MENA Golf Tour confirms exemption categories for 2026/27 season

The MENA Golf Tour has confirmed the full list of exemption categories for the 2026/27 season, setting out how players can earn their place on a Tour that is opening up more routes to competition than ever before.

The leading 40 players from the final 2026 MENA Golf Tour Rankings will be exempt for every tournament next season.

For everyone else, the route is just as clear. Any player wishing to guarantee a place in all of next season's events should enter one of the Tour's Qualifying Schools.

The inaugural US Qualifying School at the Slammer & Squire course at World Golf Village in Florida has already been announced, with a European Qualifying School to be staged in October.

The leading 10 players at each Qualifying School will earn a category guaranteeing entry into every 2026/27 tournament, with those finishing 11th to 20th, and ties for 20th, securing further playing rights across the season.

The Tour proved its worth to players at various stages of their careers last season.

The UAE’s Ahmad Skaik took his first steps in the professional game on the MENA Golf Tour, turning professional for the season opener in Portugal in November, while Chris Wood gained the vital competitive golf he needed on his route back towards the top of the game, going on to win the season-long Rankings to earn immediate promotion to the HotelPlanner Tour.

"We have already had a strong response from players and managers following the launch of our US Qualifying School, and confirming the full exemption categories now gives everyone the clarity they need to plan their season," said Keith Waters, Chairman and Commissioner of the MENA Golf Tour.

"The picture is simple. The leading 40 players from this season are exempt, and anyone else who wants to lock in their place across all of next season's events should enter one of our Qualifying Schools. With a school already confirmed in the United States and another in Europe in October, players have clear opportunities to earn their card, and we would encourage everyone weighing up their status to take one of them," added Waters.

The full list of exemption categories for the 2026/27 season is set out below.

MENA Golf Tour categories for the 2026/27 season:

• Category 1: All winners of MENA Golf Tour tournaments in 2025 and 2026.
• Category 2: The leading 40 Members on the Final 2026 MENA Golf Tour Rankings.
• Category 3: The leading 10 players at both the 2026 MENA Golf Tour US and European Qualifying Schools. There will be a play-off to determine the leading 10 players if there is a tie for 10th place.
• Category 4: MENA Golf Tour tournament invitations (maximum of 15 players per tournament). If an invited player wins a MENA Golf Tour tournament, they are eligible to join the MENA Golf Tour after their victory and will be moved into Category 1, and their victory will count towards the 2026/2027 MENA Golf Tour Rankings.
• Category 5: Host Venue Country invitations for leading Amateurs. A maximum of 8 of the leading amateurs from a Host Venue Country as determined by the National Federation of the Host Venue Country in consultation with the MENA Golf Tour. If an invited player wins a MENA Golf Tour tournament, they are eligible to join the MENA Golf Tour after their victory and will be moved into Category 1, and their victory will count towards the 2026/2027 MENA Golf Tour Rankings.
• Category 6: Host Venue Country invitations for professionals. A maximum of 5 professionals from a Host Venue Country as determined by the National Federation or PGA of the Host Venue Country in consultation with the MENA Golf Tour. If an invited player wins a MENA Golf Tour tournament, they are eligible to join the MENA Golf Tour after their victory and will be moved into Category 1, and their victory will count towards the 2026/2027 MENA Golf Tour Rankings.
• Category 7: Any member of the Hotel Planner Tour in the 2025 Categories 1 to 15.
• Category 8: Any member of the Asian Tour in the 2025 Categories 1 to 10.
• Category 9: The leading 30 players from EACH of the following Official World Golf Ranking ('OWGR') tours:
  • CLUTCH Pro Tour (Tier 1)
  • ALPS Tour Golf
  • NORDIC Golf League
  • PROGOLF Tour
  • TARTAN Tour
  • ASIAN Development Tour
  • ALL THAILAND Golf Tour
  • Gira de Golf Profesional Mexicana Tour
  • GProTour

The leading 30 players from EACH of these tours are determined by their respective tour's order of merit.

• Category 10: Players finishing in 41st to 70th place in the Final 2025/2026 MENA Golf Tour Rankings.
• Category 11: Players who played in the 2026 MENA Golf Tour US and French Qualifying School finishing in 11th to 20th and those tied for 20th place.
• Category 12: Players finishing in 71st place and below in the Final 2025/2026 MENA Golf Tour Rankings.
• Category 13: Players who competed in one of the MENA Golf Tour Q Schools in 2026 and 2025.