Keith Waters the former European Tour COO will head the MENA Tour
A new opportunity for Indian pro golfers to gain international exposure, Official World Ranking points and seize a pathway to the DP World ( European Tour) comes in the form of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Golf Tour, which operated for over a decade before taking a break in 2024. The tour has announced its return in 2026 with a 12-event schedule across the Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, backed by Arena Group and a private investor. Each tournament will carry a purse of US$100,000, making the season worth US$1.2 million.
The circuit — the only one in the Middle East recognised by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) — will relaunch with a Qualifying Tournament in November. Former DP World Tour COO and OWGR board member Keith Waters has been appointed Chairman and Commissioner.
The tour, founded in 2011, has produced notable alumni including US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick, Ryder Cup player Robert MacIntyre and Todd Clements. In 2022, it formed a short-lived alliance with LIV Golf to sanction its invitational events, allowing players like Brooks Koepka to earn OWGR points.
For India, the relaunch is especially significant. With 12 guaranteed events of US$100,000 each, the MENA Tour could become an ideal stepping stone for young Indian pros before they test themselves on the Asian Tour. Discussions are underway with the DP World Tour and the HotelPlanner Tour (formerly Challenge Tour) to create a pathway for top MENA Tour players into their Qualifying Tournaments.
Dubai-born Indian Rayhan Thomas famously made history in 2016 by becoming the first amateur to win a MENA Tour event at Dubai Creek, where a rock near the 18th still commemorates his victory. Today, Thomas plays on the Korn Ferry Tour in the U.S., but his story shows how the MENA circuit can be a springboard for Indian golfers with global ambitions.
Photo – MENA Tour