More than 1,800 young basketball players from 23 clubs and academies will compete in the 2026/27 Dubai Open for Basketball Academies (DOBA) Championship, which has begun its third season.
The opening phase runs until December 13, with 321 matches scheduled at Citizens School in Al Satwa and Al Ittihad Private School in Jumeirah.
Six clubs are taking part, including Al Nasr, Al Wasl, Shabab Al Ahli, Sharjah Club, Sharjah Women’s Club and Khor Fakkan Club.
They will compete alongside 17 basketball academies, including JAM Academy, Champs Academy, NBA School, Dubai Basketball Academy, Triple Threat, Wildcats, Dubai Tribe and Wise Academy.
The competition gives young players regular matches against opponents from different clubs and academies, while offering coaches the chance to assess their progress throughout the season.
The championship will also adopt updated International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules in coordination with the UAE Basketball Federation.
The changes will apply to match officials, coaches and players throughout the competition.
Emirati Clubs Join Private Basketball Academies
The involvement of established Emirati clubs alongside private academies is a feature of this year’s competition.
Players from clubs such as Al Nasr, Al Wasl and Shabab Al Ahli will face teams from academies operating across Dubai and other emirates.
The format allows players from different training backgrounds to compete against one another over the course of the season.
DOBA is now in its third consecutive season, with the first phase of the 2026/27 competition set to conclude on December 13.
