All 22 golf clubs in the United Arab Emirates have signed The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter to demonstrate their collective commitment to growing golf among women and girls in the region.
With the UAE becoming the first country to sign all clubs to the charter, representatives from The R&A and signatories gathered to celebrate the occasion at Jumeriah Golf Estates.
The Women in Golf Charter leads The R&A’s drive to increase the number of women and girls participating in golf and to encourage more opportunities for women to work within the golf industry. Since being launched in 2018, more than 1,300 organisations in 75 countries have signed the Charter, but the UAE is the first country in the world to have all its golf clubs as signatories.
The Women in Golf Charter aims to inspire an industry-wide commitment to developing a more inclusive culture within golf around the world and to enable more women and girls to flourish and maximise their potential at all levels of the sport.
Jackie Davidson, Director of Golf Development at The R&A, and Neal Graham, Development Manager – Middle East and India at The R&A, outlined how the golf industry can work together to achieve these goals at a launch event at Jumeriah Golf Estates, one of the UAE’s leading golf facilities and signatory of the Women in Golf Charter.
She said: “The Women in Golf Charter has really galvanised the golf industry around a shared vision for golf and driven change. Since 2018 we have seen over 1,300 organisations in 75 countries, including the United Arab Emirates make their commitment to the Charter and the development of women and girls’ golf. We are already seeing the benefits of this in golf participation numbers around the world, a trend that The R&A and all signatories have a responsibility towards continuing.”
Graham added: “The United Arab Emirates has a proud history of supporting golf at the very highest levels including hosting professional and elite amateur championships for the world’s best golfers. But equally important is providing the opportunity for everyone to experience and enjoy golf. The R&A is delighted that all 22 golf clubs in the United Arab Emirates are signatories of the Women in Golf Charter which will position golf as a welcoming sport for women to engage with and contribute the further success of golf in the country.”
The event was attended by representatives of each golf club who will act as charter champions and lead their club’s commitment to the Charter. Also in attendance were other organisations who have pledged their support as signatories of the Charter including the Emirates Golf Federation, IMG and the DP World Tour.
General Abdulla Al Hashmi, Vice Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation and a Director of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, said: “The Emirates Golf Federation is proud that the UAE is the first country in the world to have all its golf clubs signed up to the Women in Golf Charter.
“Today’s celebration of women in golf is a great example of the different initiatives that The R&A can bring to the UAE and the region. With this being Women’s Golf Month it’s a perfect time to celebrate having all affiliated UAE golf clubs signing the charter and collaborating to encourage women’s golf participation at every level, including professionally. We look forward to continuing to work with all associations and governing bodies within the sport to grow the game.”