Espinós travelled to the United Arab Emirates to discuss preparations for the 2017 Karate1 Premier League event in the city.

The Spaniard, who has spearheaded karate’s successful campaign for a place on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games programme, was also given a tour of the Al Ahli Club from local officials.

Mohamed Al Haddad, deputy chief executive of the club, WKF vice-president Nasser Al Razooqi and WKF Protocol Commission chairman Alaa Halawish were also in attendance.

Following the tour, Al Razooqi and Espinós were given the Card of Honour.

Progress made before what will be the third leg of the 2017 Karate1 Premier League season, due to be held from March 31 to April 3, was addressed.

Also discussed were the meetings to be conducted in association with the event and the activities of the WKF Protocol Commission.

As was decided during October's 2016 Karate World Championships in Austrian city Linz, the first-ever Executive Committee meeting between World Championships will take place in Dubai, as well as other gatherings of different WKF Commissions.

The Karate1 Premier League, the sport’s regular series of competitions, will undergo widespread changes effective from 2017 in order to enhance the visibility of karate.

Currently, world karate’s governing body allows a maximum of 10 Premier League events to take place each calendar year, but in 2017 this will be capped at eight.

The best eight events based on the 2016 season will form the basis of the new calendar, which will incorporate a slightly different format.

Competitions will be held over three days instead of two, with finals, scheduled for the Sunday of each event, televised across the world by the WKF and a series of rights holders.

Karate was officially added to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic programme in August, alongside baseball and softball, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing.