Following a vote by the Davis Cup Committee, the United Arab Emirates Tennis Association has been given the hosting rights for Asia-Oceania Zone Group III and IV events of the 2013 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, which were moved away from Myanmar because of security reasons in late June.

The joint event will be staged the week commencing September 9 at the Aviation Tennis Club in Dubai, the home of the Dubai ATP 500.

Detailed information regarding arrival and departure dates as well as other specifics related to the schedule will be made available to the participating teams soon.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the UAE Tennis Association for hosting this joint Zone Group event in a great location at such short notice, as well as other national associations who offered to host,” head of Davis Cup and Fed Cup Justine Albert was quoted as saying in a communique obtained by the Post.

The Myanmar government decided to back out of its commitment to stage the events in Yangon just days before the opening ceremony after an intelligence review indicated imminent threats to the security of players, officials and fans.

“We are happy that it is Dubai. It is a great location and now that the venue and dates are confirmed we can get immediately back to our preparations,” Tennis Federation of Cambodia secretary general Tep Rithivit told the Post.

“The Myanmar cancellation was a frustrating setback. The team had trained hard, and all the necessary arrangements for travel and stay had been made, and all of a sudden we were dealt this huge blow

“Now the decks are clear, and we can sharpen our focus on training and be well prepared to zealously safeguard the historic gains we made in Doha last year,” added the secretary.

Cambodia’s national coach Braen Aneiros welcomed Dubai as an ideal venue. “We have more than three months to prepare. Group III will be lot tougher but I am confident we will do well,” the Cuban-born Panamanian Davis Cupper told the Post.

The key Cambodian Davis Cuppers were happy to learn that the uncertainty over the venue and dates had been cleared. Bun Kenny, currently playing in Thailand, said he was thrilled it was to be in Dubai.

Reacting to the news from their base in the US, the Mam brothers, Panhara and Phalkun, who both had to return home after the Myanmar cancellation, said Dubai would be an exciting destination.

The TFC’s main Davis Cup sponsors NagaWorld also welcomed the change of venue, saying the squad can now focus on preparations and repeat in Dubai the proud experience of Doha, where Cambodia made a spectacular competition debut by winning all five ties.