UAE Role Model Skaik Joins Pro Ranks

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Ahmad Skaik, a United Arab Emirates national team standout, has turned professional, marking the next chapter in one of the most successful amateur careers in Emirati golf history.

Skaik, aged 28, has signed off from the amateur ranks on the back of a strong performance at last month’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Emirates Golf Club, where he finished 13th in a world-class field, having spent much of the week inside the top-10 before closing at seven-under-par for the championship.

That result capped a decade of service to the UAE, during which the left-hander established himself as the country’s leading amateur player and a standard-bearer for the national team. His highlights include:

·       Individual Gold Medal at the 2025 GCC Golf Championship in Saudi Arabia, where he posted rounds of 67-69-66-68 for a record-breaking 18-under total and the largest winning margin in the championship’s history.

·       Six appearances at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, representing the UAE across Asia and the Pacific.

·       Representation of the UAE in major regional and international team events, including the GCC Golf Championships, World Amateur Team Championship (Eisenhower Trophy) and the Nomura Cup, as well as invitations to DP World Tour events on home soil and abroad.

·       A long-standing presence in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), with multiple victories and dozens of top-10 finishes worldwide.

Away from the scorecards, Skaik has become a role model for young Emirati golfers, known for his work ethic, humility and commitment to building a lasting legacy for UAE golf.

Skaik will make his professional debut this week on the MENA Golf Tour in Portugal, the first of two early starts as he transitions into the paid ranks. Following these events, he will travel to Thailand to compete at Asian Tour Qualifying School, as he looks to secure full playing status in Asia and begin building his career on the international stage.

Skaik said: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved as a team over the last few years, but I feel ready for this next step. The support from my family, the Emirates Golf Federation and everyone in UAE golfing community has meant everything to me. My goal now is to represent the UAE at the highest level in professional golf.”

On behalf of the Emirates Golf Federation, General Abdulla Al-Hashmi said: “Ahmad’s journey from junior golf to becoming our leading amateur and now a professional is a landmark moment for UAE golf. His performances, particularly his historic gold medal at the GCC Championship and his recent finish at the Asia-Pacific Amateur, have inspired a new generation of Emirati golfers.

"We are immensely proud of him and will continue to support him as he steps onto the professional stage.”