AR
50 years on from its inception, the Arab Golf Federation is celebrating this milestone in the 44th edition of the Arab Golf Federation Cup, which is set to take place at Riyadh Golf Club, Saudi Arabia, November 10-15, 2025.
The week-long celebration of Arab golf, hosted by the Arab Golf Federation, is marking 35 years since the Cup was played for at Emirates Golf Club in 1988, to celebrate the opening of the Majlis Golf Course.
Karim Salaam, President of the Lebanese Golf Federation and Arab Golf Federation Executive Committee member
President of the Lebanese Golf Federation and Arab Golf Federation Executive Committee member Karim Salaam, was delighted to announce the host venue, “It’s fantastic to be able to announce Riyadh Golf Club as the host venue. This is the objective of the Arab Golf Federation Cup that we play annually, which is to get the Arab community involved in the sport we love.”
Karim’s father, Salim Ali Salaam, was the founder of the Arab Golf Federation in 1975, and this year the federation is celebrating a successful 50 years of the Arab Golf Federation.
“My father was head of MEA Airlines in 1984, which is Lebanon’s national airline carrier. And at the time, he met with Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum to discuss what later became Emirates Airlines. He was able to convince him that, because he had an objective to have a national airline carrier for Dubai, he should have it in parallel with golf as the driving tool to get tourists.
Emirates Golf Club in the late 1980s – David Cannon
“So this is where we encouraged and supported Dubai to build the Majlis Golf Course at Emirates Golf Club, which was opened in March 1988. We then played our first Arab Golf Federation Cup on Dubai soil to celebrate the opening of the Majlis.
“Sheikh Hamdan was so happy that he immediately gave instructions to build Dubai Creek, which was opened in 1991. I still remember that we did a nine-hole demonstration for the opening of the course with Ernie Els and Raymond Floyd, so the Arab Golf Federation have a strong history of golf in the UAE.”
From there, Salim, who was a good friend of the now king of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, convinced him to build a grass golf course in Bahrain as well. He then went to Qatar, and also convinced them, all part of the Arab Golf Federation nurturing.
1975 Arab Golf Federation Cup
“Thankfully, I was able to witness how Lebanon was able to influence what would later on become the Arab golf world as we know it today.
“I’m so proud of how the Emirates Golf Federation were able to develop the Arab Golf Federation, as they had the presidency for quite some time, but now with Saudi Arabia being able to change not only the local scene, but also the world scene is really impressive.”
1975 Arab Golf Federation Cup – Team Palestine
His Excellency Yasir Al-Yasir Al-Rumayyan President of the Arab Golf Federation, with Rory McIlroy – Ross Parker – SNS Group
Arab Golf Federations Pan Arab Junior and Ladies Golf Championship
“It’s emotional as well, because it’s something that my father would be proud of.
“I don’t know if he envisioned where we are today, but he definitely believed that golf is very important to have in the Arab world.”
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Main Image: Arab Golf Federation
