The UCI granted the race an extension for this season, with four stages having previously been contested in the United Arab Emirates.

It has allowed organisers to alter the make-up of the race, with an individual time trial added for the first time.

The addition should provide an opportunity for Tom Dumoulin to make a challenge for victory, with the Dutchman currently the world champion in the discipline.

Dumoulin, who won last year's Giro d’Italia, should lead the Team Subweb squad on his debut race of the year.

He could face competition for the overall victory from Australia's Rohan Dennis, Italy's Fabio Aru and Spain's Alejandro Valverde, who is continuing his comeback from a fractured kneecap sustained at last year's Tour de France.

Portugal's Rui Costa begins as the defending champion having won the crucial final stage of the 2017 race on the Jabel Hafeet climb.

The UAE Team Emirates rider believes the revised route will ensure an interesting race throughout the week.

"The new route with a time trial changes the tactic," he said.

"But Jabel Hafeet remains a hard climb, it's 25 minutes of climbing.

"It's not easy to be the defending champion and, racing on home soil, we have many motivated riders like Aru, [Alexander] Kristoff and [Diego] Ulissi."

The race for the overall victory could be decided on the final two stages of the race, with the opening three days likely to offer opportunities for sprinters.

Britain's Mark Cavendish has won the points jersey for the past two years at the race and the Team Dimension Data rider will expect to challenge for victories again.

Italy's Elia Viviani and Germany's Marcel Kittel, who ride for Quick-Step Floors and Katusha Alpecin respectively, will be major rivals to Cavendish during the sprint stages.

Racing will begin tomorrow with a 189 kilometre stage in Madinat Zayed.