Spanish golfer Adri Arnaus has called Dubai home for the past three years. Rick Bevan sat down with him at his Marina apartment to talk about life off the course, finding balance, and his new sponsorship with Goldstream Global.
Rick Bevan: Adri, what is it about Dubai that makes it the right base for you and your wife, Christina?
Adri Arnaus: We’re both very happy here because we’ve created a bit of a community. People are really nice, and we can enjoy a few activities together. We have the padel court, the gym, the pool, and it’s close enough to the airport and to where I practise. It ticks many boxes. It’s been a wonderful three years.
RB: What does a typical non-tournament day look like when you’re at home?
AA: First, I need a lot of sleep to catch up and get back into the right time zone. Then I try to spend time with Christina doing activities that keep us in shape. We go to the gym a lot – sometimes our own, sometimes an external one. Once I feel recharged, I start practising at Emirates Golf Club, which is definitely my favourite place.
RB: Where might we find you when you’re not on the course?
AA: We love walking around the Marina, although right now it’s very hot. I also enjoy spending time with one of our neighbour’s dogs, because I miss mine back in Barcelona a lot. Christina and I also like to go out to eat. We go to Lénya, where we got engaged, or the Smoked Room inside Lénya. And we also love Sushi Samba at the St. Regis on the Palm.
RB: Has the Dubai golf community helped you settle in?
AA: Yes, for sure. At the beginning, I missed Barcelona and all my friends there. But now, after five years, I feel very welcome here. People are supportive and have become my friends too. It’s reached a point where I want to practise here all the time. Even in summer, the facilities are amazing. Joining Emirates Golf Club has been important – it gives me a platform to keep improving.
RB: Can you tell us more about how becoming a member there has helped you?
AA: It’s been a really good decision. I’ve always loved the course and the facilities. Now I can play it as much as I want, and that’s helped me a lot. Playing more has been key for me, and being able to do it at one of my favourite courses makes a big difference.
RB: You’ve described Tour life as a bit of a rollercoaster. How do you balance the ups and downs?
AA: I try to be transparent and positive, no matter what. The balance is doing the best you can wherever you are. At home, you enjoy what you have, and when you travel, you try to make the best of it too. It’s about taking the positives.
RB: You’ve said before you don’t want to stay on the HotelPlanner Tour forever. How do you stay focused on the bigger picture?
AA: The HotelPlanner Tour is very strong. You have to be on your A-game pretty much the whole year. Of course, my goal is to advance to the bigger tours, but I know the way to do that is by staying present and playing my best now. If I do that, I’m sure I’ll be back competing with the best players in the world.
RB: You’ve just partnered with Goldstream Global. What does that mean for you?
AA: I’m very proud of it. Goldstream Global shares a lot of my values – excellence, ambition, trying to be at the top of their field. For me, as a golfer who has had some ups and downs, having sponsorship support is something I really appreciate. It gives peace of mind.
Christina actually knew the CEO, Frederik, through her own work, so she helped connect us. It’s been teamwork, and we’re both proud of it. Thanks to sponsors like Goldstream Global, players like me can cover the costs of travelling, housing, and competing. That allows us to focus on playing our best golf, which is what we all want.
RB: You’re also about to receive Dubai’s Golden Visa. How important is that?
AAi: It’s a great opportunity. It means I don’t have to worry about visas expiring because it’s a 10-year visa. It also shows that authorities recognise your achievements, which makes me proud. It gives us stability and allows us to plan our lives here for the long term. Dubai has given both Christina and me opportunities to keep developing our careers, so right now this is definitely home.
RB: Finally, the Ryder Cup is coming to Catalunya in 2031, where you won the Catalunya Championship in 2022. How did you feel when you heard?
AA: I was really excited. To have the Ryder Cup at Camiral, the old PGA Catalunya, is very special for me, for Spain, and for Catalunya. It’s also personal because I won there in 2022 and haven’t had the chance to defend my title yet. The Ryder Cup will be amazing for the region. Hopefully the European Team will put on a great show – and who knows, maybe I’ll even be part of it.
