The DP World Tour had a memorable evening at the annual Middle East Sport Industry Awards last night, picking up the Award for Major Global Sport Event of the Year at the region’s flagship awards for the sports industry.
The DP World Tour collected the Award for the 2025 DP World Tour Championship. The Major Global Sport Event of the Year category celebrates standout major sporting events held in the Middle East that have demonstrated excellence in execution, impact, and legacy. The 2025 DP World Tour Championship attracted the highest ever number of spectators for a golf tournament in the UAE, who watched England’s Matt Fitzpatrick beat Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy to the title after a dramatic play-off. The tournament rolled-out new staging innovations to enhance the fan experience, such as a ‘Magic Sky’ roof on the 1st tee, and delivered $60m in additional economic impact. Over 30% of ticket purchasers were international visitors, confirming that the Rolex Series event drives significant international tourism to Dubai.
The tournament also continued its leadership in sustainability, with the Earth Lounge – a hospitality unit powered by hydrogen and made from sustainable materials, returning to the 16th hole. The tournament also hosted the second edition of the Tour’s Supplier Sustainability Awards, with a ceremony acknowledging sustainability innovations across the Tour’s global schedule.
It was a back-to-back victory for the tournament, after it collected the Award in the same category last year. The DP World Tour also received the Highly Commended accolade in the Sports Organisation of the Year category, after a memorable 2025 that saw a record 163,000 spectators attend the final two UAE based Play-off events, and strong growth in sponsorship income and TV viewership across the season.
Established in 2012, the Middle East Sports Industry Awards (SPIA), supported by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, is an official celebration of the leaders, decision-makers, organisations, facilities and campaigns that have contributed to the development of sports in the region.
Speaking about the award win Freddie Shmeisser, Managing Director, Tournament and Operations, Middle East at the DP World Tour, said: “We are delighted to be recognised for the second time running as the Major Sport Event of the Year in the region. Being awarded prestigious industry awards in areas such as tournament staging, sponsorship activation, digital content and sustainability validates our ongoing commitment to be one of the most innovative rights holders in sport. As our season finale and one of our five Rolex Series events, the eyes of the golfing world descend on the DP World Tour Championship each November and we were proud to deliver another memorable tournament last year – aided by two Ryder Cup stars battling it out down the stretch. We would also like to thank all those who attended as well as our Title Partner DP World, and all of our various partners and suppliers for helping us to deliver another world-class event that ultimately leaves a positive legacy within UAE and the local community.”
