The 6th edition of the Dubai Open Basketball Academies Championship concluded with resounding success, drawing more than 1,500 male and female players across five youth age categories, from under-10 to under-19. Representing 87 teams from 22 public and private academies—including renowned clubs like Al-Nasr and Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai—the championship showcased the rising talent in the UAE’s basketball scene.
Organised by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) in collaboration with the UAE Basketball Association and event partners Sports Mania and Sports 360 X, the championship underlined Dubai’s continued commitment to nurturing sports talent in alignment with government policies on youth development.
Spanning two months, the tournament featured 422 fiercely contested matches, attracting an audience of over 42,000 fans. The finals were marked by thrilling encounters and were capped with an awards ceremony attended by Ahmed Salem Al-Mahri, Director of the Sports Talents Department at DSC, and Lebanese basketball legend Fadi El Khatib, the official Ambassador of Sport in Dubai.
Tournament Highlights:
- U10 Mixed Category: Jam Team stood out with two dominant victories, defeating Champs 68–42 and Patriots 48–23.
- U12 Boys: Champs narrowly beat Moen 81–76 in a tense first-level final, while NBA edged out Champs 70–67 in the second level.
- U12 Girls: Jam delivered an impressive performance to overcome NBA 41–33.
- U14 Boys: 24 Academy prevailed over Falcons 89–72, while Jam beat Moen 80–72 in another tightly contested game.
- U14 Girls: Champs claimed a well-fought 69–63 victory over NBA.
- U16 Boys: 24 Academy defeated Falcons 64–56, while Jam outclassed NBA 71–49.
- U16 Girls: NBA bounced back to secure a 50–36 win over Jam.
- U19 Boys: In a thrilling conclusion to the tournament, Wildcats overcame Falcons 87–78 in a match full of pace and precision.
The games were held at Al-Nasr Sports Club and Al-Ettihad Private School – Jumeirah, supported by sponsors including Anta Sports Equipment Company, Vid Fit Sports Nutrition, Burjeel Hospital, and Al Ain Water.
The championship continues to cement its status as one of the UAE’s premier youth basketball events, offering a competitive platform for budding athletes to shine and for scouts to identify future stars of the sport.
