Many of the best tennis players in the world will soon be in Dubai to compete at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships as the WTA Tour concludes its Middle East swing.
Here is everything you need to know about the WTA 1000 tournament.
What is it?
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is a professional tennis event that runs for two weeks. The first week is dedicated to the WTA Tour’s women’s tournament and is followed by the ATP Tour’s men’s competition. This year will be the 24th edition of the WTA championship.
When is it?
The 2024 WTA tournament begins on February 18 with the first round of the main draw and concludes on Saturday, February 24, with finals day.
Where is it?
The championships take place at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, formerly known as the Aviation Club.
Who's playing?
More accurately, who isn’t playing? For many years, Dubai and the Qatar Open traded 1000 status – or its equivalent – but since earning permanent 1000 status, all of the top players have confirmed for this year's tournament.
Every member of the WTA Tour’s ‘Big Four’ will be competing in Dubai: world No 1 Iga Swiatek, Australian Open champion and world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka, US Open champion and world No 3 Coco Gauff and world No 4 Elena Rybakina, who is aiming for the UAE double having won the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open this month.
Further star power is added in the form of Tunisian world No 6 Ons Jabeur, while China’s world No 7 Qinwen Zheng will also play, weeks after reaching the Australian Open final. Barbora Krejcikova, who defeated Swiatek in last year’s final, will return to defend her title.
In all, nine of the world’s top 10 and 17 of the top 20, will compete at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
What is the tournament schedule?
Friday, February 16: Qualifiers
Saturday, February 17: Qualifiers
Sunday, February 18: First round
Monday, February 19: First round
Tuesday, February 20: Second round
Wednesday, February 21: Third round
Thursday, February 22: Quarter-finals
Friday, February 23: Semi-finals
Saturday, February 24: Finals
Are tickets still available?
Tickets are still available for all seven days of the tournament, according to the tournament website. Tickets come in three tiers: Grandstand, Prime A and Prime B. For the first, second, and third rounds, Grandstand tickets are Dh55, Prime B Dh105 and Prime A Dh160.
For the quarter-finals, Grandstand tickets are Dh160, Prime B Dh210 and Prime A Dh265. Semi-final tickets start at Dh265, with Prime B Dh370 and Prime A Dh420. For finals day, Prime A tickets have sold out, but Grandstand (Dh370) and Prime B (Dh525) are still available.
Will it be broadcast on TV?
For tennis fans in the UAE who want to watch the tournament on television, it will be broadcast live on Dubai Sports. For international viewers, the full list of partner networks can be found here.
For more information about the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, visit the official website.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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Power: 727hp
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Name: Thndr
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Results
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If you go
The flights
The closest international airport for those travelling from the UAE is Denver, Colorado. British Airways (www.ba.com) flies from the UAE via London from Dh3,700 return, including taxes. From there, transfers can be arranged to the ranch or it’s a seven-hour drive. Alternatively, take an internal flight to the counties of Cody, Casper, or Billings
The stay
Red Reflet offers a series of packages, with prices varying depending on season. All meals and activities are included, with prices starting from US$2,218 (Dh7,150) per person for a minimum stay of three nights, including taxes. For more information, visit red-reflet-ranch.net.
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Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why the Tourist Club?
Originally, The Club (which many people chose to call the “British Club”) was the only place where one could use the beach with changing rooms and a shower, and get refreshments.
In the early 1970s, the Government of Abu Dhabi wanted to give more people a place to get together on the beach, with some facilities for children. The place chosen was where the annual boat race was held, which Sheikh Zayed always attended and which brought crowds of locals and expatriates to the stretch of beach to the left of Le Méridien and the Marina.
It started with a round two-storey building, erected in about two weeks by Orient Contracting for Sheikh Zayed to use at one these races. Soon many facilities were planned and built, and members were invited to join.
Why it was called “Nadi Al Siyahi” is beyond me. But it is likely that one wanted to convey the idea that this was open to all comers. Because there was no danger of encountering alcohol on the premises, unlike at The Club, it was a place in particular for the many Arab expatriate civil servants to join. Initially the fees were very low and membership was offered free to many people, too.
Eventually there was a skating rink, bowling and many other amusements.
Frauke Heard-Bey is a historian and has lived in Abu Dhabi since 1968.
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