The HotelPlanner Tour, the European Tour Group’s second tier of men’s professional golf, has announced a reshuffling of its 2026 tournament schedule due to the on-going hostilities across large parts of the Middle East.
The tour has announced a delay to the hosting of two events in the United Arab Emirates that were due to take place in April, with the Abu Dhabi Challenge at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club, which was due to be held from April 16-19, now being scheduled for the first week of October, while the RAKBANK UAE Challenge at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club in Ajman is being switched from April 23-26 to a new date at the end of September.
A statement given by the HotelPlanner Tour said: “Given the ongoing situation in the Middle East, the decision has been made to reschedule back-to-back events in the UAE that were due to take place next month.
“The RAKBANK UAE Challenge will remain at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club and will now take place from September 24-27, with the Abu Dhabi Challenge at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club the following week, running from October 1-4.
“These tournaments will now follow straight after the Open de Portugal and directly before back-to-back events in China. This change in the schedule prioritises the safety of all members, whilst also ensuring that playing opportunities are maximised, with 29 tournaments still on the Road to Mallorca schedule.
The statement concluded: “Whilst the two tournaments have been rescheduled, this is an evolving situation that we will continue to monitor very closely.”
The HotelPlanner Tour is not the only tour to be affected by the war in the gulf, with the MENA Golf Tour, which operates a 12-event schedule in the first quarter of the year across countries in the Middle East and North Africa, having already cancelled the last four events of the season that were due to take place in Jordan, Qatar and the UAE in March.
The Asian Tour‘s season finale, the PIF Saudi International, is due to be held in Riyadh in November, but has no other events scheduled for the Middle East this season, while the LIV Golf League is also unaffected, with its sole Middle Eastern event having being staged in Saudi Arabia in early February.
The Ladies European Tour has no further events scheduled in the Middle East this season, having hosted its season-opener in Riyadh in mid-February, while the DP World Tour has its final two events of the season in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in November, having concluded its ‘Desert Swing’ with events in Dubai, Bahrain and Qatar in early February.