The tournament was the first GEO Certified® mass event in the Middle East and first in the DP World Tour’s Rolex Series, now becoming the first to achieve re-certification

The Hero Dubai Desert Classic (HDDC) has become GEO Certified® for the second consecutive year, highlighting the event’s dedication to environmental responsibility and position as a leader in sustainable golf events. The HDDC has announced GEO certification to mark World Environment Day, as countries, organisations and individuals come together in the effort to protect and restore the Earth.

GEO Certified®, the widely regarded, credible distinction for responsible golf events is overseen by the international non-profit organisation GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, dedicated to support and recognition for sustainability and climate action in golf.  Criteria cover aspects of event staging as well as awareness-raising efforts and lasting legacies, with continual improvement points for future events an integral part of the process.

This year’s consecutive second accreditation has been awarded following continued and increased efforts to minimise the environmental impact of this prestigious European tour event and oldest golf tournament in the Middle East. Key initiatives include the wide use of solar power, extensive recycling to limit landfill waste, the 100% use of B20 biodiesel throughout the event, a park and plant initiative and reduced use paper through digital only tickets and daily magazines.

Reflecting on the achievement, Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director of Hero Dubai Desert Classic said, “This second successive GEO certification is a milestone moment for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Having become the first event in the Middle East and in the DP World Tour’s Rolex Series to have earned this prestigious status, this latest certification emphasises our long-term commitment to create a sustainable golf event. We are delighted that the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is playing a part in Dubai’s wider ambitions of building a greener city for generations to come.”

Many of the sustainability practices from the 35th edition of the HDDC will continue into 2025 alongside new innovations, underscoring the tournament’s commitment to sustainability and climate action. Key achievements from recent events also include:

• 80% of the area between the 11th and 15th holes powered by solar panels and wide use of solar power in the Media Centre
• Park and Plant – charge for parking on site funded the planting of three trees per car
• Achieving a remarkable milestone, the event diverted 100% of waste from landfills (up from 53% the previous year). Dulsco’s effective waste streams resulted in 25% of materials being recycled or composted.
• 5 tonnes of glass recycled – enough energy to power a laptop for 312 days
• Emirates Flights Catering sourced salad greens from Dubai’s largest vertical farm, promoting sustainable food choices.
• Free water refill points have helped divert 120,000 single-use plastic bottles from landfill since 2022 
• High-quality filtered water dispensers provided by Liquid of Life and Al Laith minimised single-use plastic 
• 100% B20 biodiesel used throughout the event, supporting Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 target of using 75% clean energy
• World’s finest golfers transported by an expanded fleet of BMW electric vehicles 
• Credibly offset unavoidable emissions via the Rolex Series portfolio with the Gold Standard, supporting the Central Mozambique safe water programme, alongside local Mangrove ecosystem restoration project
• The Sustainability Corner in Tournament Town hosted environmental activities for all ages, including an Urban Farming workshop
• Digital ticketing and programme to reduce paper waste
• Supported Heroes of Hope, introducing people of determination to golf via organised clinics with the Academy at Emirates Golf Club
• Event partner Aggreko won ‘best sustainability initiative’ award for its involvement in HDDC 2022 and 2023 at Middle East Event Awards June 2023

Jonathan Smith, Founder and Executive Director of GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation, stated: “The team at Hero Dubai Desert Classic continue to press ahead, blending commitment and innovation to integrate sustainable practices across the event—from staging to lasting legacies.  Their efforts are supported by partners and suppliers as well as the host venue, Emirates Golf Club. Our congratulations to the Falcon Golf team for the 2024 event and we look forward to supporting and recognising more groundbreaking strides in the years ahead.”

Last month, the HDDC completed planting 1,750 mangrove trees at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Wildlife Sanctuary, as part of sustainable initiatives for next January’s tournament. The ‘Park and Plant’ scheme was funded by visitor parking fees to help offset the tournament’s carbon emissions.
The HDDC’s successive GEO certifications reflect Dubai’s global leadership in sport and sustainability. Dubai is committed to drive positive environmental change, setting the bar and outlining the path towards a greener future for cities worldwide.

For more information visit: www.dubaidesertclassic.com

About Hero Dubai Desert Classic
The Dubai Desert Classic was founded in 1989 as the first DP World Tour event to take place in the Gulf, and the first and only Geo-certified golf event in the Middle East. Regarded as one of the most significant events on the DP World Tour, and part of the prestigious Rolex Series, it has been credited with paving the way for golf’s presence in the Middle East, as well as creating some of the most iconic moments in golfing history.

Promoted and organised by Falcon and Associates, the tournament played on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club, is fondly referred to as the ‘Major of the Middle East’, due to its legacy and world-class players drawn to the tournament every year.

The tournament is supported by title sponsor, Hero MotoCorp, and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), a founding partner of the Dubai Desert Classic. The 35th edition of the event took place from 18th to 21st January 2024 in Dubai.

To learn more about the tournament, visit www.dubaidesertclassic.com and follow Hero Dubai Desert Classic on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, (@dubaidcgolf), or download the new app (Desert Classic) for all the latest event information.

About GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation
GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation is an international not-for-profit dedicated to helping accelerate sustainability and climate action in and through golf.  Founded 18 years ago as an early pioneer in what has now become the sport and sustainability movement, the Foundation remains entirely focussed on golf across the amateur and professional game, providing advocacy, strategy, innovation, solutions, and credible recognition.

Certification is provided via a comprehensive, ISEAL Code Compliant standards, assurance and impacts system for golf and sustainability.  Operated by GEO Certification, delivered with third party verification, and incorporating detailed monitoring and reporting of impacts across all key aspects of the sustainable golf framework – nature, resources, climate and communities.

About Hero MotoCorp Ltd
The New Delhi (India) headquartered Hero MotoCorp Ltd. is the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles, in terms of unit volumes sold by a single company in a year — the coveted position it has held for the past 21 consecutive years. The Company has sold over 100 million motorcycles and scooters in cumulative sales since its inception. Hero MotoCorp currently sells its products in 43 countries across Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Latin South & Central America. Hero MotoCorp has eight state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, including six in India, and one each in Colombia and Bangladesh. Hero MotoCorp has two world-class, state-of-the-art R&D facilities — the Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in India and Tech Centre Germany (TCG) near Munich. Hero MotoCorp is one of the world’s largest corporate promoters of multiple disciplines of sports, including, Golf, Football, Field Hockey, Cricket and Motorsports. Fifteen-time Major winner Tiger Woods is Hero’s Global Corporate Partner.

About the DP World Tour
The DP World Tour is the main men’s professional golf Tour of the European Tour group.

Our 2024 global schedule features a minimum of 44 tournaments in 24 different countries across three distinct phases of the season: five ‘Global Swings’ from November 2023 to August 2024; the ‘Back 9’ from September 2024 to October 2024; and the ‘DP World Tour Play-Offs’, comprising two consecutive Rolex Series events in November 2024.

Overall, the 2024 season features five Rolex Series events – the premium category of events on the DP World Tour - and four Major Championships, all of which count towards the Race to Dubai Rankings in partnership with Rolex, the Tour’s season-long competition which concludes at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.
DP World, the leading provider of global smart end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions, has been the title partner of the DP World Tour since the start of the 2022 season, the Tour’s 50th season following its formation in 1972.

About the European Tour group
The European Tour group is the overarching corporate brand which administers: the DP World Tour, the Challenge Tour, the Legends Tour and the G4D Tour and, along with the PGA of America, is the Managing Partner of golf’s greatest team contest, the Ryder Cup.

Established in 1972, the European Tour group is committed to ‘Driving Golf Further’ through our guiding principles of being innovative, inclusive and global.

• Innovative: We are driving innovation in golf through the creation of award-winning content, pioneering tournament formats and the use of the latest technology and inventive fan engagement. We are committed to attracting new audiences whilst respecting the tradition of our sport.
• Inclusive: We are committed to include all who share a love for the game of golf. We are passionate about a closer collaboration with the women’s game, golf for the disabled and promoting the many physical and mental health benefits of playing golf.
• Global: Since 1972, players from 38 different countries have won tournaments on our main Tour, while our live broadcast reaches more than 490 million homes in more than 150 countries every week, generating in excess of 2,200 global broadcast hours for each event. We also enjoy the support of many of the world’s leading business brands with DP World, Rolex, BMW, Emirates, Fortinet and Hilton as Official Partners.

The European Tour group has Strategic Alliances with the PGA TOUR, the Sunshine Tour and Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia. Those Strategic Alliances, combined with partnerships with the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO), the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA), and the TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India, provide global pathways for players from across the world to compete internationally on the DP World Tour, the main men’s professional golf Tour of the European Tour group.

We ensure we have a positive long-term impact on the courses, countries and the communities we visit through ‘Golf for Good’, the umbrella name for the European Tour group’s commitment to ‘Driving Golf Further’ in an environmentally and socially sustainable way.

About the Rolex Series
The Rolex Series is the premium category of events on the DP World Tour, comprising five tournaments in 2024, staged in a variety of world-class golfing locations around the globe, each with a minimum prize fund of US$9 million.

Showcasing innovation, enriched media, content and broadcast coverage, and a superior event experience for both fans and for the world’s top players, the list of Rolex Series Champions includes some of golf’s most distinguished names.

The Rolex Series was launched in 2017, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Rolex’s enduring partnership with the European Tour group.

In 2024, the Rolex Series comprises; the Hero Dubai Desert Classic (January 18-21), the Genesis Scottish Open (July 11-14) the BMW PGA Championship (September 19-22), the Abu Dhabi Championship (November 7-10) and the DP World Tour Championship (November 14-17). The latter two events comprise the DP World Tour Play-Offs and feature the leading 70 and 50 players from the Race to Dubai respectively.