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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hi Dubai
2 days ago
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Sports Council Launches Initiative to Boost Summer Fitness Across the City
Dubai Sports Council has launched its 'Our Summer is Sporty' initiative, a city-wide push to promote physical activity through a diverse range of events running until the end of August. The campaign introduces a host of new and inclusive sporting activities, including Dubai's first-ever Snow Duathlon, snow-based stationary cycling, and indoor races in malls. Events will be held across multiple venues throughout the emirate. Organised in partnership with national institutions and sports organisers, the initiative targets residents and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, aiming to position Dubai as one of the world's most active cities. From beach and mountain sports to dedicated events for women and People of Determination, the programme offers something for everyone. It includes training camps, tournaments and recreational sessions, providing a dynamic platform for community engagement and wellness. The initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance quality of life in the city by encouraging year-round participation in physical activity. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Dubai Sports Council announces Snow, Water, Mountain and Mall activities as part of 'Our Summer is Sporty' initiative
New addition will be the Snow Duathlon, alongside exciting summer activities in Hatta DUBAI: The Dubai Sports Council has announced the launch of its 'Our Summer is Sporty' initiative, which will run until the end of August. The events will take place across various locations in Dubai, featuring new and diverse activities such as the first-ever Snow Duathlon, indoor mall races and snow-based stationary cycling competitions. The initiative is being organised in collaboration with numerous national institutions and sports event organisers. 'Our Summer is Sporty' aims to promote a culture of physical activity and encourage all segments of society - residents and visitors of all ages and nationalities - to actively participate in summer sports. It stands as a pioneering community initiative to enhance the quality of life in Dubai and further solidify its position as one of the most active cities in the world. Wide r ange of e vents, l ocations The initiative offers a broad array of sports activities, including beach, snow, water, mountain, women's and People of Determination events. It also features competitive tournaments, training camps and recreational activities, providing an inclusive community platform that aligns with Dubai's vision of becoming the world's most active city. Snow s ports h ighlights Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates will host an exciting line-up of innovative snow sports events. Leading the programme is the first-ever Snow Duathlon, scheduled for June 29. Additional activities include snow yoga, snow walking, open challenges, fitness classes and snow spinning sessions specially designed for women and families in a safe, professionally organised environment. The programme also features a women's snow hike, adaptive skiing activities for People of Determination, ice skating championships, a senior citizens' snow walk and a summer ski camp. Among the unique activities is snow yoga (Snoga), which recently attracted significant participation from women at Ski Dubai, where temperatures reached minus 4 degrees Celsius. Other events include fitness competitions at Luna Sports Centre for women, the Kabayan Badminton Challenge at We Meet Sports Club and the Ski Dubai Grand Prix for freestyle skating. Mountain a ctivities Hatta will host a range of summer sports events, supported by the Supreme Committee for Overseeing the Development of Hatta. Activities will include mountain hiking, trail running, kayaking, yoga, night walks and indoor sports sessions in air-conditioned halls. Water s ports a dventures Jumeirah beaches and the Waterfront will feature a series of water sports events, including kayaking, stand-up paddling and wakeboarding. The Dubai International Marine Club will organise an Open Water Sports Day at Jumeirah Beach, offering surfing and kayaking activities. In collaboration with the Dubai Sailing and Yacht Club, a series of summer sailing races and other marine events will also be held. The Hamdan Sports Complex will host several key events, including the Iron Star Indoor Triathlon, the Global Meet Festival and a variety of activities for senior citizens. Mall r aces Several indoor running races will take place across Dubai's shopping malls, providing a unique, climate-controlled environment suitable for all age groups and offering an enjoyable summer experience for running enthusiasts. The scheduled mall races include: Dubai Hills Mall: June 28 and July 13 Ibn Battuta Mall: July 13 City Centre Mirdif: July 6 Mall of the Emirates: August 3 Wafi Mall: August 10 Dubai Festival City Mall: August 31 In addition to these, many other indoor running races will be organised throughout Dubai. Diverse c ompetitions and c amps The initiative also features specialised training programmes for various community groups, particularly women, senior citizens and People of Determination. Programmes will include women's fitness classes, as well as women's football and basketball tournaments at Danube Sports World and Jam Sports Academy. Special fitness activities will also be provided for senior citizens, alongside inclusive sports events that enable People of Determination to actively participate in a supportive, integrated environment. A series of summer sports camps will target children and youth, offering multi-sport training in swimming, gymnastics and skating under the supervision of certified coaches at fully equipped sports facilities. The children's summer camp at Dubai Sports World and the sports camp at Danube Sports World will run concurrently from June 30 to August 22. Additional sporting events include: The World Curling Masters Tour at Dubai Ice Rink on July 4 Fight Night Boxing Championship on July 4 at The Crafty Fox, Jumeirah Golf Estates Wrestling Championship at Warehouse Four on July 19 Cycling and scooter competitions at the Meydan track, offering participants professional outdoor sports experiences Men's football and basketball tournaments at Danube Sports World and Jam Sports Academy Public and p rivate s ector c ollaboration The 'Our Summer is Sporty' initiative is supported by numerous governmental and private sector organisations. Events and activities are being held in collaboration with specialised local and international sports organisers at fully-equipped venues such as Hamdan Sports Complex, Dubai Sports World, Danube Sports World, Ski Dubai and various multi-purpose sports centres. Promoting an a ctive l ifestyle The initiative is part of the Dubai Sports Council's broader vision to make physical activity an essential component of daily life for the emirate's residents and visitors. All events are organised to the highest safety and professional standards, with additional activities to be announced in the coming weeks. The Dubai Sports Council invites all members of the community to participate in these diverse activities, take advantage of this pioneering initiative, and enjoy the many opportunities to stay active throughout the summer.
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
Dubai club to go up against the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona
25 June 2025 01:37 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD) The EuroLeague, widely recognised as one of the toughest basketball leagues in the world, have confirmed the entry of Dubai Basketball club while expanding from 18 to 20 teams, thus ratifying on a proposal in May and reported first by Aletihad . Though two slots were added, three teams will reap the benefit because Alba Berlin dropped out of the league. The Dubai debutants will thus be joined by Hapoel Tel Aviv and Valencia a historical debut season in ABA League, Dubai Basketball climbed to the play-off semi-finals before being halted by European powerhouse Partizan – the team captured the attention of thousands worldwide. Although their campaign ended shy of the final finishing in third overall, the season laid a powerful foundation for what promises to be a defining season for the club."I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the leadership of Dubai and the Dubai Sports Council for their unwavering support. Their vision and commitment have been instrumental in making the success of Dubai Basketball possible," said Abdulla Saeed Al Naboodah, Chairman and by Jurica Golemac, Dubai Basketball will make go head-to-head in their debut season with some of the most celebrated basketball teams in the world. Facing the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, and reigning champions Fenerbahce, among other elite clubs, Dubai Basketball will bring top-tier European basketball to Coca-Cola Arena from September to and co-Chief Executive Officer Dejan Kamenjašević has been a driving force behind the club's rapid rise. "Credit goes to our coaches, players and all Dubai Basketball employees who worked hard to convert this dream to a reality," said Kamenjašević. Now, with EuroLeague ahead, we have even more to show. We're building something this city has never seen before." In just their first season, Dubai Basketball attracted nearly 80,000 fans to Coca-Cola Arena, paving the way for a new era for the sport in the region. As the only Middle Eastern team represented in ABA League last season, Dubai had something to prove from day one. And in the span of a year, they firmly established themselves as top contenders in Europe. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
