Maria Sharapova looks set to compete at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for the first time since 2006, according to the schedule on her official website.

The ex-world No. 1 has accepted a wildcard into the Qatar Open, staged in the week prior to Dubai, and is likely to have received an invitation from the UAE event as well.

The Dubai tournament is yet to confirm Sharapova’s wildcard.

Sharapova, currently ranked 41 in the world, has made just one previous appearance in Dubai back in 2006, where she lost in the final to Justine Henin.

The Russian is still on the comeback trail following her 15-month suspension for a doping violation. She returned from her ban in April last year.

Sharapova’s 2018 season so far has seen her reach the semi-finals in Shenzhen, where she lost to Katerina Siniakova, and the third round at the Australian Open, where she fell to Angelique Kerber.

The five-time Grand Slam champion was in the UAE as recently as last November, where she visited Abu Dhabi for a sponsor appearance at the Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit.

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships women’s event takes place from February 19 – 24.

Other players confirmed for the tournament include Elina Svitolina, Garbine Muguruza and Madison Keys.