Dubai Basketball Makes EuroLeague History with Five-Year License Deal

Dubai Basketball Club is set to make history as the first team from the Middle East to compete in the EuroLeague after securing a five-year license to join Europe’s premier basketball competition starting in the 2025–26 season. The move marks a significant milestone for both the club and the region as the UAE continues its strategic push into elite global sport.

Founded in 2023, Dubai Basketball has quickly emerged as a rising force, reaching the semi-finals of the ABA League in its debut season. Now, just two years later, the club will compete against the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Fenerbahçe and Olympiacos, signalling the EuroLeague’s growing ambitions beyond the continent’s traditional borders.

Home games will be staged at the 15,000-seat Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, which has already proven a popular venue, with the club drawing nearly 80,000 spectators across its inaugural season. The addition of the club to the EuroLeague is expected to drive fresh commercial interest, broadcast appeal, and fan engagement across the MENA region, in line with the broader regional trend in global sports investment.

From a basketball operations perspective, the team aims to bolster its roster with a mix of experienced international players and emerging local talent. Its current setup features former NBA player Davis Bertans. It is led by head coach Jurica Golemac, one of Europe’s most respected tacticians. The step up to EuroLeague competition, with 38 regular-season games, will test the squad’s depth and competitiveness.

The EuroLeague expansion, which also sees Valencia Basket join under a shorter-term license, is part of the league’s broader plan to become a truly global competition. The addition of a team from Dubai follows the relocation of the Final Four to Abu Dhabi in 2024. It reflects growing ties between the EuroLeague and Gulf markets.

Backed by the Dubai Sports Council and spearheaded by chairman Abdulla Saeed Juma Al Naboodah and co-founder Dejan Kamenjasevic, Dubai Basketball aims to position itself as a new commercial and competitive force in global hoops.