In a move to enhance its presence on the local and international basketball circuits, the newly-established sports franchise team Dubai Basketball has signed a cooperation agreement with Shabab Al Ahli Club with the aim of facilitating the exchange of expertise in various aspects of the sport.

The agreement includes the exchange of coaching and administrative know how, hosting of training camps and tournaments, and the sharing of sports facilities between the two clubs.

The agreement was signed by Majid Sultan bin Sulaiman, CEO of Shabab Al Ahli Club, and Salem bin Dasmal, President of Dubai Basketball.

At a broader level, the collaboration seeks to foster increased awareness about the technical aspects of basketball and boost its popularity across various age groups. The agreement will facilitate joint training camps and the use of Shabab Al Ahli Club’s facilities for Dubai Basketball club’s training sessions.

Dubai Basketball, licensed by the UAE Basketball Association, Dubai Sports Council, and founded by Abdulla Saeed Al Naboodah, has secured approval from the European League to participate in the Adriatic Basketball Association (ABA) League starting from the 2024-2025 season. The ABA League serves as a qualifying tournament for the prestigious Euro League, considered the second most important basketball league globally after the National Basketball Association (NBA) in North America. Dubai Basketball club’s home games will be hosted at the Coca-Cola Arena, which can accommodate 15,000 spectators, while Shabab Al Ahli Club will host the team’s training sessions.

Majid Sultan bin Sulaiman said that the agreement will open new avenues for both clubs to exchange expertise and significantly contribute to enhancing Shabab Al Ahli’s basketball programme, which aims to achieve further success at the regional level, especially after securing the runner-up position in the 2024 Asian Basketball Championship. He highlighted Shabab Al Ahli’s keenness to draw on Dubai Basketball club’s experience of competing in the European League.

Prime objectives

Salem bin Dasmal praised Shabab Al Ahli Club and said that the agreement marks a new era of collaboration to advance basketball locally. He highlighted the partnership’s objective of enhancing technical skills of Dubai Basketball club’s players and enriching the experience of the administrative and technical staff.

Highlighting the global popularity of basketball, Bin Dasmal emphasised that the focus on the sport aligns with Dubai’s and the UAE’s commitment to the sports sector in general. He stressed the importance of promoting sports, recognising its role in building communities, improving public health, and instilling positive values and ethics.

By participating in the 2024-25 season of the ABA League, Dubai Basketball seeks to gain a strong footing in the prestigious EuroLeague, apart from helping grow and develop the game and its fan base in the region.