Amidst the Middle East turmoil, the DP World Tour is staunchly holding on to its two final events in the UAE, while others are already pulling the plug. These are the eagerly awaited Race to Dubai Playoffs, specifically the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship from November 5-8, 2026, and the DP World Tour Championship from November 12-15, 2026. This decision comes despite the tense situation in the region and the fact that the Asian Tour has already indefinitely postponed its $5 million PIF Saudi International, which was scheduled to take place in Riyadh from November 18-21, 2026.
The DP World Tour is still planning to conduct the final two events of its 2026 season next month in the UAE, despite today's postponement of the PIF Saudi International (the Asian Tour's season finale Nov. 18-21) due to ongoing unrest in the Middle East. "It is our intention to
Nerves of Steel or a Risky Gamble?
The Tour officials emphasize that the situation is continuously monitored and travel advisories are crucial. Nevertheless, preparations for the events at Yas Links and Jumeirah Golf Estates are in full swing. The HotelPlanner Tour recently concluded in the UAE without incident – a good sign. For the DP World Tour, these tournaments are the final Race to Dubai Playoffs, which will crown the season's champion – so there's a lot at stake. A tour spokesperson announced that they firmly intend to proceed with both events as planned.
The Pressure Mounts
The stark contrast to the Asian Tour puts massive pressure on the DP World Tour to justify its decision. There has been no official postponement yet, although Spain and Portugal are already being unofficially discussed as Plan B, should the situation escalate. However, the official line remains: the UAE events will proceed, unless the security situation changes drastically. Whether all top stars will be on the tee is currently entirely unclear.
