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How much? Here’s the Dubai Desert Classic prize money 2025

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See the full purse breakdown at Emirates Golf Club

Rory McIlroy

Founded in 1989, the Dubai Desert Classic is one of the staple events on the DP World Tour schedule. It was the first European Tour event on the Arabian Peninsula and its influence has helped pave the way for golf in the Middle East.

This prestigious event has been won by some of golf’s biggest names since its inception, including major winners Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els, Tiger Woods, Henrik Stenson, Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, and Bryson DeChambeau.

Part of the Rolex Series, the tournament offers one of the largest prize pots of the regular DP World Tour season, meaning it regularly attracts some of the world’s best players competing on the European circuit. In 2025, this includes McIlroy, as well as Patrick Reed, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, and Tyrrell Hatton.

Dubai Desert Classic

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Hero Dubai Desert Classic prize money 2025

The total purse for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is $9 million. McIlroy pocketed the $1,530,000 in 2024, from the same prize purse, by one shot from Adrian Meronk with Cameron Young of America back in third.

This has been the prize fund for the last two years now so while we await the official figure for this year’s event, you might assume the winner will take home $1,530,000 again.

The event was first established in 1989 and won by Mark James. In the modern era, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is what’s called a Rolex Series event and it is the first one of the 2025 season.

The Rolex Series is an initiative designed to increase prize funds for the DP World Tour membership and to attract better fields to the more prestigious tournaments on the ‘Old World’ circuit.

There are five Rolex Series events in 2025 and are the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the Genesis Scottish Open, the BMW PGA Championship, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the DP World Tour Championship. The last two events make up the DP World Tour Playoffs and the finale of the season.

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The first four Rolex Series events listed have $9 million but the DP World Tour Championship, which features the top 50 players in the Race to Dubai rankings, has a $10 million purse.

Below we have the payouts of the previous five renewals of the historic event:

Vic Open betting tips

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Dubai Desert Classic prize money

2024

Purse: $9,000,000
Winner: $1,530,000 (Rory McIlroy)

2023

Purse: $9,000,000
Winner: $1,530,000 (Rory McIlroy)

2022

Purse: $8,000,000
Winner: $1,333,330 (Viktor Hovland)

2021

Purse: $3,250,000
Winner: $528,514 (Paul Casey)

2020

Purse: $3,250,000
Winner: $541,660 (Lucas Herbert)

2019

Purse: $3,250,000
Winner: $541,660 (Bryson DeChambeau)

2018

Purse: $3,000,000
Winner: $500,100 (Li Haotong)

2017

Purse: $2,650,000
Winner: $441,755 (Sergio Garcia)

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About the author

Matt Chivers
Matt Chivers

Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as the Masters, The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to many of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cleveland HiBore XL Driver driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, Benross BR-Pro irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.

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