The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), is launching the Chair Umpire Programme ahead of the 2025 tournament, giving participants an opportunity to develop their skills on the way to becoming a fully qualified Chair Umpire, while also elevating the standard of local officials.
Following the success of the Line Umpire Programme, which was created in collaboration with ADSC ahead of the 2024 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, the focus now turns to officiating, with the programme providing the first step towards becoming an official Chair Umpire. The graduates will receive official certification through the ITF (International Tennis Federation) Training and Officiating Programme.
The Chair Umpire Programme takes place across two weekends in January with the candidates who progress becoming a Chair Umpire during the Road to MADO play-offs, a competition for amateurs held as part of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, from 1-8 February at International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City.
Hany El Khafief, Abu Dhabi Open Chief of Officials at Mubadala, said: “Officiating plays a vital role in the long-term evolution of any sport, and in the UAE, we lack the number of officials to match the growth of tennis. Led by vastly experienced officials, the programme will provide participants with the required attributes to succeed in the role, while also reinforcing the fact that there are multiple opportunities available within tennis both on and off-court.
“For the 2025 tournament, we have reduced the number of overseas officials from 45 to 20, and we will fully utilise Abu Dhabi-based officials for the entire week, which will provide them with invaluable experience. With the opportunity to play an important role at the 2025 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, one of the region’s prominent sporting events, we encourage aspiring officials to sign up for what could potentially be a life-changing experience.”
The Chair Umpire Programme will comprise two modules, the first of which is designed to give students in-depth information about the rules of tennis and the duties of the Chair Umpire and procedures to be followed during a match, along with an overview of the player’s code of conduct and disciplinary action.
The second module will be dedicated solely to off-court officiating, providing an understanding of how to deal with various situations which may arise when working as an off-court official. Commonly experienced situations include scoring disputes, incorrect calls, and complaints about ball marks.
