Held since 2001, this WTA Tour event was a Tier I-tournament in 2008, and was played on outdoor hardcourts.

After a two-year break the tournament returned in 2011 and is held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.

[4] The event then took a two-year break due to the venue hosting the WTA Tour Championship, thus not being played in 2009 or 2010.

The event is held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex which currently has a capacity of 6,911.

[6] Its prize money as of 2016 was $2,517,250 and the tournament director is Saad Al Mohannadi.