Dubai, UAE, 11 January 2024: With less than one week to go until gates open, excitement is building as Emirates Golf Club gears up to welcome players, fans and families for a spectacular weekend of world-class golf and entertainment with a full calendar of activities to look forward to at the milestone 35th edition of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Running from Thursday 18th to Sunday 21st January, this year’s event combines world-class golf with a huge array of family-friendly entertainment with exciting new additions to the fan experience for 2024. Open from 10am to 11pm, this year’s fan village will provide free outdoor fun for all. Spectators can look forward to a wider variety of options off the course than ever before, with something for fans of all ages to enjoy across the tournament.
Here is everything you need to know about attending the Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2024:
The on-course action will see a stellar line-up of golfing talent teeing off, with World No.2 and defending champion Rory McIlroy headlining the field in pursuit of his fourth historic Hero Dubai Desert Classic title. McIlroy will be joined by Major Winners - Pádraig Harrington and Francesco Molinari - and fellow Ryder Cup Champions – 2023 captain Luke Donald, Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton – as the DP World Tour kicks off its 2024 season in style in Dubai.
The 2024 edition will feature a range of incredible vantage points to witness all the action across the Majlis course, with several new viewing spots and terraces open to public all overlooking the iconic Dubai skyline including; an exclusive sneak peak into the players’ driving range practice from the Grey Goose terrace, while the TopGolf Deck offers a prime location to chill with friends with its view overlooking the 16th hole, and a brand new two-tier terrace with views of the 18th tee, with all offering refreshments.
As the hub for all the action off-course, this year’s new-look Tournament Town will feature a range of exciting activities for fans of all ages to enjoy away from the greens at Emirates Golf Club.
Open from 10am to 11pm across the tournament, with live music from Lauran Townley, Greg Pearson and the Supernovas kicking off from 6pm to late on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and live roaming acts throughout the weekend, fans can look forward to a wide array of family-friendly entertainment with a unique new blend of F&B options to enjoy across the Majlis in 2024.
Family Friday afternoon will see FamilyBeatz host a new kids’ rave in Tournament Town – run by parents and seasoned ravers – between 3pm and 6pm on Friday 19th January. Tying into the Retro-Vintage theme, there will also be a Best Dressed competition for kids with prizes to be won.
With fun for all the family, young fans will love the arts and crafts stations, adventure inflatables, caricature sketches, roaming acts featuring stilt walkers and graffiti artists set to keep the entertainment flowing on and off the course.
Inspired by the 35 years of the illustrious event dating back to its inception in 1989, this year’s tournament will feature a new retro vintage themed fancy dress competition on Saturday 20th January, with fans encouraged to bring their best looks from golfing fashion or statement outfits from their favourite period starting from the 1940s through to the 1990s.
Fans can enter the Best Dressed competition on Saturday 20th January by following the Hero Dubai Desert Classic account on Instagram, posting a picture of your outfit, tagging the account and using the hashtags #DubaiDesertClassic and #35thEdition. Winners will be announced the following week.
BIG prizes can be won, including a one-night stay at an Underwater Suite at the Atlantis, The Palm Dubai, worth over AED 25,000. Alongside a series of exclusive experiences up for grabs, including two hospitality tickets for the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai Golf and Top Golf vouchers, Lindt hampers, Viya access passes, a Dubai Duty Free raffle ticket for a chance to win US$1 Million, and more, with a total prize pool valued at over 40,000 AED across the tournament.
An all-new exciting event called The Range by Callaway will offer golf aficionados the chance to step onto the range next to the pros and participate in a variety of Top Tracer challenges and test the newest Callaway equipment.
The fan favourite F&B stops as well as some of city’s most popular food trucks will be at the new-look and free-to-enter Tournament Town with over 25 F&B outlets featuring local classics in Pickl, House of Pops and Meatology, located across the iconic Majlis Course of Emirates Golf Club.
As an elegant brunch alternative, Jones the Grocer is bringing back its popular, beautifully curated wicker picnic hamper baskets filled with an artisanal cheese or charcuterie board and drinks at this year’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Packages are available from AED320, and advance bookings are recommended via www.dubaigolf.com/ddc-picnic.
As the first golf event in the Middle East and the first DP World Tour Rolex Series to achieve GEO Certified® Tournament status, the 2024 edition will welcome Sustainability Corner. Here, children can explore and enjoy a range of eco-focused programmes including giant Jenga, Urban Farming, Seed Bombs and more to learn new ways to introduce environmentally-conscious plans to their daily routines.
Don’t forget to bring along a refillable water bottle as there will be plenty of free drink water fountains located around the course.
As part of the tournament’s sustainability initiatives, organisers are working closely with RTA to encourage fans to use the Metro service, located directly outside the entrance to Emirates Golf Club for their travel to and from the event. Limited parking is available, with a 50AED parking fee contributing to the tournament’s mangrove planting programme at Jebel Ali Wildlife Sanctuary.
Fans attending this year’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic can look forward to experiencing the all-new Hero Dubai Desert Classic app, introduced for 2024 to provide users with an all-in-one experience to host their ticket to enter the venue and find out further information on everything to enjoy at Emirates Golf Club across the event.
FREE general admission tickets are still available but limited, get yours now on www.dubaidesertclassic.com and via the Hero Dubai Desert Classic app available now on App Store or Google Play.