Dubai Basketball has quickly become one of the most talked-about clubs in international basketball. Founded in 2023, the team represents the growing ambition of Dubai basketball and its push onto the European sporting stage. The club competes in the ABA League, a regional competition featuring established teams from across the Balkans and the wider European basketball scene. Its rapid rise matters because Dubai is no longer simply building a local basketball profile; it is competing for major international honors. The Dubai basketball team made history in June 2026 by winning the ABA League championship in only its second season. That achievement has given the project credibility and created a new chapter for basketball in the United Arab Emirates.
What Is Dubai Basketball?
Dubai Basketball is a professional club based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The team plays its home matches at Coca-Cola Arena, one of the city’s major indoor venues. Its arrival in the ABA League gave the competition a new geographic dimension, with a UAE-based club competing against teams with decades of basketball history.
The club was established with an international outlook. Its squads have featured players from several basketball nations, including Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Latvia, France, Turkey, Brazil, Canada, and the United States. That mix reflects the team’s strategy of combining experienced European players with international talent.
For Dubai, the project is also about establishing a stronger basketball culture. The club provides a high-level professional team in a city already known for hosting major sporting events. Regular games at Coca-Cola Arena have helped bring European-level competition directly to local fans.
How Dubai Basketball Developed
The club’s first major competitive step came in the ABA League during the 2024–25 season. Dubai immediately showed that it could compete with established opponents and reached the playoffs. Its first campaign ended in the semifinals, where Partizan defeated Dubai 114–97 in Game 3 to win the series.
That early playoff appearance was important. Dubai Basketball was still a young organization, but it had already moved beyond being an experimental project. The team had demonstrated that it could challenge traditional regional powers.
The following season brought a much bigger breakthrough. Dubai reached the 2025–26 ABA League Finals and faced Partizan again. This time, the result was dramatically different. Dubai won the best-of-five series 3–1 and claimed the first major trophy in club history.
The victory also made the club the first team from Dubai and the UAE to win the ABA League title. For a team only two seasons into its competitive history, the achievement was remarkable.
Dubai Basketball and the ABA League
The ABA League is central to the club’s development. It provides a demanding schedule against experienced European organizations and exposes Dubai to different playing styles, defensive systems, and competitive environments.
The league format requires teams to navigate a regular season before moving into the later stages. In the 2026–27 competition, Dubai has been placed in Group B alongside Partizan Mozzart Bet, U-BT Cluj-Napoca, SC Derby, Zadar, Spartak Office Shoes, Bosna BH Telecom, Mega Superbet, Perspektiva Ilirija, and Vienna. The regular season uses a double round-robin format, with teams playing each opponent home and away.
The new structure then moves teams into a Top 8 phase, or Play-Out, followed by the playoffs. Quarterfinals are best-of-three series, with the competition ultimately leading to a Final Four. The 2026–27 season is scheduled to begin between September 26 and 28, 2026.
For Dubai, this format offers a long-term test. Winning individual games is not enough. The club must maintain consistency across an entire campaign.
Key Players and Basketball Style
Dubai Basketball has built squads around players with significant international experience. Džanan Musa has been one of the team’s most recognizable offensive players, while players such as Davis Bertans, Justin Anderson, Awudu Abass, Klemen Prepelič, and McKinley Wright IV have added experience and different skill sets.
The 2025–26 championship run also highlighted Aleksa Avramović and Mfiondu Kabengele. Avramović produced the decisive free throws in Game 4 of the Finals, converting both attempts with the score tied at 81–81. Dubai then stopped Partizan’s final possession to secure an 83–81 victory and the championship.
Kabengele was named Finals MVP after averaging 15.8 points and 7.3 rebounds across the four-game series. His interior scoring, rebounding, and physical presence were crucial against Partizan’s frontcourt.
The team’s roster for 2026–27 continues that international approach. The current ABA League listing includes players such as Elie Okobo, Dwayne Bacon, Džanan Musa, Davis Bertans, Filip Petrušev, and Kenan Kamenjaš. Xavi Pascual is listed as head coach.
The Historic 2026 Championship
The 2025–26 ABA League Finals became the defining moment in Dubai Basketball’s short history. Dubai opened the series at home with a 99–93 victory over Partizan. Game 2 also went to Dubai, 86–81, giving the hosts a 2–0 advantage.
Partizan responded in Belgrade with an 84–70 win in Game 3, cutting the series to 2–1. That result showed that the championship was far from settled. Dubai then returned to Belgrade for Game 4 with the title within reach.
The final game produced one of the most memorable finishes in the club’s young history. With the score tied at 81–81 in the closing seconds, Avramović made two free throws. Partizan had one final possession, but Dubai’s defense held firm. The 83–81 win completed a 3–1 series victory and delivered the club its first championship.
What Comes Next for Dubai Basketball?
The championship has changed expectations around the club. Dubai is no longer viewed simply as a newcomer trying to establish itself in European basketball. It enters the 2026–27 season as the defending ABA League champion.
Preseason preparations began in August 2026, with the team holding its opening practice in Dubai before travelling to Antalya, Turkey, for four preseason games in September. The preparations include established first-team players alongside younger prospects.
That next phase will test whether Dubai can turn an extraordinary breakthrough into sustained success. The challenge is greater now because opponents will approach the defending champion with a different level of preparation.
For fans, the appeal is straightforward. Dubai Basketball offers a young club, an international roster, and a growing connection between UAE sport and European competition. Its 2026 ABA League triumph has already secured a place in the region’s basketball history. The next task is to prove that the title was the beginning of a lasting basketball presence rather than a one-season surprise.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Dubai Basketball founded?
Dubai Basketball was founded in 2023 and began competing in the ABA League during the 2024–25 season. The club reached the playoffs in its first campaign and quickly established itself as a serious competitor in regional European basketball.
Where does Dubai Basketball play its home games?
Dubai Basketball plays its home games at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. The venue provides a major indoor setting for the club and has hosted important ABA League fixtures, including games during the team’s historic 2026 championship run.
Has Dubai Basketball won the ABA League?
Yes. Dubai Basketball won the 2025–26 ABA League championship by defeating Partizan Mozzart Bet 3–1 in the Finals. The title was the first major trophy in the club’s history and came during its second competitive season.
Who was the 2026 ABA League Finals MVP?
Mfiondu Kabengele was named the 2026 ABA League Finals MVP. The Dubai center averaged 15.8 points and 7.3 rebounds during the four-game series and played a major role in the club’s championship victory.
When does the next ABA League season start?
The 2026–27 ABA League regular season is scheduled to begin between September 26 and 28, 2026. Dubai Basketball has been placed in Group B and will begin its title defense against a new group of regional opponents.