Novak Djokovic in action during a match. File

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Serbian tennis star and the World No.1 Novak Djokovic joined list of elite sports persons who have been given a 10-year Gold Card visa by the UAE.

World No.1 Djokovic will come to the country next week to play at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships not only as players but also as a resident.

Other big names from the sporting fraternity, who have been granted the Gold Card Visa includes the likes of Luis Figo, Paul Pogba, Roberto Carlos, Romalu Lukaku and Miralem Pjanic, who is a team-mate of Ronaldo at Juventus.

READ MORE

UAE grants Gold Card visa to Cristiano Ronaldo

400 expats received Gold Card so far

Lulu Chairman MA Yusuff gets first Gold Card in UAE

The resolution to grant a gold visa to the top athletes of the world was passed in the beginning of the month during a cabinet meeting, which was headed by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Meanwhile, Djokovic will make a welcome return to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships next week in a bid to reclaim the title he last won in 2013.

The reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion joins a stellar field that includes eight-time champion Roger Federer, who in winning last year claimed his 100th career singles title.

Also bidding for the title will be 2019 finalist and ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas and 2018 Dubai winner Roberto Bautista Agut.

“We are thrilled to welcome Novak Djokovic back to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships,” said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free.