A Women's Tennis Association tour to be held in Abu Dhabi

According to the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and IMG, Abu Dhabi will be the newest stop on the professional women's tennis circuit of the world.

The UAE's capital will host the "Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open" from February 5 to February 12. It is the first WTA-sanctioned tour event that is currently taking place in the Emirate.

The WTA 500 competition, which will be held at the International Tennis Center in Zayed Sports City and be co-hosted by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Mubadala, will unite the best female tennis players in the world, including World No. 2 Ons Jabeur.

"I'm particularly looking forward to performing in Abu Dhabi once more in February. Jabeur, who previously wowed crowds in the UAE capital in 2021 and 2022 by winning the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, an unofficial exhibition tournament, said, "The atmosphere and support from the fans is always wonderful and I want to extend my winning run in an amazing stadium.

"Abu Dhabi's position in the calendar will generate a unique three-week Hologic WTA Tour swing in the area, guaranteeing best-in-class player fields competing for precious WTA points," stated Steve Simon, Chairman and CEO of the WTA. The dedication Mubadala has shown in bringing professional women's tennis to Abu Dhabi in recent years will be built upon by this competition.

In addition to more than 60 singles and doubles matches spread over eight days, the event will provide a variety of fun activities for both families and sports fans, such as fan activations, games with a tennis theme, and player Q&A sessions over the first four days.

The first-ever permanent official Women's Tour tournament is coming to Abu Dhabi, said Robbie Henchman, President of Global Partnerships - IMG Events, IMG Media & On Location. For us to create a top-notch, action-packed event with exhilarating activity on and off the court for fans, families, and friends to enjoy, Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council are the ideal partners.

For more than 14 years, title sponsor Mubadala has been a dedicated supporter of tennis, funding local programmes like the Mubadala Community Cup and Mubadala Tennis in Schools Programs as well as other professional tennis events worldwide. By adding a second WTA 500 tournament to their portfolio of WTA partnership events, this occasion will increase their commitment in women's tennis.

"We are happy to be part of bringing this debut WTA 500 tour event to Abu Dhabi, extending our global support of tennis and drawing world-class events to the Emirate," said Homaid Al Shimmari, Deputy Group CEO and Chief Corporate & Human Capital Officer for Mubadala Investment Company.

This alliance supports our initiatives to encourage an active and healthy lifestyle in the neighbourhood and builds on Mubadala's history of supporting competitive women's tennis in the area.

Aref Hamad Al Awani, general secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, stated: "We are pleased to welcome the Hologic WTA Tour to Abu Dhabi. The competition reinforces our dedication to bringing diverse and inclusive sporting events to the area and motivating the next generation of athletes. The fact that Abu Dhabi was able to host and plan this tournament is proof of their abilities. In order to achieve even more of our objectives for the future event, we hope to expand on that."

"Our commitment extends to every aspect of the competition, from providing top-notch facilities for athletes to perform at their peak to fostering an exciting environment for spectators to take pleasure in. As a result, you can anticipate that the debut edition will be nothing short of amazing.

Tickets for the event, which will continue the WTA's 50th anniversary festivities, start at AED50 for adults (including premium seats on Monday and Tuesday). Full tournament packages, which include hospitality tickets and a 15% discount, are also available. In addition, the first four days of the event will be free for children under 12 who are travelling with an adult who has a premium or ordinary ticket.

IMG, the firm behind the Miami Open and Madrid Open as well as internationally famous cultural events like New York Fashion Week: The Shows, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, and Frieze art fairs, is producing the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.