Arnaus counting on love for desert golf at UAE Challenge Tour double-header

Dubai-based golfer Adri Arnaus is counting on his love for desert golf to give him an edge when he competes on home soil in the HotelPlanner Tour’s upcoming double-header, as he targets a swift return to the DP World Tour.

For the third successive season, the DP World Tour’s official feeder circuit will make a stop in the UAE, with the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) co-promoting the two events.

The action begins with the UAE Challenge from April 10-13 at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, marking the venue’s debut as a European Tour Group-sanctioned host. A week later, the focus shifts to the Abu Dhabi Challenge, held at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club from April 17-20.

Arnaus, who has called Dubai home since 2020, arrives at both tournaments determined to leave his mark on the Road to Mallorca Rankings and fast-track his return to the DP World Tour.

The Spaniard spent five seasons competing on golf’s Global Tour, securing a memorable victory on home soil at the 2022 Catalunya Championship, before narrowly missing out on retaining his playing rights for 2025.

Although both Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club and Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club are just a short drive from his Dubai base, Arnaus has only played each course once earlier this year.

However, with his preparation complete, a supportive crowd behind him, and a natural affinity for desert courses, he's ready to make his mark and put in a strong performance over the next two weeks.

"I got a good first look at both courses, which is all I felt like I needed,” said Arnaus.

“I did my homework and went to check them out, so that will be good because it will allow me to go to these tournaments probably on a Tuesday - allowing me an extra night at home. That’s one of the benefits of playing in the UAE over the next couple of weeks.

"I feel very comfortable playing around here - not only in these next few events, but also in the past, playing the tournaments on the DP World Tour. I’ve always felt that desert courses suit my eye. They are courses that excite me and allow me to be creative from the tee.

"That makes me feel good, so I’m really looking forward to these couple of events because of that. Hopefully, I will have some home support as well, with my wife and friends coming to cheer me on. It will be nice to feel that support, and it’s something we never take for granted when travelling the world. It’s going to be pretty cool."

The 30-year-old has proven his mettle in the UAE before with a memorable victory at the HotelPlanner Tour’s 2018 Ras Al Khaimah Grand Final. A birdie on the final hole earned him a one-stroke win over Victor Perez, securing his promotion to the DP World Tour.

With both Al Ain and Ajman now on his radar, Arnaus is determined to replicate that success on home soil.

“That week in Ras Al Khaimah has a special place in my memory. I can remember very good things from that event,” said Arnaus.

“Of course, being the same Tour, the same country, and I would say similar courses, I will feed off that victory heading into this double-header.

“Not only from the end result, but the way I handled myself that week - being very focused and very present. That’s definitely the way I would like to present myself over the next few weeks.

“I won wire-to-wire, which is a matter of starting very strong and keeping the foot on the pedal. It’s something that I’m looking forward to doing over the next few weeks - playing some aggressive golf and some steady golf. Overall, I feel like the UAE has been very good to me, not only for that week but also for some other very good memories around here.”

With six HotelPlanner Tour events under his belt this year, Arnaus sits 46th in the season-long Road to Mallorca Rankings.

Only the top 20 players will secure the ultimate prize - a DP World Tour card for the 2026 season - when the Rolex Grand Final, supported by The R&A, concludes in November.

A strong showing in the UAE double-header could be the perfect springboard for Arnaus to climb the Rankings, and he knows just how valuable these two UAE events could be in his pursuit of a return to the top tier.

“These next two weeks are two good opportunities for me to keep evolving and to keep getting better,” said Arnaus.

“These last few months have been quite positive. I have been able to draw on a lot of good stuff in order to keep learning and building up to what can be my best version.

“I feel that every day I’m closer to that, so I’m just looking forward to giving myself another good chance at being there on Sunday, fighting for the tournament at two courses I quite like.

“I’m focused on just being me and enjoying myself out there. I think it’s going to be a good couple of weeks to do that.”

While Arnaus will have plenty of support at both tournaments, he won’t be the only one with the crowd behind him when the HotelPlanner Tour rolls into the UAE.

Through the EGF’s partnership with the European Tour Group, 60 spots across both events are given to the governing body of golf in the UAE, ensuring a strong homegrown presence in the field.

Among them, UAE National Team members Ahmad Skaik, Mullane, Jonathan Selvaraj, Rayan Ahmed, Mohammad Skaik, and Neyl Cherrat will feature in at least one of the two tournaments.

They’ll be joined by a host of other familiar faces, including Tommy Fleetwood Academy pro Jackson Bell, Challenge Tour winner Dominic Foos - who has called Dubai home for a decade - Jumeirah Golf Estates Open champion Rami Samawi, and rising star Louis Klein, who has racked up multiple amateur titles in the UAE in recent months.

Also in the mix are defending Abu Dhabi Challenge champion Garrick Porteous, a Dubai resident, and Joshua Grenville-Wood, 2023 Abu Dhabi Challenge runner-up, both earning their places through their HotelPlanner Tour status.