The Middle East Remains a Fixture
The DP World Tour’s 2027 global schedule is set, and the Gulf region is staying front and center. According to Golf Digest Middle East, the area will host six tournaments during the season. The schedule kicks off with a substantial four-week block in January and wraps up with the Race to Dubai finale in November. This heavy presence in the Middle East hasn’t gone unnoticed by the players. While some members have voiced slight worries about traveling to the region, the stars are largely sticking to the plan. The tournament calendar is expanding with at least 42 events across 24 different nations counting toward the season-long rankings race.
McIlroy Stands by the Tour’s Decision
Not every player feels the same about the upcoming trips. According to Golf Monthly, player Ryan Fox expressed some hesitation regarding the current situation in the region. “Obviously there are some concerns,” Fox said. He noted that he trusts the leadership, adding, “I’m obviously of the opinion that the Tour is doing their due diligence. If they feel like it’s safe for us to go, I’m willing to support that.”
Rory McIlroy isn’t worried at all. After his first round at Wentworth, McIlroy made it clear he has no fears about the Middle East Play-Offs. “I love the Middle East. I have a lot of friends there, and I’m looking forward to going back for sure,” he said.
The 2027 schedule is quite dense for the UAE. According to Golf Digest Middle East, three of the five Rolex Series events will take place there. This includes the Hero Dubai Desert Classic from January 21-24 and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 11-14. From January 15-17 at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort comes the Team Cup, followed by the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship from January 28-31, and the Qatar Masters from February 3-6 as part of the International Swing. November 4-7 will also see the Abu Dhabi Championship held at Yas Links as part of the schedule.
The schedule is built around specific “swings” to drive competition. Per Golf News Net, the 2027 calendar features five distinct blocks: Opening, International, Asian, European, and Closing. The International Swing specifically spans from January through March 14. Each of these stretches offers a bonus pool for the top five players in the Race to Dubai points from those specific periods. This structure is designed to keep players motivated to compete through every part of the year.
