Dubai Basketball Club Earns EuroLeague Spot as UAE's Sporting Ambitions Rise

Dubai Basketball Club will join the EuroLeague in the 2025–26 season, marking a historic milestone for UAE basketball and positioning Dubai on the global sporting map.
The announcement was made by H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, who praised the club's rapid ascent and affirmed the emirate's growing presence in international sport. 'Dubai is confidently establishing itself as a global force in sport,'
he stated.
Founded in 2023, Dubai Basketball Club has quickly proven its competitive strength, both domestically and internationally. Its diverse roster features players from across the globe, including the UAE, the United States, Europe, and Asia, and is led by a team of FIBA-licensed coaches.
The club's EuroLeague entry follows the competition's strategic expansion to 20 teams, aimed at increasing viewership and competitiveness. Dubai will host 19 home games at Coca-Cola Arena, going head-to-head with some of Europe's biggest clubs, including Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Fenerbahçe.
The EuroLeague reaches over 300 million global viewers annually, offering Dubai Basketball Club a powerful platform and signaling a new era for the sport in the region.
Earlier this year, the team made its debut in the Adriatic Basketball Association (ABA) League, advancing to the semi-finals and demonstrating its readiness for top-tier continental play.
News Source: Emirates News Agency

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Hi Dubai

6 hours ago

• Hi Dubai

Dubai Basketball Club Earns EuroLeague Spot as UAE's Sporting Ambitions Rise

Dubai Basketball Club will join the EuroLeague in the 2025–26 season, marking a historic milestone for UAE basketball and positioning Dubai on the global sporting map. The announcement was made by H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, who praised the club's rapid ascent and affirmed the emirate's growing presence in international sport. 'Dubai is confidently establishing itself as a global force in sport,' he stated. Founded in 2023, Dubai Basketball Club has quickly proven its competitive strength, both domestically and internationally. Its diverse roster features players from across the globe, including the UAE, the United States, Europe, and Asia, and is led by a team of FIBA-licensed coaches. The club's EuroLeague entry follows the competition's strategic expansion to 20 teams, aimed at increasing viewership and competitiveness. Dubai will host 19 home games at Coca-Cola Arena, going head-to-head with some of Europe's biggest clubs, including Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Fenerbahçe. The EuroLeague reaches over 300 million global viewers annually, offering Dubai Basketball Club a powerful platform and signaling a new era for the sport in the region. Earlier this year, the team made its debut in the Adriatic Basketball Association (ABA) League, advancing to the semi-finals and demonstrating its readiness for top-tier continental play. News Source: Emirates News Agency

Dubai Eye

18 hours ago

• Dubai Eye

Dubai Basketball Club set for historic EuroLeague debut

Dubai Basketball Club has been selected to compete in the prestigious EuroLeague for the first time, after the organisers announced its expansion from 18 to 20 teams in late May. Making the announcement, Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, expressed Dubai's confidence at "establishing itself as a global force in sport". Established in 2023, Dubai Basketball Club has swiftly proven its ability to take on top-tier domestic and international opponents. 'In just two years, the club has demonstrated that it can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the sport's elite,' Sheikh Mansoor added. 'Its debut in the EuroLeague will not only add strength to the competition, but also inspire athletes across the UAE to pursue their dreams on the international stage." It follows a historic debut season in the ABA League for the team. It made an impressive run to the playoff semi-finals, showcasing talent and determination before facing European powerhouse and season champions Partizan. Finishing third overall, the team not only exceeded expectations but also established a strong foundation for what promises to be a landmark season in the club's journey. 'I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the leadership of Dubai and the Dubai Sports Council for their unwavering support,' said Abdulla Saeed Juma Al Naboodah, Chairman and Founder. Coached by Jurica Golemac, the Club's multicultural roster features standout players from the UAE, the Philippines, the US, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Jordan, Turkey, Latvia, Italy, Bosnia and France. It will play 38 regular-season games at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena from September to June, and share the court with global powerhouses such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Olympiacos and Fenerbahçe. Fans can register online to attend the 2025/26 season games on the Coca-Cola Arena website.

The National

a day ago

• The National

Dubai Basketball to join EuroLeague as 'dream becomes a reality'

Dubai Basketball will join the EuroLeague on a five-year contract from September 2025, just a year after being founded. The competition, regarded as one of the toughest basketball leagues in the world, announced its expansion from 18 to 20 teams in late May. Dubai Basketball has now been confirmed as one of the two new teams to secure a slot to play in the 2025/26 EuroLeague season. In a stellar debut campaign in the ABA League – where the team reached the play-off semi-finals before being halted by Partizan – Dubai Basketball showed the huge potential for the sport in the emirate. Not only did they excel on the court, they made the Coca-Cola Arena their home, attracting crowds in excess of 5,000 fans. 'I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the leadership of Dubai and the Dubai Sports Council for their unwavering support,' Abdulla Saeed Juma Al Naboodah, chairman and Founder of Dubai Basketball, said. 'Their vision and commitment have been instrumental in making the success of Dubai Basketball possible.' The team, under the stewardship of head coach Jurica Golemac, will now take a huge step forward in a competition boasting the elite of European basketball. The move also deepens the UAE's ties with the EuroLeague, with the 2025 finals having been staged at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi in May. Istanbul giants Fenerbahce were crowned champions in front of a sold out arena on Yas Island. As well as Fenerbahce, Dubai Basketball will face the likes of Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Panathinaikos and Olympiacos as the club brings top-tier European basketball to Coca-Cola Arena from September 2025 to June 2026. Co-Chief Executive Officer Dejan Kamenjasevic said this latest step follows years of hard work to get the project off the ground. 'Dubai Basketball is not an instant project – it has taken us years to reach the point we are in today,' he said. 'But it brings me great pride to say that this team is an instant success [on the court]. Credit goes to our coaches, players and all Dubai Basketball employees who worked hard to convert this dream to a reality. 'Now, with EuroLeague ahead, we have even more to show. We're building something this city has never seen before, and we're excited to make history while growing the Dubai Basketball family.' In just their first season, Dubai Basketball attracted a total of nearly 80,000 fans to Coca-Cola Arena, paving the way for a new era for the sport in the emirate. That fan base is expected to grow next season, with the team's home arena boasting a capacity of 15,000 in its basketball format. Fans can register to attend 2025/26 season games through the Coca-Cola Arena website, with full season passes available in July.