Hero Dubai Desert Classic inspires schoolkids in Dallah Trophy tour

The Hero Dubai Desert Classic (HDDC) is taking the tournament’s iconic Dallah Trophy on a week-long tour of Dubai’s schools in the lead up to the tournament which starts on Thursday.

The trophy tour kicked off on Monday, January 13 at Sunmarke School where pupils were also treated to a golf taster lesson and a special surprise visit from DP World Tour player, Shubhankar Sharma.

The history of the HDDC and its iconic trophy, which is based on a traditional Arabian Peninsula coffee pot (or Dallah), was introduced by Sharma, who became the youngest Indian to win on the European Tour - by more than six years - when he claimed the tri-sanctioned Joburg Open title in December 2017 as a 21-year-old.

The HDDC is the oldest golf tournament in the Middle East, and the school visits are the latest step in the tournament's ongoing efforts to growing the game at the grass roots level and inspiring the next generation of golfers.

The initiative is held in partnership with The R&A’s Unleash Your Drive in Schools Programme, which is led and managed locally by Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) to encourage schools to implement golf into their curriculum by highlighting it as a fun and un-intimidating sport.

Executive Tournament Director of HDDC, Simon Corkill said: “This week’s Dallah Trophy tour across Dubai’s schools, and the golf taster sessions, are central to our ongoing efforts to growing the game at the grass roots level and nurturing the golfers of tomorrow.”

Shubhankar Sharma said: “It was great to see all the kids trying golf and having fun. I am really proud and happy to be part of this great initiative.”

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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 will feature a world-class field with a host of star names, including Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland.