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Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Attieh will be flying the flag for the Arab world this week as he tees it up at the UAE Challenge, set to get underway tomorrow at Al Zorah Golf and Yacht Club in Ajman, UAE.
The event marks a key stop in the Middle East on the HotelPlanner Tour’s 2025 Road to Mallorca, and Attieh, 29, having recently turned professional just over six months ago, arrives in a confident mood.
“I’m really excited. The course and the event itself have been brilliant so far,” Attieh said ahead of his opening round. “I want to thank the Emirates Golf Federation for giving me the opportunity to represent Saudi Arabia and the Arab world of golfers. And of course, a big thank you to Golf Saudi for supporting me throughout my journey.”
Khaled Attieh – Octavio Passos
Attieh, who only entered the paid ranks at the end of 2024, after a successful amateur career, has already made appearances on the Asian Tour, DP World Tour, and the HotelPlanner Tour. While his dream is to debut in the United States, the early signs are promising.
“It’s been a good start,” he said. “I’ve had a few strong finishes and picked up valuable experience. The more you play, the more you learn — and that really helps when the big weeks like this one come around.”
The UAE Challenge and next week’s Abu Dhabi Challenge are key events in the Middle East for nurturing local arab talent, with eight Middle East golfers competing this week, the region continues to establish itself as a serious player in the global golf scene. Helped along through rising talents like Attieh who are putting Arab golf on the map.
“Arab golf has made huge strides, especially over the last four or five years,” Attieh said. “There’s a lot of development and young talent coming through.
“Hopefully, I can play a mentor role going forward. It’s an honour to represent our traditions and our culture on a global stage.”
Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club. Image supplied
As for his expectations this week in Ajman, Attieh is keeping things simple. “I’ve been playing well – can’t complain. I’m just taking each day as it comes, focusing on my game, and hoping to put together a good result by the end of the week.”
The course at Al Zorah is known for its fast greens and coastal winds, providing a stern but fair test this week. “The fairways and greens are running fast and true,” he said. “Hopefully the wind stays down a bit, but it’s a great golf course and I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
Khaled tee’s off at 08:10 local time Thursday morning.
Main Image: Octavio Passos
