In the world of golf, we’re lucky to have the opportunity to travel to some extraordinary places.

Gazing out from the lofty vantage point overlooking the ninth green, with a striking mangrove forest stretching out into the distance, the relaxing sights and sounds of the Arabian Gulf nearby and nature all around, there’s no doubt this is one of them right now.

Currently under construction, and scheduled to open this autumn, the rooftop bar of the impressive state-of-the-art new clubhouse at Al Zorah Golf Club, in the northern region of the United Arab Emirates will offer some of the best views in the region and form a focal point for the surrounding community.

Featuring three restaurants, a fitness centre and two outdoor swimming pools, the three-storey clubhouse will only serve to enhance the club’s growing reputation as one of the new rising stars of golf in the Middle East and allow golfers the option of playing 18 holes, from either the adjacent first or tenth tee boxes.

Regular visitors to the UAE will be familiar with the many delights of downtown Dubai and the bustling city, but head 40 minutes north up the coast to the Emirate of Ajman and you will find Al Zorah City and Al Zorah Golf Club, a thriving golf and real-estate project that is being heralded as a leader in elite modern beachfront developments in the UAE.

And unlike the glitz and glamour of Dubai, Ajman offers a chance to reconnect with nature away from the hustle and bustle of its neighbouring emirate.

Al Zorah is the ideal place to retreat from the outside world, and at its heart lies the golf club and its acclaimed 18-hole championship golf course, complemented by a beach resort and hotel, as well as an array of fine and casual dining options, ensuring that residents and guests can savour the very best of locally and internationally sourced cuisines.

The club proudly boasts the first layout in the UAE to be designed by Nicklaus Design and is operated by Troon under the Troon Golf brand.

Opened in December 2015, the par-72 course gracefully meanders around a natural mangrove landscape – the mangrove forest covers an area of some 1.3 million square metres – and two spectacular lakes, providing a distinctive and enjoyable challenge for golfers of all skill levels.

The course from the back tees will provide a stern test for the average golfer given the length of some of the holes – especially three of the four par threes – yet venture forward, and the course becomes more playable, and the greens more accessible.

Although the amount of rough on the layout is minimal, dangers lurk to the right on many holes including two par threes which have mangrove trees waiting to swallow an errant tee shot. A testing par five ends the experience, which will involve a challenging second shot around the aforementioned mangrove tees which jut out part way across the fairway.

Already regarded among the best courses in the Middle East, it’s easy to see why Al Zorah – with the quality of design, level of course conditioning and experience offered – is hard to fault. The course is immaculate throughout, especially the smooth putting surfaces which, running at 11 on the stimpeter, feature numerous subtle slopes and contours and add to the challenge provided.

The scenic view from the par-four ninth tee, as you play uphill and over a ravine to the green in front of where the new clubhouse is being built, is one to live in the memory, as is the four-hole stretch from the 12th to the 15th, the penultimate short hole and the pick of the bunch – measuring 170 yards off the back tees and playing over water to a well-guarded green.

The layout may measure 7,169 yards from the tips but there is a choice of four tees available to make sure players of all handicaps can enjoy the experience in equal measure, while everyone that plays must take notice of the constantly changing tidal system, which alters the look and feel of the course on an hourly basis and contributes to a unique and memorable 18 holes.

A 350-metre-long driving range and extensive practice facilities – not to mention a sparkling new fleet of Club Car golf cars – all complement the luxury golfing experience, while the status of the club – which is in the process of being rebranded as the Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club – is set to be raised further when the clubhouse opens.

Designed by ANNAKA the clubhouse will feature golf and leisure facilities including a purpose-built gymnasium, golf shop, tennis courts, and swimming pool. Also offering underground parking and various food and beverage outlets, golfers and visitors will have chance to dine, socialise and relax within the club, making it the envy of golf clubs around the UAE.

Sustainability is a central theme in everything that Al Zorah does, and the club uses a range of innovative and far-reaching initiatives to boost its eco footprint. As well as exclusively using reclaimed water to irrigate the course and employing two full-time staff members to monitor its water usage, Al Zorah is deeply engaged in the Audubon International Program and is a haven for biodiversity, with more than 200 species of native and migratory birds among those to call the rich wetlands home.

Al Zorah also achieved GEO Certification in November 2022, but perhaps most impressive is the ongoing work that Al Zorah is doing regarding mangrove-planting.

Producing millions of litres of oxygen per day, mangroves are vastly more effective in trapping carbon dioxide than other trees, making them one of humanity’s most valuable tools in the fight against climate change.

As well as Al Zorah City’s commitment to double the estimated 500,000 mangrove trees already on site at the stunning coastal destination, the resort has pledged to plant a mangrove tree for every golfer who experiences the golf club – with players even invited to make the short journey to Al Zorah Mangrove Natural Reserve and plant the tree themselves.

When it comes to accommodation, the United Arab Emirates is renowned for rolling out the red carpet to golfers and Al Zorah City is no exception, whether it be a luxury venue for a stay-and-play break, a modern new home or the chance to take advantage of one of the attractive real-estate investment opportunities available.

The golf club has a number of high-profile hotel partners, and they don’t come much better than the luxurious Oberoi Beach Resort in Al Zorah City, a five-star hotel where world-class hospitality meets stunning international cuisine.