The recently unveiled clubhouse at the Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club has secured instant international recognition, claiming a major victory in Golf Inc. magazine’s prestigious annual ‘Clubhouse of the Year’ awards.
The stunning new facility, which opened its doors this spring, was named First Place in the ‘Best New Public Clubhouse’ category. The honour was presented at the Golf Inc. Strategies Summit 2025 in Las Vegas, where Phil Henderson, General Manager of Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, and Antonino Cardillo from the Al Zorah Development Team accepted the top prize.
The Golf Inc. awards, judged by a panel of leading architects and industry professionals, recognise the world’s best new and renovated golf-course clubhouses based on criteria including efficiency, aesthetics, vision, and sustainability.
Designed by award-winning architect Annabel Karim Kassar and ANNAKA, the clubhouse is a significant new landmark in the development of Al Zorah City, a growing high-end destination just 40 minutes from Dubai.
The building seamlessly blends regional influences with contemporary lines. It spotlights materials from the Middle East, notably featuring Omani marble cladding. Inspired by the surrounding environment, its gradually sloping walls and deep green palettes allow it to blend effortlessly with the rich adjacent mangroves.
“The clubhouse is a testament to our long-term vision for Al Zorah and showcases our commitment to excellence, sustainability, and community,” said George Saad, CEO of the Al Zorah Development Company. “When we started the project, we set out to build one of the outstanding clubhouses in the Middle East—something that was worthy of being a focal point for golf in the region. We feel that we have done exactly that.”
The stunning deluxe building, which welcomed visitors for the first time this spring, was placed first in the ‘Best New Public Clubhouse’ category by the awards judging panel, and Phil Henderson, general manager of Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, and Antonino Cardillo from the Al Zorah Development Team were was on hand to receive the top honour at this month’s Golf Inc. Strategies Summit 2025 at The Westin Lake Las Vegas resort.
The deluxe building serves as the new focal point for the club and wider community. It houses a trio of dining options alongside changing and retail facilities. Its crowning glory is an opulent rooftop bar, offering panoramic views over the acclaimed Nicklaus Design course, the spectacular Arabian Gulf, and the magnificent Al Zorah Mangrove Forest.
Complementing the 10-year-old championship golf course, the new clubhouse completes Al Zorah’s transformation into one of the Middle East’s premier lifestyle hubs, which also features:
The award is the latest in a series of leading industry honours for Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, which is managed by Troon International. In the past year, the club earned the coveted Gold Flag accolade at the 59club Middle East & Africa Service Excellence Awards and secured three honours—including Middle East’s Best Golf Course—at the 2024 World Golf Awards.
“Al Zorah’s clubhouse is well executed on all fronts,” commented Lee Hyden, Director of Architecture at Chambers USA and a judging panel member, noting its “architectural and interior design efficiency with a cohesive and functional plan, holistic aesthetics… and realising the project vision.”
About Al Zorah City Al Zorah City is one of the UAE’s most exclusive destinations in the Emirate of Ajman, spread over 5.4 million square metres. It features luxury resorts, an 18-hole championship golf course, marinas, restaurants, and a choice of beachfront villas and apartments. The area also includes the Al Zorah Nature Reserve, a haven for ecological tourism and migratory birds.
About Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club Designed by Nicklaus Design and opened in 2015, the 18-hole championship course sweeps around two huge lakes in a natural setting. The club is managed by Troon International.
