The WTA event was originally planned to take place from February 14 to 27 – a week before the men’s competition was due to start in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

But following the postponement of the Australian Open, scheduled to be the first Grand Slam of the year, by three weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic, both events have been forced to move.

The WTA competition is now due to begin on March 8 before the men’s tournament is scheduled to start on March 13.

Romania’s Simona Halep and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic claimed the women’s and men’s singles titles in 2020.

Dubai is also set to stage the women’s qualifying tournament for the Australian Open from January 10 to 13.

The first Grand Slam of the year is scheduled to be held from February 8 to 21 with players and support staff having to arrive in Australia on January 15 to serve a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

The WTA has announced a provisional calendar for the women’s tour through to the end of June.

According to the governing body, the French Open, the year's second Grand Slam, is set to begin on May 23 with Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam, due to start on June 28.

Following the outbreak of coronavirus last year’s French Open was moved to September while Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War Two.

After the Dubai Tennis Championships, the WTA plans to stage further 1000 tournaments with the Miami Open scheduled to start on March 22, followed by the Madrid Open from April 26 and Italian Open from May 10.

The Indian Wells Open, which was initially due to take place between March 8 and 21 has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.