Plenty of live sport on offer in the UAE this week. Catch Simona Halep defending her WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship at the Aviation Club and the likes of Chris Gayle and Ravi Bopara in action in the Pakistan Super League.
TENNIS: WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship, Monday to Saturday, action from 10.30am
Despite the news that world No 1 Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber, who defeated Williams at the Australian Open final last month to secure her first grand slam, have had to withdraw from the tournament because of illness and injury, six of the world's top 13 ranked women's players will be in Dubai this week. World No 3 Simona Halep, the defending champion, replaces Williams as the top seed followed by Spaniards Garbine Muguruza, Carla Suarez Navarro and the 2013 champion Petra Kvitova. The top four seeds have a first-round bye.
CRICKET: Pakistan Super League, all week, Sharjah and Dubai, matches start at 3.30pm and 8pm
Business picks up in the inaugural staging of the PSL in the UAE this week. The group stages come to a close on Wednesday with the final game being Islamabad United against Lahore Qalandars. The first qualifying match, to reach the February 23 final, is on Friday.
All you need to know: Dates, schedules, podcasts and galleries
FOOTBALL: Arabian Gulf League, Thursday and Friday
The tussle for the Arabian Gulf League title between Al Ain and Al Ahli looks likely to go down to the wire. Ahli, who narrowly beat Sharjah on Friday night thanks to Moussa Sow's last-minute goal, have largely fuelled their title challenge with a 100 per cent record at home, but the winning streak of Cosmin Olaroiu's side will be tested on Friday evening when they entertain Al Wahda (8.15pm kick off). Al Ain, who lead Ahli by two points at the top of the AGL table, host Al Shabab 24 hours earlier.
SAILING: Sailing Arabia – The Tour, Monday to February 29
Dee Caffari, the British yachtswoman who was the first woman to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world in both directions, returns to Sailing Arbia – The Tour following a four-year absence to skipper the Oman Airports Al Thuraya Women’s Team. In all nine teams involving a total of 65 crew, representing six countries will take part in identical Farr 30 yachts. The Tour involves five offshore legs and three in-port race days covering a distance of 732 nautical miles. The first official practice race takes place at Dubai on Sunday, February 14, before the in-port race the following day. It concludes in Muscat, Oman, on February 29.
All you need to know: The route, schedules and about the boats
MOTORSPORT: Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, Friday
Jeffrey Schmidt will put the interests of Al Nabooda Racing ahead of his own record-breaking ambitions when the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East returns to action at Dubai Autodrome this weekend.
With seven victories in eight races so far this season and four starts remaining, the Swiss driver is on course to eclipse the previous best of nine wins recorded in a single GT3 Cup season.
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