Perfect Blend: Olympic Gold Medallists Paolini and Errani Take Cultural Detour with Trip to Dubai Coffee Museum

Italian duo took time out ahead of this week’s tournament to also visit historic neighbourhood and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

Dubai, UAE – February 19, 2025: Italy’s Olympic Gold-winning doubles duo Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani swapped groundstrokes for ground beans on Monday as they took a break from the landmark 25th edition of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to visit Dubai Coffee Museum and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU).

Paolini is the reigning singles champion in Dubai while compatriot Errani clinched the title in 2016. Now playing alongside each other and representing their country on the global stage, the duo took time away from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium to explore the emirate’s historic Al Fahidi neighbourhood.

The experience introduced the WTA Doubles Team of the Year to Emirati traditions, including Arabic coffee, dates, and falconry, giving them a deeper appreciation of the UAE’s culture and heritage. At SMCCU, the duo participated in a traditional Arabic coffee ceremony, where they learned about the importance of coffee in Emirati hospitality.

“It’s very interesting to be here and see other parts of Dubai,” said Errani. “We always go to the tournament, hotels, and court, so it’s nice to be here and learn about the history of coffee.”

Afterwards, the pair stopped at Dubai Coffee Museum, where they heard about the origins of coffee and how it made its way into the Gulf region from the Ethiopian highlands, as well as exploring the different regional techniques for roasting and brewing and coffee’s influence across different cultures. The museum showcased traditional brewing techniques, historic artefacts, and a variety of coffee beans from around the world.

Paolini added: “The coffee experience was nice because usually you can discover the culture through food. It was really nice to meet people from the country—it was a great experience.”

The Italian pair, in addition to their coffee experiences, were introduced to falconry, an integral part of Emirati culture, and had the chance to taste dates, a traditional symbol of hospitality in the region.

“It was really great to visit the old part of Dubai. Usually, we go to the mall or the beach, so it’s nice to see something else. There’s so much culture here, but you have to take the time to discover it,” Paolini said, before adding: “It was a nice experience with the falcon; he was quite calm, so I wasn’t too nervous.”

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Tickets for both the women’s WTA 1000 tournament and the men’s ATP 500 event remain available to purchase at www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com.