Dubai Basketball make history with ABA League title
Dubai Basketball have delivered one of the biggest sporting milestones the UAE has seen in recent years, winning the 2025/26 ABA League title after defeating Partizan 83–81 in Game 4 of the Finals.
The victory is historic on several levels. In only their second season, Dubai Basketball became the first team representing Dubai and the UAE to win a major international league title. It is the kind of result that goes beyond basketball — a statement about how quickly sport in the UAE is evolving, and how seriously Dubai is positioning itself on the international stage.
For Dubai People, what makes this story especially important is the scale of the achievement in such a short period of time. Over the course of an intense eight-month campaign, the team competed in two leagues, faced some of Europe’s most established clubs, and went from newcomers to champions. What looked ambitious at the start of the project has now turned into one of the most significant results in UAE sporting history.
Abdulla Saeed Juma Al Naboodah, founder and chairman of Dubai Basketball, described the title as more than a club trophy. He said the original vision was never just to build a basketball team, but to create a platform that could represent Dubai internationally and show what becomes possible when ambition is matched with commitment. He also called the title a landmark moment for Dubai and the UAE, reflecting the growing influence of Emirati sport on the global stage.
There is also a wider emotional layer to the win. Al Naboodah said the trophy is a source of pride for everyone who calls the UAE home and proof that clubs from the region can compete with — and defeat — some of the best-established teams in Europe. In that sense, the title becomes not just a sporting success, but a symbol of what Dubai increasingly represents: new standards, new ground, and a willingness to think beyond limits.
Head coach Aleksander Sekulić also underlined how much the victory means for a club still at the very beginning of its journey. He praised the players, coaches, and staff, saying the trophy belongs to everyone who contributed to the season. He also noted that it had been a special campaign because the team spent a long period playing away from Dubai, yet remained united and kept fighting until the end.
The numbers behind the season make the title even more convincing. Dubai Basketball finished the regular season top of the ABA League standings, ended the campaign with 29 wins in 33 games, and remained unbeaten at home throughout the entire season. That home strength played a decisive role in the Finals, where the team built a 2–1 leadbefore going to Belgrade and closing out the series.
Another standout moment came with Mfiondu Kabengele, who was named Finals MVP after averaging 15.75 points across the four-game series. His performances helped anchor a team that has quickly built both identity and credibility in one of Europe’s most demanding basketball environments.
But perhaps the biggest significance of the title lies in what it could mean next. The victory is being framed as an unprecedented moment not only for the club itself, but for the wider development of basketball in the UAE and the region. With strong fan support throughout the season, Dubai Basketball’s rise is already inspiring a new generation of basketball followers across the country.
In a city that constantly pushes for new benchmarks across business, culture, and sport, this title feels perfectly aligned with Dubai’s wider identity. Dubai Basketball did not just win a championship. They proved that a club from the UAE can enter an international league, compete at the highest level, and come out on top — all within two seasons. That is not just a good story. For Dubai, it is a powerful signal of what comes next.
