Aqaba, Sept 4 (Petra) – The 34th Jordan Open Golf Championship teed off Thursday at Ayla Golf Club in Aqaba, drawing more than 100 players from 20 countries in an event that organizers say underscores the Red Sea city’s growing profile as a hub for sport and tourism.
Held under the patronage of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), the tournament is jointly organized by Ayla Oasis Development Company, ASEZA, and the Jordan Golf Federation, with support from the Jordan Olympic Committee and the Arab Golf Federation.
Competitors from across the Middle East, Europe and Asia – including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and Lebanon – are taking part in the four-day championship, which runs through Sept. 6.
“This championship is another milestone in Aqaba’s journey to becoming a global sports destination,” said ASEZA chief commissioner Shadi Ramzi Al-Majali, noting that the event boosts hotel occupancy, stimulates the local economy, and highlights Jordan’s capacity to host world-class sporting events.
Sahl Dudin, CEO of Ayla Oasis, described the tournament as a “true reflection of Ayla’s vision for sustainable development through sport,” pointing to Aqaba’s advanced infrastructure and natural setting as drivers of its international appeal.
Jordan Golf Federation vice president Nasser Al-Shoumeli stressed that the event counts toward the World Amateur Golf Ranking, offering local and regional players a platform to make their mark internationally. Tournament director Alaa Barakat said the surge in registrations this year signals “growing confidence in Jordan as a prime venue for global sporting events.”
Alongside the competition, Ayla is hosting a series of cultural and eco-tourism activities, including the “Ayla Bird Trail,” designed to showcase the integration of sport, nature, and sustainability across the resort’s lagoons and landscaped green spaces.
Organizers say the championship, followed by thousands of golf fans worldwide, reinforces Aqaba’s ambition to position itself as a regional center for niche sports and high-value tourism.
//Petra// AA
04/09/2025 22:15:22
