The UAE’s fashionistas will be in full swing this Friday (January 22) as the ever popular Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship’s ‘Ladies Day’ returns for an absolutely fabulous day of fun and prizes including a trip-of-a-lifetime to the Big Apple courtesy of Championship partners Etihad Airways and The St. Regis Saadiyat Island.

To be in with a chance for the New York trip, which is courtesy of Etihad Airways and The St. Regis New York, lady championship-goers, who will enter the host Abu Dhabi Golf Club (ADGC) free on Friday, must dress up to the nines and vie for the title of 2016’s ‘Best Dressed Lady’.

On Saturday, ADGC’s National course fairways will be lined with red, as the highly popular ‘Dress in Red Day’ returns, giving free entry for those wearing anything red.

And there’s more excitement as top English lady professional golfer Mel Reid, last year’s Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit runner-up,hosts a special Ladies Day clinic at ADGC’s sister Saadiyat Beach Golf Club with tips and advice to those looking to improve their game. The twenty-eight year-old had a successful 2015 winning the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open in May before narrowly missing out on topping the LET ranking.

Ladies Day golf clinic places are limited to 30 people and are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis to female members of Golf in Abu Dhabi clubs. Members should contact their club managers for further details.

And while the super-star cast, which includes four of the world’s top six players, including world number one Jordan Spieth, battle it out on the challenging Par 3 course, and the ladies strut their stuff, there’s more off-course activity lined up for spectators.

This year the Championship Village’s hugely popular HSBC Fan Zonewill be complemented by the HSBC Beach Club. Village-goers can test their golfing skills with HSBC sporting ambassadors including British tennis ace Tim Henman and the US golfer and 2014 HSBC Women’s Champion Paula Creamer on hand to give expert tips. Golfing superstars will also drop by the Village to surprise over the weekend to surprise fans.

“The spectators are as much a part of the Championship as the world-class field,” said Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Director of Marketing and Communication at Abu Dhabi Sports Council, which owns the Championship. “This year the field is perhaps the strongest ever in the Championship’s 11-year-history and, together with HSBC and our other partners, we’ve boosted the spectator programme to match. Women’s golf is growing in popularity and we want to inspire ladies of all ages and nationalities to enjoy the game. Yet the weekend isn’t confined to one group – it’s truly for everyone with a wide-range of world-class facilities and activities making it all-inclusive.”

HSBC Global Head of Sponsorship and Events Giles Morgan said: “Whether you’re a seasoned golf aficionado or it’s your first ever visit to a golf tournament, we want you to have as much fun off the course as on it and that’s why we’ve got everything from golf coaching to Michelin-starred cuisine lined up this year in a festival of family-friendly entertainment. Ladies Day has become one of many highlights of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship experience – it really is an event not to be missed.‎’

Marwan Fadel, Area Director of Sales and Marketing of The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort said: “As the platinum sponsor of the 2016 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, we are delighted, together with Etihad Airways, to provide this year’s ‘best dressed’ lady with a trip of a lifetime to New York, staying at our partner hotel, the St. Regis New York. Over the years, the Championship has proved itself to be not only a leading sporting, but popular social event on the Abu Dhabi calendar and we are excited to show our continued support.”

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship runs from 21-24 January at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and is presented by ADSC.  Tickets and tailored packages are available via the event’s official website www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com  at AED50 for a daily pass and AED150 for a four-day pass. Guests staying at any Abu Dhabi hotel over the Championship period enter free.