JEDDAH: Teams from the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain claimed first, second and third place, respectively, in the men’s team competition at the GCC Golf Championship that concluded in Jeddah amid an electrifying atmosphere on Thursday.
Following fierce competition among some of the region’s top golfers, the UAE’s Ahmad Skaik demonstrated exceptional skills to secure first place and claim the men’s individual championship. Qatar’s Daniel Sokolov finished in second place, while Jonathan Silvaraj from the UAE took third.
In the under-18 individual category, Kuwait’s Salem Al-Abkal was crowned champion after an outstanding performance. Oman’s Adam Al-Barwani secured second place, while Emirati Mohammed Thabet finished third.
Team Oman claimed first in the under-18 team competition, with Team Kuwait second and Team UAE third.
Noah Alireza, Saudi Golf Federation’s CEO, said that the event had marked a significant milestone in the development of golf in the Gulf region as he spoke during the closing ceremony of the championship, which was hosted at the Royal Greens Golf Club in Jeddah.
He praised the high technical level at the championship and extended his gratitude to all participating teams and players.
He added: “This championship is not just a sporting competition but a platform for strengthening the fraternal bonds between GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) nations and solidifying golf as a key sport in the region.”
It was announced that Oman would host the next edition of the championship and the tournament flag was officially handed over to the Omani delegation, marking the beginning of the countdown to the upcoming event.
Team UAE take first place in men’s team competition at GCC Golf Championship
https://arab.news/2zzpe
Team UAE take first place in men’s team competition at GCC Golf Championship
- UAE’s Ahmad Skaik, Qatar’s Daniel Sokolov, Jonathan Silvaraj from UAE are first, second, third in individual category
- Team Oman top in under-18 competition
World’s top 20 confirmed for Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
- Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and defending champion Mirra Andreeva headline the 26th premier women’s tournament
- WTA 1000 event runs from Feb. 15-21, followed by the 34th ATP 500 tournament from Feb. 23-28
DUBAI: The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships returns in 2026 with one of the strongest WTA 1000 line-ups in its history, featuring all of the world’s top 20 players for the Women’s Week from Feb. 15-21.
The 2026 field features a complete set of top-ranked stars, including World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, World No. 2 Iga Swiatek, World No. 3 Coco Gauff, and World No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, alongside Elena Rybakina (No. 5), Jessica Pegula (No. 6), Jasmine Paolini (No. 7), 2025 champion Mirra Andreeva (No. 8), Madison Keys (No. 9) and Belinda Bencic (No. 10).
Leading the charge is Sabalenka, who returns to Dubai after a standout 2025 season highlighted by her US Open triumph, where the Belarusian claimed her fourth career Grand Slam title and secured a second consecutive win in New York. Reinforcing her position at the top of the women’s game, Sabalenka has started the 2026 season in fine form by retaining her title at the Brisbane International without dropping a set.
Six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek also returns following another exceptional season in which the Polish star captured the 2025 Wimbledon title and reached multiple WTA 1000 finals, finishing the year with one of the highest win percentages on tour.
Joining them is Gauff, who enjoyed a defining 2025 campaign with her French Open victory, the second Grand Slam title of her career and first on clay. The American 21-year-old also added a Masters 1000 trophy in Cincinnati and reached the semi-finals of both the Australian Open and US Open grand slams, closing the year inside the top three for the first time.
Defending champion Andreeva had a breakthrough season in 2025, which saw her secure a historic triumph in Dubai, making her the youngest WTA 1000 champion in history. The 18-year-old Russian followed that success with two Grand Slam quarter-finals and a rapid rise into the world’s top 15. She arrives in Dubai looking to defend the title that launched her onto the global stage.
“We are delighted to welcome all of the top 20 women’s players once again,” said Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free and chairman of the organising committee. “The depth of talent committed for 2026 reflects the status of this event on the global tennis calendar. Dubai has become an essential stop for the world’s best players, and we look forward to another exceptional week of world-class tennis.”
The line-up also includes talents such as World No. 12 and two-time Dubai champion Elina Svitolina, as well as Canada’s World No. 17 Victoria Mboko, whose breakthrough performances propelled her into the world’s top 20 for the first time. Their presence adds further depth to a roster that cements Dubai’s position as one of the most competitive stops on the WTA calendar.
Salah Tahlak, tournament director and deputy managing director of Dubai Duty Free, said of the line-up: “Women’s tennis continues to set new standards for competitiveness and quality. With the top 20 players confirmed, spectators can expect compelling matches from the opening day. Each year our WTA event delivers incredible moments, and 2026 promises to be no different.”
The 2026 Championships will run back-to-back once again, with the women’s WTA 1000 event from Feb. 15-21 and the men’s ATP 500 tournament from Feb. 23-28.
