Qiddiya Unveils The National Golf Club in Qiddiya City

Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) has officially unveiled The National Golf Club, Qiddiya City, as the name and identity of its Sir Nick Faldo signature-designed, 18-hole championship golf course, confirming Golf Saudi as operator under a five-year management agreement. The announcement, released through official Saudi channels, marks a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s rapid expansion of world-class sports infrastructure and reinforces Qiddiya City’s position as a flagship destination within the broader Vision 2030 transformation. The club is scheduled to open on 30 October 2026 and will require no membership, positioning it as a major international golf destination welcoming professionals, amateurs, families, tourists and the next generation of Saudi talent.

Could a golf course become one of the most recognisable sporting landmarks in the world? For Qiddiya City, that ambition is now taking concrete shape beneath the dramatic 200-metre-high Tuwaiq cliffs, where championship design meets breathtaking natural beauty and genuine accessibility. The naming of The National Golf Club represents more than a branding exercise; it signals the Kingdom’s determination to build an integrated sports ecosystem that serves elite competition, grassroots participation and everyday community life in equal measure. With Golf Saudi appointed to lead operations, events, course management and player development, the project connects directly to a nationwide network of facilities, programmes and competitive pathways.

Context and Background

Why does the opening of a single golf course carry implications far beyond the fairway? The answer lies in the scale of Saudi Arabia’s sporting transformation. Under the unwavering support of the Kingdom’s leadership, the sports sector has undergone sustained expansion, with new facilities and destinations creating increasingly diverse opportunities for participation. The National Golf Club sits at the heart of this effort, located within Qiddiya City just 45 kilometres from Riyadh and positioned next to the National Tennis Centre, which is currently under construction. The surrounding area is set to include new homes, offices, hotels, retail and public spaces, forming a connected destination where sport is experienced rather than merely watched.

The club embodies Qiddiya City’s founding belief in the Power of Play — the idea that recreational and sporting spaces can shape how people live, connect and enjoy their communities. Designed with three separate six-hole loops, The National Golf Club gives players the flexibility to complete a shorter or full round, creating a more welcoming experience for beginners while still offering a full championship-level challenge. Combined with practice and coaching facilities, beginner-friendly programming and a future academy, the venue is engineered from the outset to open the sport to more people and support the Kingdom’s ambition to increase sports participation and promote health and wellbeing across society.

Key Details

What distinguishes The National Golf Club from other championship venues around the world? Its combination of elite design credentials and radical accessibility. The course carries the signature of six-time major winner Sir Nick Faldo, whose design firm, Faldo Design, shaped a layout that respects its iconic setting and rewards golfers at every level. From 30 October 2026, players and visitors will be served by a dedicated clubhouse, ahead of the 2028 opening of a new iconic clubhouse, a state-of-the-art driving range and an academy designed by Patterson’s. The venue will also host a partnership with the Faldo Series, providing emerging Saudi talent with a globally recognised pathway for competitive development and regular junior competitions.

Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal said the club reflects the significant progress taking place across the Kingdom’s sports sector. He noted that leadership support has driven the continued expansion of sports facilities and destinations and created more diverse opportunities to participate in sport, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The minister added that the club will play an important role in the growth of golf in the Kingdom by offering a world-class sporting experience to people from all segments of society, attracting new players, and identifying and developing Saudi talent, while enhancing the Kingdom’s readiness to host major international tournaments and events.

Abdullah Aldawood, Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company, described the club as a championship course with international credibility that is designed to open golf to everyone. He emphasised that with Golf Saudi as operator, the project has the expertise and reach to increase participation, inspire a new generation of golfers and encourage more active lifestyles. Noah Alireza, CEO of Golf Saudi, framed The National Golf Club as part of a broader strategy to build an integrated golf ecosystem across Saudi Arabia, creating more opportunities for players, visitors and communities while supporting the Kingdom’s growing appeal as a golf and tourism destination.

International and Regional Impact

How will a desert golf course reshape perceptions of Saudi Arabia on the global sporting map? Set beneath the Tuwaiq cliffs, few courses in the world can match the striking landscape, and combined with its location in Qiddiya City, The National Golf Club is positioned to become one of the most recognisable and talked-about golf courses internationally. Its no-membership model lowers traditional barriers to entry that have long characterised elite golf clubs, making the venue attractive to international visitors, touring players and families seeking accessible, high-quality sporting experiences during visits to the Kingdom.

Regionally, the club strengthens Saudi Arabia’s capacity to host major international tournaments and events, adding a significant asset to the Kingdom’s growing portfolio of sports facilities. Golf Saudi will leverage its expertise to create an environment reflecting the highest standards of the game alongside Saudi Arabia’s distinctive culture of warmth and hospitality. By connecting the club to national programmes and competitive pathways, the project supports the long-term growth of golf and its contribution to the Kingdom, while attracting visitors and investment that reinforce Saudi Arabia’s position as an emerging global golf and tourism destination.

Economic and Strategic Significance

What does sustainable, world-class sporting infrastructure mean for the Kingdom’s economic ambitions? The National Golf Club has been designed for sustainable, accessible and extended-hours play, featuring recycled-water irrigation, smart water management and energy-efficient LED future floodlighting for night play. Additional measures include green roofs, water refill points, electric golf carts and a predominantly electric maintenance fleet. The venue has achieved GEO Certified Development status, the internationally recognised sustainability accreditation awarded by the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf — a clear signal that Saudi Arabia’s sports build-out is being pursued with environmental responsibility at its core.

Strategically, the club joins Qiddiya City’s growing portfolio of attractions and sports venues, including the open Six Flags Qiddiya City and Aquarabia, alongside future venues such as the National Tennis Centre, Speed Park Track, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium and Horse Racing Venue. Together, these assets will create a connected destination for international events, elite sport, grassroots participation and everyday community life for the people who live, work and visit Qiddiya City. This integrated approach multiplies the economic value of each individual venue by driving visitor numbers, extending stays and supporting the wider hospitality, retail and residential ecosystem emerging around the development.

Vision 2030 Alignment

Can sport become a cornerstone of a diversified, vibrant society? Under Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom has committed to broadening access to sports, improving quality of life and building a thriving society, and The National Golf Club advances each of these objectives. By opening golf to beginners, families, tourists and future generations of Saudi talent, the club supports the national ambition to increase sports participation and promote health and wellbeing across society. Its partnership with the Faldo Series further ensures that emerging Saudi players have a credible, globally recognised route to competitive development.

As Qiddiya City continues to develop as a flagship destination of the Vision 2030 era, The National Golf Club stands as a forward-looking symbol of what the Kingdom is building: a place where championship design, natural beauty and accessibility come together, where international events and community life coexist, and where the Power of Play helps shape a more active, connected and prosperous society. For further details on bookings, coaching, operating hours and guest experiences, visit www.thenationalgolfclub.sa.

20 Questions

Q1. What did Qiddiya Investment Company announce?

A1. QIC announced The National Golf Club, Qiddiya City, as the official name of its Sir Nick Faldo signature-designed, 18-hole championship golf course, and confirmed Golf Saudi as operator under a five-year management agreement.

Q2. When will The National Golf Club open?

A2. The National Golf Club is scheduled to open on 30 October 2026, providing players and visitors with a dedicated clubhouse ahead of a new iconic clubhouse opening in 2028.

Q3. Who designed the golf course?

A3. The course was designed by Faldo Design, led by six-time major winner Sir Nick Faldo, who shaped a layout that respects the iconic Qiddiya City setting and welcomes golfers at different levels.

Q4. Does the club require a membership?

A4. No, The National Golf Club requires no membership, making it accessible to professional and amateur golfers, new players, families, tourists and future generations of Saudi talent.

Q5. Who will operate The National Golf Club?

A5. Golf Saudi will operate the club under a five-year management agreement, leading golf operations, events, course management and player development, connecting it to a national network of facilities.

Q6. How is the course structured for accessibility?

A6. The course features three separate six-hole loops, giving players flexibility to complete a shorter or full round, creating a welcoming experience for beginners while still offering a full championship-level challenge.

Q7. Where is The National Golf Club located?

A7. It sits within Qiddiya City, approximately 45 kilometres from Riyadh, next to the National Tennis Centre which is currently under construction and surrounded by new homes, offices, hotels and retail.

Q8. What natural feature defines the course setting?

A8. The course is set beneath the dramatic 200-metre-high Tuwaiq cliffs, a landscape with real character that few courses in the world can match, making it one of the most recognisable golf venues globally.

Q9. What did Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal say?

A9. The Minister of Sport said the club reflects significant progress in the Kingdom’s sports sector, supports Vision 2030 objectives, broadens access to sports, and enhances readiness to host major international tournaments.

Q10. What did Abdullah Aldawood of QIC say about the club?

A10. He said it is a championship course with international credibility designed to open golf to everyone, and that Golf Saudi’s expertise will help increase participation and inspire a new generation of golfers.

Q11. What is Golf Saudi’s broader strategy?

A11. Golf Saudi aims to build an integrated golf ecosystem across Saudi Arabia, creating more opportunities for players, visitors and communities while supporting the Kingdom’s growing appeal as a golf and tourism destination.

Q12. How does the Faldo Series partnership help Saudi talent?

A12. The partnership provides emerging Saudi talent with a globally recognised pathway for competitive development and regular junior competitions, supporting the growth of future Saudi golfers.

Q13. What sustainability measures does the course use?

A13. The course uses recycled-water irrigation, smart water management, energy-efficient LED future floodlighting, green roofs, water refill points, electric golf carts and a predominantly electric maintenance fleet.

Q14. What sustainability accreditation has the club achieved?

A14. The National Golf Club has achieved GEO Certified Development status, the internationally recognised sustainability accreditation awarded by the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf.

Q15. What facilities will open in 2028?

A15. In 2028, a new iconic clubhouse, a state-of-the-art driving range and an academy designed by Patterson’s will open, expanding the club’s practice, coaching and visitor facilities.

Q16. What other venues are part of Qiddiya City?

A16. Qiddiya City includes Six Flags Qiddiya City and Aquarabia, and future venues such as the National Tennis Centre, Speed Park Track, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium and Horse Racing Venue.

Q17. How does the club support health and wellbeing?

A17. By making golf more accessible and welcoming to beginners and families, the club supports the Kingdom’s ambition to increase sports participation and promote health and wellbeing across society.

Q18. What is the Power of Play concept?

A18. The Power of Play is Qiddiya City’s belief that sport should not only be watched but experienced, shared and enjoyed by more people, more often, shaping how communities live and connect.

Q19. How does the club align with Saudi Vision 2030?

A19. The club supports Vision 2030 by broadening access to sports, improving quality of life, developing Saudi talent and strengthening the Kingdom’s position on the global sports map.

Q20. How can visitors learn more about the club?

A20. Visitors can find further details on bookings, coaching, operating hours and guest experiences by visiting the club’s official website at www.thenationalgolfclub.sa.

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