The eagerly anticipated new clubhouse at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club has won instant global recognition after being named as one of the major winners in Golf Inc. magazine’s prestigious ‘Clubhouse of the Year’ annual awards.
The stunning deluxe building, which welcomed visitors for the first time this spring, was placed first in the ‘Best New Public Clubhouse’ category by the awards judging panel, and Phil Henderson, general manager of Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, and Antonino Cardillo from the Al Zorah Development Team were on hand to receive the top honour at this month’s Golf Inc. Strategies Summit 2025 at The Westin Lake Las Vegas resort.
Free to enter, the yearly award recognises the best golf-course clubhouse projects of the past year from around the world. There are three categories – private, public and remodelled/renovated clubhouses – with Golf Inc’s judging panel of architects and industry professionals assessing each entry based on four criteria – efficiency, aesthetics, vision and sustainability.
Created by ANNAKA, Al Zorah’s clubhouse houses a trio of dining options alongside changing and retail facilities and will form a new focal point for both the golf club and wider local community.
Two outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts and a fitness centre complement the existing golf course – which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year – to create one of the Middle East’s premier lifestyle hubs.
“(Al Zorah’s clubhouse is) well executed on all fronts,” said Lee Hyden, director of architecture at Chambers USA and a member of the judging panel. “(It shows) architectural and interior design efficiency with a cohesive and functional plan, holistic aesthetics from one function to another and realising the project vision of blending regional influences with contemporary lines, incorporating sustainable design considerations.”
The clubhouse – designed by award-winning architect Annabel Karim Kassar and ANNAKA – puts materials from the Middle East in the spotlight, with Omani marble cladding the walls. Inspired by the themes of nature and inspiration, gradually sloping walls and deep green colour palettes help the building to blend effortlessly with the rich surrounding vegetation.
Situated just 2.5km from the coast, the building’s crowning glory is an opulent rooftop bar, providing panoramic views over the acclaimed Nicklaus Design course and spectacular Arabian Gulf as well as the magnificent Al Zorah Mangrove Forest.
A new landmark for the surrounding area, the magnificent clubhouse is also a significant milestone in the development of Al Zorah City, one of the most exclusive and elaborate destinations in the UAE.
Spread over an area of 5.4 million square metres and just 40 minutes from Dubai, Al Zorah City is a thriving golf and real-estate project that offers everything that golfers, couples and families could need to live in luxury, with an 18-hole championship golf course, walkways, jogging and cycling trails, restaurants and cafes, a marina and a choice of beachfront villas and apartments among its many outstanding five-star amenities.
George Saad, CEO of the Al Zorah Development Company, said: ““The clubhouse is a testament to our long-term vision for Al Zorah and showcases our commitment to excellence, sustainability and community. It is the culmination of years of hard work, and receiving recognition of this nature makes all the effort and long hours worthwhile.
“When we started the project, we set out to build one of the outstanding clubhouses in the Middle East – something that was not only worthy of our wonderful course but also worthy of being a focal point for golf in the region.
“We feel that we have done exactly that. The feedback that we have received since we opened this year has been extremely positive, and we’re looking forward to giving members, guests and competing professionals alike the opportunity to enjoy the clubhouse’s many facilities in the months and years to come.”
The award is the latest leading industry honour that Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, managed by Troon International, has won in the last 12 months to help cement the club’s status among the Middle East’s premier golf venues. In addition to receiving the coveted Gold Flag accolade at this year’s 59club Middle East & Africa Service Excellence Awards for the second successive year, the club earned three accolades – including Middle East’s Best Golf Course – at the 2024 World Golf Awards.