Omar Hisham Talaat, President of the Egyptian Golf Federation, said the return of the Egyptian Open for Professionals, after a 15-year hiatus, marks a pivotal moment for modern Egyptian golf. It preserves the oldest professional golf tournament in the Middle East and one of the world’s most historic championships.
The 104-year-old tournament is a fundamental part of Egyptian sports history. Competition for the 2025 Egyptian Open began on Wednesday, at Madinaty Golf Club. It runs until next Saturday, with unprecedented participation from nearly 115 players representing 35 countries.
Omar Hisham Talaat noted this tournament is part of a series of international events organised by the Federation. This began with the Egyptian International Amateur Championship at Dreamland Golf Course, followed by the Egyptian International Junior and Ladies Championship at New Giza Golf Course.
Next week, the first Red Sea International Professional Championship, part of the Egypt Golf Tour series, will be held at Sokhna Golf Club. These tournaments were preceded by hosting the Arab Junior and Ladies Championship, marking five major regional and international tournaments organised within the first year of his tenure.
The head of the Golf Federation said the board was keen to host these tournaments at different courses. This aims to promote Egyptian golf tourism and highlight the diversity of Egyptian courses. It also showcases Egypt’s capabilities to organise and host major international tournaments.
Omar Hisham Talaat explained a significant expansion in partnerships with major entities across sectors, especially media. Collaboration with the “On Sports” network, sponsored by United Sports Company, aims to maximise opportunities for promoting Egyptian tourism through golf. Live broadcasts of these major tournaments will showcase
Egypt’s diverse golf courses and tourist destinations. This highlights Egypt’s capabilities and ability to impress, solidifying its position as a leading tourist destination offering unique diverse programmes. Visitors can enjoy golf, history, cultural, recreational, and beach tourism.
The President of the Golf Federation affirmed that media focus is part of the board’s strategy to spread and promote the game. There was strong commitment to broadcasting recent events live across various digital platforms to achieve domestic and international reach. This was successful, with viewership nearing one million in just two weeks, indicating golf is attracting attention and public and media interest beyond the golf community.
Omar Hisham Talaat added that the Federation’s focus on promotion goes hand-in-hand with its sports agenda. This includes developing players, enhancing their capabilities, and helping them achieve international recognition. With an increase in international tournaments in Egypt, players will have more opportunities for strong competition with foreign professionals.
This will naturally raise their aspirations to reach elite levels. The Federation aims to provide participation opportunities for all categories, including the national team (which has priority), professionals, and talented juniors.
The current Egyptian International Open includes three players under 18 among 10 Egyptians: Alaa El-Din Salama, Abdel Rahman El-Defrawy, and Omar Youssry. Their participation in such an event would not have been possible had it not been held in Egypt.
