UAE’s Top Amateur Ahmad Skaik Turns Professional at PGA Aroeira Challenge in Portugal

Ahmad Skaik, the UAE’s most decorated amateur golfer, will make his professional debut at the PGA Aroeira Challenge this week (25-27 November) as the MENA Golf Tour launches its 2025-26 season. The 12-event season offers $100,000 prize funds and Official World Golf Ranking points, drawing a competitive field of established players and rising stars.

Skaik, who recently won gold at the 2025 GCC Golf Championship, has chosen the Tour’s relaunch as the perfect stage to begin his professional career. He arrives in Portugal with strong recent form, including a 13th-place finish at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Emirates Golf Club, where he spent much of the tournament inside the top ten.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I always wanted to turn pro, but I just waited for the Asia-Pacific Championship,” Skaik said. “That performance showed me I’m ready. I’ve had a good season, some solid finishes, and a win. My game is coming together, and it’s great to have this as my first professional event.”

The timing aligns perfectly with Skaik’s ambitions, as the MENA Golf Tour provides competitive opportunities across the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. “More tournaments close to home mean more chances to compete, which is exciting,” he added. Skaik is also preparing for the final stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School, aiming to finish in the top 35 to secure his Tour card.

Skaik faces stiff competition from Chris Wood, who dominated last week’s Q School at Troia with a six-stroke victory. The former Ryder Cup star and three-time DP World Tour winner carded rounds of 66-72-72 to finish six-under-par, displaying the form and mental resilience that have marked his return to competitive golf.

Other Q School graduates, including Scotland’s Sebastian Sandin, England’s Will Marshall, and France’s Nicolas Calvet, finished tied-second and earned Category 3 Tour cards. Their strong performances in challenging conditions at Troia set the stage for a highly competitive season.

The field also includes seasoned professionals such as France’s Sébastien Gros, a former two-time winner on the HotelPlanner Tour in 2015, adding further depth to the opening event.

PGA Aroeira Golf Club presents a new challenge, with recent rainfall softening fairways and increasing course length. “It’s a tight course, the fairways are soft, and it’s playing a bit long,” Skaik said after a practice round. “It’s a good test, and I’m excited to challenge myself.”

For Skaik, who has represented the UAE in multiple World Amateur Team Championships and the Nomura Cup, turning professional is a natural next step. “It’s not extra pressure. I just play my game and focus on the next shot. Everything else is a bonus,” he said.

The PGA Aroeira Challenge is the first of back-to-back Portuguese events, followed by the Rolear Algarve Classic at Amendoeira (2-4 December). The Tour then moves to Egypt for four events in January and February, and later to Morocco for a mid-season Q-Sprint (22-23 February), offering players opportunities to join the Tour or improve their category.

With guaranteed prize funds, rapid payouts, and OWGR points available throughout the season, the MENA Golf Tour continues to provide a clear pathway for emerging and established professionals alike. For Ahmad Skaik, it marks the start of his professional journey; for Chris Wood, a chance to rebuild; and for many others, a step toward golf’s biggest stages.