Saadiyat Beach Golf Club remains the only golf course in the country to hold Audubon Certified Cooperative Sanctuary status, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and wildlife conservation
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, one of Abu Dhabi’s leading golf destinations, has successfully retained its designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary following its latest recertification by Audubon International.
The achievement sees the Aldar-owned golf club maintain its position as the only golf course in the United Arab Emirates to hold the prestigious certification, recognising its continued commitment to environmental stewardship, wildlife conservation, and responsible golf course management.
Situated along the coastline of Saadiyat Island, the championship golf course demonstrates how golf and environmental conservation can coexist. Its distinctive setting is home to a diverse range of indigenous wildlife, including free-roaming gazelles and numerous bird species, making the protection of natural habitats a central part of its operations.
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses recognises facilities that demonstrate high standards of environmental management across six key areas: environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, outreach and education, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation, and water quality management.
Following a comprehensive recertification process, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club has once again demonstrated its dedication to these principles, highlighting the work undertaken by its course maintenance team to protect the surrounding environment while delivering championship playing conditions.
Water conservation remains a particular priority at the facility, which transitioned to using 100% treated effluent water for irrigation in 2020, reducing its reliance on freshwater resources while maintaining high-quality playing conditions in Abu Dhabi’s demanding climate.
The club’s environmental initiatives also extend to the protection of its surrounding ecosystem, with ongoing efforts to preserve wildlife habitats and support biodiversity across the property. This includes its involvement in Winged Horizons, a conservation project launched by Miral in partnership with the Mohamed bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund and Aldar Education. Students from local schools helped install nest boxes for kestrels and barn owls across Aldar’s three golf courses, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Yas Links Abu Dhabi and Yas Acres Golf & Country Club, providing safe nesting habitats while engaging young people in wildlife conservation.
Corey Finn, Golf Course Superintendent at Viya, said: “Retaining this certification is a significant achievement for the entire team and reflects the work that goes into managing the course responsibly every day.
“Operating a golf course in this environment comes with unique challenges, particularly when it comes to water management and protecting the surrounding wildlife. Our aim has always been to deliver exceptional playing conditions while ensuring we are doing everything possible to safeguard the natural environment around us.”
The recertification follows an on-site assessment by Audubon International, which commended Saadiyat Beach Golf Club for its continued efforts to minimise its environmental footprint, enhance wildlife habitats and protect environmental quality.
Karl Whitehead, General Manager at Viya, added: “This recognition is a source of great pride for everyone involved with Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Viya.
“As the only golf course in the UAE to hold this certification, Saadiyat has an important role to play in demonstrating how environmental responsibility can be integrated into the management of a world-class golf facility. Retaining this status reflects the team’s dedication and our continued commitment to more sustainable golf operations.”
The achievement further reinforces Viya’s and Aldar’s commitment to responsible course management across its portfolio, highlighting the importance of balancing world-class golf experiences with the protection of natural resources and local ecosystems.
The recertification reflects Aldar’s wider commitment to protecting nature across its portfolio and the rich biodiversity of Saadiyat Island in particular. Aldar works with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and Emirates Nature–WWF to support the long-term protection of the island’s marine and coastal habitats, including through conservation work in Saadiyat Marine National Park. These efforts form part of Aldar’s broader approach to integrating biodiversity considerations into planning, development and operations.
As environmental sustainability continues to shape the future of the golf industry, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club’s recertification demonstrates the role golf facilities can play in protecting biodiversity and supporting responsible land and water management.
About Aldar
Aldar is the leading real estate developer, manager, and investor in Abu Dhabi, with a growing presence across the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East North Africa, and Europe.
The company has two core business segments, Aldar Development and Aldar Investment. Aldar Development is a master developer of a 76 million sqm strategic landbank, creating integrated and thriving communities across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah’s most desirable destinations. The delivery of Aldar’s developments is managed by Aldar Projects, which is also a key partner of the Abu Dhabi government in delivering housing and infrastructure projects across the UAE’s capital. Internationally, Aldar Development wholly owns UK real estate developer London Square, as well as a majority stake in leading Egyptian real estate development company, SODIC.
Aldar Investment houses a core asset management business comprising a portfolio of more than AED 56 billion worth of investment grade and income-generating real estate assets diversified across retail, residential, commercial, logistics, and hospitality segments. It manages four core platforms: Aldar Investment Properties, Aldar Hospitality, Aldar Education, and Aldar Estates.
For more information on Aldar, please visit www.aldar.com
About Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
Owned by Aldar and managed by Viya, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is a luxury beachfront golf destination where championship design meets coastal serenity. As the UAE’s first Audubon-certified course, it reflects a deep commitment to sustainability and the preservation of natural beauty. Set along the shores of the Arabian Gulf, it offers a relaxed, yet refined golf experience surrounded by panoramic sea views and resort-style hospitality, making it one of the UAE’s most scenic and sustainable golfing venues.
For more information, visit:
- Website: www.viyagolf.com/sbgc
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/saadiyatbeachgolfclub
About Viya
Viya is the UAE’s leading golf and hospitality management group, operating a portfolio of championship golf courses, award-winning restaurants, premium leisure and recreation facilities, innovative entertainment concepts, and digital platforms. Since launching Emirates Golf Club in 1988, the region’s first all-grass course, the group has expanded to include Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Yas Links Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Yas Acres Golf & Country Club, Topgolf Dubai, Tiger Strikes, and recreation brands such as Viya Fit and Viya Padel.
As part of wasl Hospitality & Leisure, Viya is recognised as a guardian of golfing heritage and a leader in modern hospitality. Its operations are underpinned by the Viya App, a loyalty-driven platform that integrates bookings, rewards, and spendable benefits across the portfolio. Dedicated to innovation, sustainability, and excellence, Viya connects communities to extraordinary experiences and continues to shape Dubai and the UAE as global destinations for sport, leisure, and lifestyle.
For more information, visit:
- Website: www.dubaigolf.com | www.viyagolf.com | www.viya.ae
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viyagolfexperience
About Audubon International
Audubon International is a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing environmental stewardship and sustainable practices through education and certification programmes. It helps organisations protect natural resources, enhance wildlife habitats and improve their environmental performance.
Through its Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, Audubon International supports golf facilities in adopting responsible environmental management practices. The programme covers environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, water conservation, water quality management, chemical use reduction and safety, and outreach and education. Golf courses that meet its requirements achieve designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, with recertification required every three years.
For more information, visit:
- Website: www.auduboninternational.org
