REUTERS - SAN JOSE - Players and officials have criticised the United Arab Emirates for denying top Israeli player Shahar Peer an entry visa at the weekend.

Peer had been expected to compete at this week's Dubai Championships but the future of the $2 million tournament remains uncertain after the women's world number 45 was stopped from entering the country.

As a result an ATP official said the men's tour would also review the status of its Dubai tournament which is due to begin next Monday.

"We are very disappointed to hear about the decision with Shahar Peer and we are looking at it and are very concerned," ATP board of directors member Justin Gimelstob told Reuters at the San Jose Open.

"We believe very strongly that players of all religions, ethnicities and nationalities be allowed to play. We discussed that with Dubai and are adamant all players get access to the tournament."

The situation could be replicated next week since Israel's doubles specialists, Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, told reporters they would like to play in Dubai.

"It's something we want to do," Ram said.

Like most Arab countries, the UAE has no diplomatic ties with the Jewish state and Israeli citizens are routinely denied entry.

Like the WTA, ATP rules state tournaments cannot discriminate against players of any nationality, ethnicity or religion, and if they do, they could lose their sanction.