The Hero Dubai Desert Classic has once again underlined its commitment to sustainability with the launch of the ‘Green Incubator Challenge’, aimed at individuals and local businesses to help position the UAE as a global leader in environmentally responsible events.
The forward-thinking initiative was announced during the ‘Beyond the Green’ roundtable held yesterday at Emirates Golf Club. Organised by Falcon & Associates in partnership with GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation, the discussion brought together over 40 partners, rights holders and stakeholders. The event explored key challenges and opportunities for reducing negative environmental impacts, maximising positive contribution, and events as catalysts and inspiration for sustainable change across supply chains and communities.
Speakers and key opinion leaders who took part in the roundtable included; Paul Bush OBE, former Director of Events at VisitScotland, Scotland’s National Tourism and Events agency; David Stubbs, former Head of Sustainability at London 2012 Olympics and Advisor to IOC and Jonathan Smith, Founder and Executive Director, GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation.
The ‘Green Incubator Challenge’invites companies and individuals with sustainability-focused ideas, products or services, to pitch their concepts to a panel of stakeholders during the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Winning ideas and concepts will receive investment and be implemented at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic from 2027, aligning with the UAE’s Green Agenda 2030 objectives.
The tournament’s sustainability journey began in 2022 with the ‘Go for The Green’ initiative, focusing on carbon reduction and mitigation, resource efficiency and reduction of single use materials, and community engagement. By 2023, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic had become the first and only GEO-Certified golf event in the Middle East, a distinction that drives continual improvement, that has now been retained for two consecutive years.
Closely aligned to and inspired by the wider DP World Green Drive, and a leadership drive across The Rolex Series, ‘Beyond the Green’ now brings forward more ambitious partnership-based plans and ideas that can further solidify the event’s role as a sustainability leader in sports. It includes a three-year roadmap featuring the launch of the roundtable discussions in 2025, the Green Incubator Series in 2026, and the ongoing integration of additional sustainable practices and activations across the tournament.
Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Falcon and Associates, commented: "The Hero Dubai Desert Classic has always been about more than just world-class golf; it’s about making a positive impact on the community and the environment. The launch of the Green Incubator Challenge reinforces our commitment to sustainability and innovation, providing a unique platform for local businesses and individuals to contribute to the UAE’s leadership in environmentally responsible events. We’re excited to see the groundbreaking ideas that will emerge and look forward to showcasing them as part of the UAE’s journey towards a greener future."
Aligning efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), key milestones include:
- Strengthened procurement policies for all suppliers and contractors
- Diversion ofover 95% of waste from landfill through recycling, upcycling initiatives and energy recovery facilities with Dulsco
- Removal of over 150,000 plastic bottles via free water refill stations with Water for Life
- Provision of 270 solar panels throughout the tournament site to power the event, and use of biodiesel for temporary power solutions at the event, contributing to Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050with Agrekko
- Deploying a growing number (circa 50%) of BMW electric vehicles fleet for player transportation
- Offering 40% vegetarian or vegan catering options with Emirates Catering
- All reported event emissions credibly offset through Gold Standard programmes
- The ‘Park and Plant’ activation through which spectator parking fees are invested in mangrove tree planting initiatives
- Running a number of social programmes including with Heroes for Hope, Donations to Food Banks, Green waste for composting
Jonathan Smith, CEO and Founder GEO Foundation, said: “The team at the Foundation is proud to support this week’s roundtable event and the broader initiatives happening throughout the tournament. Through its intentional work over recent years, and with larger and more ambitious plans for the next few, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is set to emerge as a leading example within the golf, sports and events sectors, showcasing how focused efforts can reduce negative impacts and amplify positive outcomes. By addressing a wide range of social and environmental issues, across all key aspects of event staging, legacy planning, communications, and with high standards of venue operations led by Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Golf —it highlights the power of individual leadership and collective action – driven by Falcon & Associates’ clear purpose and commitment.”
The Hero Dubai Desert Classic is the oldest golf event in the Middle East and this week’s event will be the 36th edition of the tournament. Established in 1989, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is a key fixture on the DP World Tour and a part of the esteemed Rolex Series, instrumental in introducing golf to the Middle East and producing some of the sport’s most memorable moments.
The 2025 event, which gets underway on Thursday, will feature a world-class field with a host of star names, including Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland.
For more details or to secure hospitality packages and free general admission tickets, visit www.dubaidesertclassic.com or download the Hero Dubai Desert Classic app from the App Store or Google Play.