TIER: Premier
PRIZE MONEY: $710,900 SURFACE: Hard
DIRECTOR: Saad Al Mohannadi
While the ATP first staged a tournament in Qatar in 1993, the Qatar Tennis Federation did not launch what is now known as the Qatar Total Open in Doha in 2001 as the popularity of women's sports was starting to take off in the country. Doha's ultra-modern Khalifa International Tennis Complex also hosted the season-ending WTA Championships from 2008 to 2010.
Qatar Total Open champions include WTA greats such as Justine Henin, Martina Hingis and Monica Seles, as well as two-time winners Victoria Azarenka, Anastasia Myskina and Maria Sharapova.
The capital of Qatar, Doha is the country's cultural, commercial and financial center.
DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Launched as a men's tournament in 1993, what is now known as the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships became a joint event in 2001 and that same year the players voted it as the WTA's Premier Tournament Of The Year, an honor it was awarded again the following year.
The tournament is staged at the picturesque Aviation Club, which features the immensely popular Irish Village pub and an extensive range of recreational and entertainment facilities including a gym and spa. The Dubai Tennis Stadium also serves as a leading concert venue.
Justine Henin has the tournament record with four titles followed by Venus Williams with three. Other former champions include WTA superstars Lindsay Davenport, Elena Dementieva, Martina Hingis, Petra Kvitova, Amélie Mauresmo and Caroline Wozniacki. Liezel Huber has the most doubles titles in Dubai history with five.
Dubai Duty Free is the event owner, organizer and title sponsor. A WTA sponsor since 2004, its partnership has been marked by leadership and innovation, including sponsoring the first Middle East tournament to award equal prize money and being a strong supporter of the growth of women's tennis in the region.
Strategically located between Europe, Asia and Africa, Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. With almost constant sunshine and a growing reputation as an essential place to do business, the city attracts global attention through innovative real estate projects like the world's tallest building - the Burj Khalifa - and the famous sail-shaped hotel - the Burj al Arab. In addition to featuring major construction and development, Dubai hosts a number of world class sports events and conferences.