Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships ATP 2026: Schedule, Entry List, Draw and Predictions

Taking place between 23-28 February 2026, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is a key point in the Middle Eastern swing on both sides of the tennis divide.

In the WTA, it is a 1000 and men's is a bit more lowkey sitting as an ATP 500 and takes place in the same venue of the Aviation Club Tennis Centre. Stefanos Tsitsipas is defending champion sealing the title last year.

He returns alongside the likes of Alexander Bublik, Felix Auger-Aliassime in a pretty stacked field for an ATP 500 over the coming week. It takes place in the same week as Santiago in the men's and also Austin, Merida in the women's. Acapulco though is perhaps best attended on the ATP side.

(as of ticktocktennis.com)

The draw will take place likely on Friday 20 February or Saturday 21 February ahead of the start of the tournament.

The schedule will be confirmed for Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in the day before the tournament begins.

Samuel Gill, Head Editor for TennisUpToDate.com sees Alexander Bublik as winning the title.

I would see Felix Auger-Aliassime winning here or Jack Draper even. But Draper in particular is a bit of a weird one as he played so well in Davis Cup then took a bizarre week off so what's going on with him is anyone's guess.

So I'm going for a few steady names instead in Bublik, Mensik and also Auger-Aliassime to be in the running here. All have shown form as of late and as a result will be in the running.

*** Alexander Bublik

** Felix Auger-Aliassime, Jakub Mensik

Lucas Michael, Editor for TennisUpToDate.com sees Alexander Bublik as the champion.

The Middle East is set to host one more tournament before the big talents all head over to the States to compete in the Masters 1000 events over there. For now, a title has to be won in Dubai and there is a whole heap of names it could be.

One I do not believe it will be is the reigning champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, meaning someone else will be taking the spoils in UAE. Already with titles this year, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alexander Bublik are natural favourites to continue this success. For this event I am leaning towards Bublik slightly more than the Canadian with him having played a lot of tennis recently, reaching back-to-back finals in Montpellier and Rotterdam.

It will be great to hopefully see Jack Draper back on court, but the concern is always going to be about how long his arm is going to hold up for. Two former champions are also under the spotlight with Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev hoping to kickstart a chain reaction that will see them jump back in the upper echelons of tennis.

Outside picks could go to a pair of Czechs in the form of Jakub Mensik and Jiri Lehecka. Especially Mensik who is a real talent and a dangerous player, although he is in desperate need of ranking points ahead of his title defence in Miami next month.

As for Dubai, my money is going on Bublik to put on a show for the spectators all week and cement his position in the top 10 in the world with a sixth final win on the trot.

*** Alexander Bublik

** Daniil Medvedev, Jakub Mensik

* Felix Auger-Aliassime, Jiri Lehecka, Denis Shapovalov

Cristhian Avila, Editor for TennisUpToDate.com sees Felix Auger-Aliassime as the champion.

The Dubai draw has a clear favourite: Felix Auger-Aliassime, top seed and nearly untouchable indoors. In the absence of Sinner and Alcaraz, the Canadian is among the most consistent players, the conditions favour him, and there are not many names who appear capable of seriously troubling him. Alexander Bublik will have an opportunity for revenge after three consecutive losses to Felix, although even so, the Canadian looks stronger at the moment.

The Czech contingent will be fully represented in Dubai and they emerge as names to follow this season. Jakub Mensik and Jiri Lehecka benefit from the conditions and I expect deep runs from both, while Hubert Hurkacz will be the dark horse.

*** Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alexander Bublik

** Jakub Mensik, Jiri Lehecka

* Hubert Hurkacz, Zizou Bergs