For tennis fans, late February in Dubai means two weeks in a row of stars at arm’s length. The tournament stadium is small, just 5,000 seats, so even from the top rows you can see the spin on the ball.
I’ve put together what you need to know about the 2027 tournament, why professionals love the Emirates in winter, and where to play yourself if you’ve come on holiday with a racket.
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships: the essentials
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| 2027 dates | 14–27 February (official tournament site) |
| Format | Women’s WTA 1000, men’s ATP 500 |
| Where | Aviation Club Tennis Centre, close to DXB airport |
| Stadium | 5,000 seats, opened in 1996 |
| Surface | Outdoor hard courts |
| 2026 prize money | 4.09 million dollars (WTA) and 3.31 million dollars (ATP) |
The men’s tournament started in 1993 and the women’s in 2001. In the first year spectators sat in temporary stands built from scaffolding, with about 3,000 seats across all the courts. Today it’s one of the main February events in the world calendar.
How the two weeks work
In 2026 the women played the first week: qualifying 13–14 February, main draw 15–21 February. The men played the second: qualifying 21–22 February, main draw 23–28 February, with the final on Saturday. In 2027 the WTA calendar puts the women’s event on 14–20 February, so the men’s week follows. The organisers publish the detailed session schedule closer to the start.
My advice on choosing days:
- Early rounds are the busiest days: matches run in parallel on several courts, and you can see a lot of players in one day.
- Quarter-finals are the best balance: strong matchups and several matches per session.
- The final has the atmosphere, but it’s one match. If you only have one day for tennis, I’d take a quarter-final or a semi-final.
Stars and records
Roger Federer holds the men’s record with eight titles. On the women’s side, Justine Henin has the most wins, four.
Russian players have done well here. Daniil Medvedev won in 2023 and again in 2026. The 2026 final never happened: Tallon Griekspoor injured his hamstring in the semi-final against Andrey Rublev and couldn’t take the court. It was the first time in Medvedev’s career that he had won the same tournament twice. Jessica Pegula won the women’s title in 2026.
An evening session at the Dubai stadium: in February it gets cool after sunset, so bring a light layer. Photo: Basil D Soufi, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Tickets: how and when to buy
Official tickets are sold through the tournament website. I’m not quoting prices: they depend on the week, the day and the seat, and they change, so the current ones are always on the tournament site.
What matters:
- The session. Check which session your ticket is for: day and evening sessions can be sold separately.
- Semi-finals and finals are best bought early, as soon as sales open.
- Entry and bags. Check the rules on bags and photography on the tournament site before you go.
- Getting there. The stadium is close to DXB airport. How to get there by metro and taxi is in my post on Dubai transport. After the evening session taxis go fast, so it’s easier to book a car in advance.
Why stars train in the UAE
Tennis has a short off-season, and the new season starts in January in the Australian summer. It makes sense to prepare for the heat somewhere warm in December: Dubai’s average daytime high that month is 26 °C, there’s almost no rain, and hotels and clubs have plenty of courts.
Roger Federer set the example. Back in December 2019 Tennis.com wrote that the Swiss was known for off-season training in the Dubai heat, and listed those who followed him before the 2020 season: Stefanos Tsitsipas, Gaël Monfils, Kristina Mladenovic, Elina Svitolina and the retired Agnieszka Radwańska.
The industry noticed. In November 2024 the players’ association PTPA announced a partnership with the Topspin centre in Al Jaddaf: 19 tennis courts, padel, a pool and a gym. It was the first deal in a programme that helps players find courts and accommodation at temporary training bases, and it launched in Dubai.
I’m not listing which players supposedly “live in Dubai” based on rumours. If you see a star on a hotel court, don’t interrupt the session: photos and autographs only if the player is happy with it.
Tennis in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi opens the tennis season in the Emirates. The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, a WTA event, is on the tour calendar for 31 January – 6 February 2027 at the International Tennis Centre in Zayed Sports City. If you’re in the UAE in early February, you can combine tennis with a day in the capital: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the morning, matches in the evening.
The International Tennis Centre in Zayed Sports City during the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. Photo: ZSCmkt, CC0, Wikimedia Commons.
Where to play yourself
Your hotel court. The simplest option for visitors: many Dubai resort hotels have tennis courts. When you book, ask whether there are courts, whether they cost extra and whether you can hire rackets.
I play tennis myself, and in Dubai it’s easier than you’d think: there are courts at hotels, clubs and parks. In December 2025 I joked in my stories that I’d been “dragged into the tennis cult” and made to pay for coaching, court time, rackets and balls. It’s probably the only “scheme” in Dubai I’ve fallen for, and happily.
Clubs and academies. Dubai has plenty of tennis clubs and academies with courts by the hour and coaches, including big centres like Topspin in Al Jaddaf. Check prices and free slots on the clubs’ websites: they depend on the season and the time of day. My guide to tennis courts in Dubai compares the main options.
Free courts in parks. Dubai’s municipal parks let you book courts for free on dubaipublicparks.ae: go to “Sports Courts”, choose the park and the court type, log in with UAE Pass, Gmail or a new account, book one hour and show the e-ticket to a park attendant. Some courts are meant for local residents, so check the access rules for visitors on the site.
When to play. From November to March, any time, though even in winter the midday sun is harsh. From May to September, only early in the morning or late in the evening, or better still indoors.
How I can help
I help with tickets for the Dubai tennis tournament and the Abu Dhabi event, arrange a transfer to the stadium and back, and book dinner after the evening session. If the tennis is part of a longer trip, I’ll plan the rest: a Dubai city tour, the desert or a day in Abu Dhabi.
The calendar of other events this season is in my post on UAE sports events in 2026–2027 and on the UAE events page.
Sources: official Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships site, ATP Tour, LTA (2026 schedule), WTA calendar, Tennis.com, PTPA, Gulf News, Wikipedia. Checked 11 October 2026.
Practical answers
Frequently asked questions
When is the Dubai tennis tournament in 2027?
14–27 February 2027, according to the official tournament site. On the WTA calendar the women's event is 14–20 February, with the men's the following week. The session schedule comes out closer to the start.
Where are the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships played?
At the 5,000-seat Aviation Club Tennis Centre stadium, close to DXB airport. The tournament has been played there since 1996.
Which is the bigger event, the women's or the men's?
The women's is a WTA 1000, the men's an ATP 500. Prize money in 2026 was about 4.1 million dollars for the women and 3.3 million for the men.
Who has won in Dubai recently?
Daniil Medvedev won the men's title in 2023 and 2026; Andrey Rublev also reached the 2026 semi-finals. Jessica Pegula won the women's title in 2026.
Can visitors play tennis in Dubai?
Yes. The easiest option is your hotel court or a paid session at a tennis club. Free courts in neighbourhood parks can be booked on dubaipublicparks.ae, but check the access rules for non-residents on the site.
Can you help with tickets for the Dubai tennis?
Yes. Tell me which week and which days you want, and I'll help with tickets, a transfer and dinner after the evening session.
