Dubai Basketball’s vision is breaking barriers from the Gulf to Europe and becoming a reality

The owner of the Dubai Basketball Team, Abdullah Al Nabooda, confirmed that the experience of establishing a team capable of competing outside the Asian framework represents one of the most difficult and important challenges in his sporting career, noting that breaking geographical barriers for a team that starts from the Gulf region and reaches European competition was not an easy matter, but rather took years of continuous work and planning.

Al Naboodah said, on the sidelines of his participation in the World Sports Summit, that the project was not the result of a moment, but rather the result of a long-term vision that started from scratch, and required great support from partners and leaders who worked with full faith on that idea, in addition to the contributions of many personalities who had a pivotal role in turning the vision into reality.

He added: “The foundation was there from the beginning. Dubai includes 177 basketball academies, with tens of thousands of children playing the game, which formed a natural fan base and a clear indication of the presence of a real passion for basketball and a desire to follow high-level competitions.”

He explained: “The biggest challenge was not launching the project itself, but rather ensuring its sustainability, stressing that the goal was not financial spending without a vision, but rather building a sports commercial asset capable of continuing for many decades. The European Basketball League model is the most prominent example of sustainability, structure, and long-term vision in sports.”

Al Nabooda recounted, saying: “The team moved with deliberate steps to a deeper stage by heading to schools in Dubai, through educational programs that are not limited to teaching the basics of the game, but rather aim to instill a love of basketball in the hearts of children, with a special focus on the age group from 8 to 15 years, as it is the stage in which true belonging is formed, and where the child becomes a fan of the game for life.”

He continued: “The future vision is based on creating clear paths that allow players to develop locally, succeed on their home soil, and then reach the highest competitive levels from within the same region. The fan experience and the environment surrounding the matches are two essential elements in the success of any sports project.”

Al Nabooda concluded by emphasizing that: “Basketball has a special appeal in the UAE, due to its comprehensiveness and ability to attract various nationalities. Investing in the game does not only represent a smart economic decision, but rather a strategic choice that reflects a deep understanding of the nature of the sports community and its diversity in the country.”