Kuwait is a small oil rich country, with a relatively short history… its earliest inhabitants arriving in the 16th century. Despite the diminutive meaning of its Arabic name – fortress built near water – Kuwait was invaded by Iraq in 1990. Defeated and retreating Iraqi troops set fire to Kuwaiti oil wells which took 9 months to extinguish costing more than $5b in repairs.

Consisting mainly of desert, Kuwait is the only country in the world that has no natural water supply from either lakes or reservoirs. Not an ideal golfing country then?

Well, you may be surprised to hear that Kuwait now has its first grass course which opened its tees for play in September 2005. The 6,730-yard Sahara Golf & Country Club course was fashioned by Peter Harradine and it’s undoubtedly Kuwait’s current premier course, but company is arriving in the shape of a 27-hole facility at Kuwait International Golf & Country Club, where nine hole are now in play.

Our Middle East rankings were last updated in February 2017. Click the link to read the story.