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 Basket.Following 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 Founder.Coached 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 June.Co-founder 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
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