Whether it’s exploring the desert by dune buggy or camelback, taking to the skies in helicopters, hot air balloons or ziplines, or just getting to grips with ancient falconry, there’s an adventure for everyone in Dubai – and that’s before we get to the golf…

Today, Dubai is part of the fabric of the golf world, home to some of the finest courses and host to three iconic tournaments in the DP World Tour Championship, Omega Dubai Ladies’ Masters and the Dubai Desert Classic. But don’t take our word for it, this is what the pros think of the Dubai golf scene…

It’s been tamed by Tiger on two occasions and has also been graced by everyone from Ballesteros and Els to McIlroy and Couples, the Dubai Desert Classic is one of golf’s iconic events.

Ernie Els, Sir Nick Faldo, Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Baker-Finch, Thomas Bjorn … it reads like a who’s who of 1990s golf. In fact, it is a list of the men who have laid out courses in Dubai, says Chris Bertrand.

Kit Alexander looks at the moments, on and off the course, that made Dubai one of the best golf travel experiences in the world.