Defending champion and European Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton is all set to return to Emirates Golf Club for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic early next year.
Hatton will tee off in the event, that takes place from January 22-25, for the 11th time in his career and joins reigning Masters champion and career grand slam winner Rory McIlroy for the first Rolex Series event of the 2026 Race to Dubai.
The Englishman will be looking to carry the momentum from an inspiring effort at the Ryder Cup into next year. Hatton secured the half point that sealed victory for Europe in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black as he and McIlroy helped defeat Team USA 15-13 and record a first away win since 2012.
Hatton will have fond memories of the Dubai Desert Classic, which he won in January in dramatic fashion, claiming the Dallah Trophy after holing a nervy five-foot putt for par at the 72nd hole.
He also secured a tied-fourth finish at the US Open and top 20 finishes at both The Masters and The Open, helping him qualify for his fourth Ryder Cup.
Hatton, an eight-time winner on the DP World Tour, said: “I’m delighted to be heading back to Emirates Golf Club to defend my title. It’s a golf course that has really suited my game over the years, and the week at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic back in January was incredibly special for me.
“It’s always good to go back to a place where you’ve won before, and I’m really excited to have a chance to contend for the title again to follow on from what has been a pretty incredible year.”
Now entering its 37th edition, the Dubai Desert Classic is the oldest professional golf event in the Middle East and a flagship Rolex Series event on the DP World Tour.
Apart from the action on the course, fans can look forward to a fun-filled festival atmosphere. Tournament Town will be the hub of off-course excitement, packed with live entertainment, family activities, food trucks, arts and crafts, and interactive experiences for all ages.
General admission will remain free on Thursday and Friday, with weekend access available from just Dh75 during the early bird window, Dh100 for pre-event and Dh125 on the day. Children aged 17 and under can attend free of charge across all four days.
Limited early bird prices for The Dallah Lounge and The Social on Sixteen hospitality offerings are now available.
Already GEO-certified for the third consecutive year, the Dubai Desert Classic aims to set the benchmark for sustainable golf events.
In line with its sustainability goals, the 2026 tournament will prioritise greener transport options for spectators. With the metro on the doorstep and convenient taxi links, fans can enjoy a smooth and eco-friendly journey to Emirates Golf Club.
Simon Corkill, executive tournament director of the Dubai Desert Classic, added: "Reflecting the tournament’s stature as one of the premier events on the global golfing calendar, we are thrilled that Tyrrell has chosen to return to defend his Hero Dubai Desert Classic title. He joins the growing line-up of Ryder Cup stars, Masters champions, and dynamic emerging talents.
“As the countdown advances, we have expanded our signature premium experiences both on and off the course to complement the outstanding golf, ensuring next year’s tournament will be truly exceptional.”
To purchase your tickets, visit www.dubaidesertclassic.com.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Results
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