Ahmad Skaik Gears Up for HotelPlanner Tour Double-Header in UAE as He Nears Professional Status

TDT | Manama

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UAE National Team star Ahmad Skaik is eagerly preparing for his return to the HotelPlanner Tour’s (formerly the Challenge Tour) double-header in the UAE next month, marking a significant step in his journey toward becoming a professional golfer.

For the third consecutive year, the DP World Tour’s official feeder circuit will showcase world-class golf on UAE shores, with the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) co-promoting the two prestigious tournaments. The action kicks off with the UAE Challenge from April 10-13 at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, which will host a European Tour Group-sanctioned event for the first time. The tour will then move to Abu Dhabi for the Abu Dhabi Challenge at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club from April 17-20.

These back-to-back tournaments not only spotlight rising stars and DP World Tour winners battling to return to the global golf stage but also play a pivotal role in developing UAE National Team players, as well as professionals and amateurs based in the UAE.

Thanks to the EGF's long-standing partnership with the European Tour Group, 30 tournament spots are secured for UAE players across both events. This partnership furthers the European Tour Group's commitment to nurturing golf in the UAE through 2032.

Ahmad Skaik has greatly benefited from these opportunities, having participated in the HotelPlanner Tour over the past two years. He will again tee off alongside fellow UAE National Team players, including Sam Mullane, Jonathan Selvaraj, Rayan Ahmed, Mohammad Skaik, and Neyl Cherrat.

“The partnership has been invaluable,” Skaik shared. “I feel like I improve every time I compete on the HotelPlanner Tour. I’m learning and growing, and I believe one day I can compete and win. The players here are sharp, make fewer mistakes, and are consistent, so I feel like I’m getting closer. I just need to keep practicing and stay focused, and hopefully, I can win there and on the DP World Tour.”

Exposure to top-tier competition has been transformative for Skaik, whose ultimate goal is to turn professional by the end of this year, possibly after the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in the UAE.

Skaik’s recent performance at the 2025 GCC Golf Championship in Saudi Arabia has been a highlight of his career. The 27-year-old claimed both individual and team gold medals for the UAE at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, setting a new championship record with an 18-under-par total of 270 and securing the largest individual winning margin in the event's history. This historic achievement is built on valuable experience gained through his participation in 12 HotelPlanner Tour events over the past two years.

Thanks to the EGF’s exchange of tournament spots with global golf federations, UAE players like Skaik have been able to compete in HotelPlanner Tour events around the world, gaining exposure and sharpening their skills on an international stage.

“Playing in these events helps me stay focused,” Skaik said. “I want to work hard and stay confident heading into each tournament. When I’m playing well, I love having multiple events lined up because I learn from each one and improve week by week.”

Next month’s HotelPlanner Tour double-header will also bring new developments for the EGF, as two newly appointed full-time rules officials, Thai twins Sasinun and Sasikarn Tungbenjapol, will make their debut. The twins bring a wealth of experience from officiating at tournaments such as the Thai LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour, and Asian Tour, as well as the 2022 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship, hosted by the R&A at Siam Country Club in Thailand.

As the UAE's golf scene continues to thrive, the upcoming events are set to play a crucial role in shaping the future of the sport in the region.