Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships: The UAE prepares to host stellar event
The 2026 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, scheduled from February 15 to 28, are expected to draw record betting interest following the establishment of the UAE’s federal gaming regulator (GCGRA).
Mirra Andreeva, Dubai 2025 | © Imago / PsNewz
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (DDFTC) is one of the most anticipated events on the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) sporting calendar.
Many of the world’s top players will be in the line-up when the 2026 edition is staged in February. Online betting sites are guaranteed to offer comprehensive coverage.
Many of the sportsbooks featured on comparison platform arabswin.com have an extensive range of tennis markets available ahead of the new season.
Sports bettors will be clamouring to wager on the tournament, particularly in the UAE, which now has a regulatory body in place to oversee the gambling industry. Read on as we preview the event.
DDFTC 2026 – Schedule
DDFTC is split across two exciting weeks of tennis action. It starts with a WTA 1000 women’s tournament before moving into the ATP 500 men’s competition.
The women will get DDFTC underway with WTA action on February 15. The men are expected to get in on the action on February 21, although the line-up will be disclosed closer to the curtain-raiser.
DDFTC’s jam-packed WTA and ATP tour schedule means fans will get to enjoy plenty of tennis action every day for two weeks. Here’s the full DDFTC 2026 fixture schedule:
WTA
- Women’s qualifier: February 13-14
- First round: February 15-16
- Second round: February 17
- Third round: February 18
- Quarter-finals: February 19
- Semi-finals: February 20
- Final: February 21
ATP
- Men’s qualifier: February 21-22
- First round: February 23
- Second round: February 24
- Third round: February 25
- Quarter-finals: February 26
- Semi-finals: February 27
- Finals: February 28
Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, says he is looking forward to welcoming some of the world’s top tennis stars to the UAE.
“The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships has been one of Dubai’s flagship sporting events since the 1990s, welcoming the game’s best men and, later, women players,” Cidambi said.
“Throughout that time, we have constantly looked to grow, improve, and provide an even bigger and better event for the players, officials and spectators.
DDFTC 2026 – Preview
The DDFTC has built a reputation for attracting the very best talents in the sport. The women’s roll of honour is filled with some of the biggest names in modern tennis.
Justine Henin, Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, Barbora Krejcikova, Elina Svitolina and Jasmine Paolini have all had their moments under the spotlight.
The men’s event has been just as impressive, with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Andre Agassi among the top stars who have graced Dubai over the years.
Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva will head into the upcoming DDFTC as one of the bookmakers’ favourites after her remarkable 2025 campaign.
The 18-year-old was the surprise package of the year, establishing herself as one of the brightest young prospects in women’s tennis by winning this title.
Andreeva’s breathtaking campaign helped her reputation skyrocket as she finished ninth in the world rankings, breaking a record that had stood strong for nearly two decades.
She became the youngest player to finish in the world’s Top 10 since Nicole Vaidisova, who set the record in 2007. Andreeva is also the youngest player ever to win a WTA 1000 title.
Her meteoric rise came after finishing 16th in the world rankings in 2024, meaning it only took her 12 months to make the impressive leap into the top 10.
Stefanos Tsitsipas could be a good bet in the men’s event. He defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime to claim his first-ever ATP 500 title in front of a raucous crowd in 2025.
