrance. |
| Chauffeur car | Same drop-off as taxis, with a pickup you agree in advance. |
Our comparison of getting to Dubai events puts these side by side for other venues.
How far is it by road?
OSRM road figures, checked on 17 October 2026, use approximate club coordinates.
| From | Road distance | Without traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Marina | about 9 km | about 17 minutes |
| Palm Jumeirah | about 12 km | about 19 minutes |
| Downtown Dubai | about 24 km | about 25 minutes |
| Dubai International (DXB) | about 37 km | about 37 minutes |
| Al Maktoum International (DWC) | about 34 km | about 44 minutes |
Why a driver beats a taxi at the end of the day
The last putts bring everyone out at once. A taxi queue at the main entrance can be long, and a pre-booked car with driver is already waiting. Message your driver as you leave the grandstand, not before.
For a group of friends or a corporate party, one vehicle is simpler than three taxis. The vans in the fleet include the Mercedes-Benz V-Class (6 seats) and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (13 or 19 seats). Larger coaches are available through our partner network, subject to availability.
Golf bags and luggage
Playing golfers and visitors flying in with clubs need space. A set of clubs in a travel bag will not fit in a standard sedan boot beside suitcases. Read our guide to golf bags in a chauffeur car and tell us the number of bags when you book.
Day plan
- Pick your pass type and the day, then fix your arrival window.
- Send your hotel, the number of people and the bag count on WhatsApp.
- Use our event-day chauffeur checklist for the questions to settle with your driver.
- Agree a pickup spot and a back-up one in case the main entrance is crowded.
Other fixtures on the same January calendar sit in the UAE events calendar, and the events we cover lists the rest.
Photos in this guide
A golfer and his caddie waiting on the fairway during the Dubai Desert Classic, with desert scrub behindAbdul Halim Ab Rahman / Flickr via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
A Dubai Metro station with a golden roof beside a lake, with palms and a lawn in the foregroundolekvi / Flickr, CC BY 2.0
A white Mercedes-Benz Sprinter passenger van with side windows, seen from the front rightMercedes-Benz (manufacturer image), Manufacturer image, as listed in the Assure fleet library
