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Celebrating 10 years of eGolf Megastore, the largest golf store in the Middle East.
Dean, as CEO, what do you remember most about the early days of opening eGolf Megastore Al Quoz?
It brings back a lot of memories. I remember walking into an empty space, completely shell and core, but realising right away that we could transform it into something the UAE golfing scene needed. A two-level setup made perfect sense, club fitting and assembly upstairs, apparel and footwear downstairs. Fast forward ten years, and that approach has stood the test of time, presenting a true multi-brand golf retail experience.
When you first started eGolf, did you think you would be celebrating 10 years, and receiving compliments from the likes of Rory McIlroy, referring to the club build set-up as “better than a tour truck”?
At the time, I never imagined what things would look like a decade later. We were simply a small, tight-knit team setting out to build something, and we’ve kept having fun along the way as the team has grown. I feel fortunate every day to do what I love, combining business with the game I’ve loved since childhood and sharing it with a team of good people. Rory’s remarks made that journey feel all the more rewarding.
When you look back, what’s been the single biggest change in the golf retail landscape over the past decade?
The biggest change I’ve witnessed is how fashion has reshaped golf apparel. Where performance brands like Nike, Adidas, Puma and Under Armour once held the majority a decade ago, we now see golfers gravitating toward more stylish and high-end labels. Lululemon, G/FORE, Greyson, J.Lindeberg, Peter Millar, SUNDAY RED and BOSS have become standout performers globally, and very much to the same extent locally. We’re looking forward to launching Tiger Woods’ SUN DAY RED to the market in 2026.
eGolf has built a reputation around club fitting and assembly. How important has that been to your growth?
Club fitting and assembly have been at the heart of eGolf’s identity since day one, and they remain a driving force behind our operation. Since the beginning, we’ve always invested heavily in fitting technology and machinery, and our entire ethos has been to provide consumers with the opportunity to compare every available brand on the market, not limiting them to the big 4. That variety has been the major shift in the UAE golf retail landscape over the past decade, as consumers require choice.
eGolf Megastore Al Quoz. Image supplied
What moment or achievement over the past 10 years stands out to you personally?
While no single moment stands above the rest, scaling the organisation from a small eCommerce store to a multi-store international organisation has been incredibly meaningful to me.
How do you balance in-store experience with the growth of online retail?
The key to our in-store experience is consistency. Every new store must operate like our first Al Quoz location, built on service, product range and trusted advice. While our online retail continues to grow year on year, it can’t keep pace with the growth rate of our physical stores. Golf will always be a touch-and-feel sport, and that places natural limits on digital growth.
Which product category has had the biggest impact on golfers in the last 10 years?
Without doubt, club fitting. Ten years ago, most players bought clubs off the rack. Now, with the number of head and shaft combinations available and the use of universal adapter fittings, we fit golfers to clubs that match their swing, helping them enjoy the game more.
What excites you most about the next decade for eGolf Megastore?
We’ve recently welcomed two new majority shareholders, Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah and Mohammed Farooq. Their passion for the sport and their alignment with our vision present us with a great opportunity to innovate and evolve the retail landscape with some new projects on the horizon.
And finally, when you do get time to play, what’s your go-to course in the region?
That’s tough, as most courses here offer something unique. I was a founding member of The Els Club, so it will always be a favourite. The DP World Tour locations are solid all year round, and especially so when they are presented in tournament week conditions.
Main image: eGolf Megastore
This article was featured in the October 2025 issue of Golf Digest Middle East. Click here for a digital issue of the full magazine
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