The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Abu Dhabi League has opened its fifth season with its biggest entry yet.
More than 2,500 boys and girls from 68 schools across Abu Dhabi and the Al Ain Region will take part this season.
The league, run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, and the NBA, has grown each year since it launched in 2022.
This basketball season will feature 170 teams, which marks a 39 per cent rise on last year. Players will compete across six leagues, with Under-12, Under-14 and, for the first time, Under-16 categories included.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said the league’s growth showed the emirate’s continued focus on youth sport.
“The continued growth of the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Abu Dhabi League shows our commitment to our youth and to inspiring the next generation of players across the UAE and wider region,” he said.
He added that the programme gives young players the chance to improve their skills, build character and connect through sport.
The youth league also sits alongside other basketball projects in the capital, including the NBA Global Academy and the annual NBA Global Games.
Al Mubarak said those programmes form part of Abu Dhabi’s plan to build its place as a basketball hub in the Middle East.
