Fitzpatrick questions Dubai defence over safety fears
Matt Fitzpatrick may not defend his DP World Tour Championship title in Dubai in November because he does not feel safe travelling to the United Arab Emirates.
The world No. 4 said he is not "100% comfortable" going to Dubai for the season-ending event. He said he is concerned the UAE could be a target in the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel BBC.
Fitzpatrick won the tournament last year at Jumeirah Golf Estates. He said a hotel where he had dinner during that winning week was hit earlier in 2026, which sharpened his worry.
Speaking at Wentworth during the week of the DP World Tour's flagship PGA Championship, the Englishman admitted reservations about both end-of-season events in the region: the Abu Dhabi Championship, due to start on 5 November, and the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai the following week The Guardian.
He said moving the tournaments to a different host country would be a "no brainer, in my opinion". He accused the Tour of being "very vague" over its plans and said he did not think his viewpoint would be heeded.
Fitzpatrick added that his management was told in April that the Tour would make a decision on the UAE events by June. He also pointed to wider disruption in sport, with the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Formula One races called off in 2026 because of the Iran war.
Tour officials led by chief executive Guy Kinnings are assessing safety for the final two play-off events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. A spokesperson said it remains the Tour's intention to play them as scheduled in the UAE while continuing to monitor the situation and taking advice from international travel advisors BBC.
The spokesperson added the Tour is in constant dialogue with members and their management teams, but individual schedule choices are for players to decide. Shane Lowry said the Tour faces huge decisions over how to end the season.
Turkey, Spain and Portugal have been considered as contingency venues for the play-offs. Fitzpatrick, who said he had a child in August, also noted he still needs to qualify for Dubai.
For fans, this means the defence of one of the Tour's biggest titles is in doubt. A defending champion missing the finale would change the field, the race for the season title and the feel of the final Sunday.
