Matt Fitzpatrick has voiced clear reservations about travelling to the DP World Tour’s high-stakes November playoffs in the UAE, citing the ongoing Iran war, a recent missile strike on a Dubai hotel, and his new responsibilities as a father.
The Englishman, world No. 4 and defending champion of the DP World Tour Championship, spoke at Wentworth ahead of the BMW PGA Championship. “Being completely honest as things stand right now, I would say I’m not that comfortable. No, I wouldn’t be that comfortable,” he said.
A child born in August “kind of changes things a bit more.”
The two Rolex Series events — the Abu Dhabi Championship (November 5-8 at Yas Links) and the DP World Tour Championship (November 12-15 at Jumeirah Golf Estates) — carry combined prize money approaching $19 million and close the Race to Dubai. They remain on the schedule, though the Tour has said it is monitoring the situation and taking advice from authorities and travel specialists.
Contingency venues in Turkey, Spain and Portugal have been discussed.
Fitzpatrick described Tour communication as “very vague.” Players were told a decision would come by June; none has. He understands the complexity but called the delay frustrating for planning. He also noted reports that Formula 1 may rethink the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after earlier cancellations in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
“That begs the question, would we?” he asked.
A personal detail sharpened his concern. During the week of his 2025 Dubai win he dined at a hotel on The Palm later damaged by an Iranian missile.
“That’s obviously very scary,” he told the BBC. He does not believe his view will carry much weight with decisionmakers, “I’m not paid to do that.”
Some fellow players share the unease; others say they will follow the Tour if it deems the events safe.
Shane Lowry said he has other options if the dates move.
“They are huge decisions for everyone. You know, for obviously the Tour, for Dubai itself, for Abu Dhabi,” said Lowry. “And I’m not going to sit here and comment on the whole thing because I think it’s up to the powers above to kind of sort that all out.
“I think if the tournaments are on, the players are going to go. And if they are not, they will find an alternative.
“Fortunately enough, I’m in a position that if they are not on in November or January, I’ve got options.”
Tommy Fleetwood, who has a home in the UAE, struck a more settled note after spending two weeks at home following Atlanta.
“Well, I think all the preparations for those tournaments to go ahead, said Fleetwood. “And I think our plans and hopes are that we’ll be in the Middle East at the end of the year.
“I’m not someone that is going to be up to date on world politics and what’s going on. But I’ve just been there for two weeks. I went home after Atlanta.
“You know, as much as my knowledge, which kind of over the last two weeks has been school run and some practice, it’s fine in both of those cases. The school run has been fine and the driving range has been good. There’s been nothing happening on those.
“I think everybody’s their own person, and I think that everybody kind of makes their own decisions of how they feel and what’s going on. I can’t be someone that knows what’s going to happen in the future or knows worldly thinking or what’s going on but from my own experience at home, it was great to go home for the last few weeks for some of us that live there.”
The war, which intensified after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, has already disrupted Gulf sport. Missiles and drones have struck the UAE, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. Lower-tier tours postponed or relocated UAE events earlier in the year. Tourism and air traffic in the region have fallen sharply.
The uncertainty extends into January 2027. The Hero Dubai Desert Classic (January 21-24, another Rolex Series event with a $9 million purse) and surrounding tournaments in Dubai, Bahrain and Qatar form a lucrative early-season block. If the security picture does not improve, those dates could also come under review.
The events matter commercially. Host cities and title sponsor DP World value the visibility and visitor spend. Relocating them would be costly and politically sensitive. Yet player welfare, insurance, and government travel advice remain live issues.
Fitzpatrick’s comments, coming from a multiple winner of the finale, add public pressure at a moment when the European tour still has no firm announcement.
Things can change quickly, Fitzpatrick acknowledged. UK travel advice has eased slightly from “essential travel only.” If the Tour proceeds, he expects it will do so with the best available security advice. For now, however, the defending champion is not keen to go.
The next weeks will show whether the big-money Middle East swing survives the conflict or is forced to move.
Timeline and current status
Early January–February 2026
The early-season Middle East swing took place as planned: the Dubai Invitational, Hero Dubai Desert Classic (Rolex Series), Bahrain Championship and Qatar Masters. These events finished before the war began.
February 28 2026
The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. Iran responded with missiles and drones across the Gulf. That same day an Iranian missile struck the Fairmont The Palm hotel on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, causing a fire and injuries. Debris from interceptions also affected other sites in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The conflict has continued since.
March–September 2026
Feeder tours postponed or moved UAE events originally scheduled for April. Airlines have repeatedly adjusted or suspended routes. Formula 1 cancelled races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
September 16 2026
The DP World Tour said: “As far as our playoffs are concerned, it remains our intention to play as scheduled in the UAE but we continue to monitor the situation and take advice from our international travel advisors.”
The same day it published its 2027 schedule, which still lists the January 2027 Middle East events and the November 2027 play-offs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The Events in Question
November 2026 Playoffs
- Abu Dhabi Championship, November 5–8, Yas Links, Rolex Series, UAE.
- DP World Tour Championship, November 12–15, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Rolex Series (combined prize money approaching $19 million), UAE.
- Status: Tour intends to play as scheduled while monitoring security. Contingency venues have been discussed. No relocation announced.
January 2027 Swing
- Team Cup, January 15-17, Abu Dhabi Resort, UAE
- Hero Dubai Desert Classic, January 21-24, Emirates GC, Rolex Series, UAE
- Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, January 28-31, Royal GC, Bahrain
- Qatar Masters, February 3-6, Doha GC, Qatar
- Status: Listed on the newly published 2027 calendar.
Fitzpatrick noted that UK travel advice has eased slightly from “essential travel only.” The November events remain the immediate test: commercially vital to the UAE and title sponsor DP World, yet still without a final locked-in confirmation while the war continues.
