Dubai: The Dubai Sports Council (DSC) has successfully concluded the 2026 edition of the "Dubai Open Basketball Academies Championship," held in collaboration with the UAE Basketball Association and the event’s operational partner, Sports Mania and Sport360. Hosted at the Al Nasr Club sports hall, the tournament’s finale underscored the Council’s ongoing efforts to discover, develop, and refine young athletic talents within a highly competitive environment tailored for academies and clubs across the emirate.

The 2026 championship witnessed an unprecedented level of engagement, drawing a record-breaking 1,924 male and female players representing 106 teams from 24 diverse sports academies and clubs. Competing across 14 age categories, the teams played a total of 563 matches characterized by intense rivalries and high technical proficiency, reflecting the remarkable evolution of grassroots sports programs and the surging popularity of basketball in Dubai.

A Sustainable Strategy for Discovering Future Champions

Ahmed Salem Al Mahri, Director of the Sports Talent Department at the Dubai Sports Council, emphasized that the exceptional success of this year’s tournament is a direct reflection of the growing sector of sports academies and the rising prominence of the sport in Dubai.

"The massive, record-breaking participation of 1,924 players from 24 clubs and academies is a clear testament to the success of our efforts in creating an attractive and competitive sports ecosystem," said Al Mahri. "The competitions showcased advanced technical levels and fierce rivalries, providing us with strong indicators of the abundance of young talent in Dubai."

He added: "This championship is not merely a sporting competition; it is a strategic tool that supports the Council’s mission to discover and develop young athletes. This initiative falls under the Dubai Sports Council’s broader sports agenda, which aims to elevate grassroots categories in local clubs and academies. We are actively working to provide regular, high-level competitive opportunities that contribute to building a promising generation of athletes capable of representing the UAE in future international arenas."

Crowning the Champion Teams

The tournament engaged a wide spectrum of age groups, ranging from Under-8 to Under-19 categories for both boys and girls. The thrilling final matches culminated in Dubai Tribe claiming the Under-8 (Mixed) title after defeating NBA Warriors. In the Under-10 (Mixed - Tier 1) category, Champs Black secured the championship against Dubai Tribe, while Jam Green took the Tier 2 title following their victory over NBA Thunder.

In the Under-12 divisions, Champs Black secured first place in the Boys Tier 1 category by defeating Dubai Basketball Academy, and Jam Green triumphed in Tier 2 against NBA Clippers. Meanwhile, OPS Academy captured the Under-12 Girls title after overcoming NBA Sky.

The Under-14 Boys Tier 1 title went to Game Time Sports after a win over Dubai Basketball Academy, with Twenty4 Academy securing the Tier 2 championship against Wise Academy. In the Under-14 Girls division, Champs Black emerged victorious over NBA Liberty.

Further highlights included the Under-16 Girls Tier 1 category, where NBA Aces claimed the title against the Wildcats. Jam Green took the Under-16 Girls Tier 2 title by defeating Champs White. In the Under-16 Boys Tier 2 division, NBA 76 was crowned champion after besting Champs White. Finally, Jam Green secured the prestigious Under-19 Boys title with a decisive final victory over Twenty4.

Honoring Individual Excellence and Emerging Stars

Reflecting the Council’s commitment to nurturing individual skills and motivating young athletes, the championship featured a dedicated segment to honor individual titleholders and excellence award winners across various age groups and competitive tiers.

The honors list included Constantine Hanley (Dubai Tribe) for the U8 Mixed category; Syed Ghadi (Champs Black) for U10 Mixed Tier 1; and Noel Galila (Jam Green) for U10 Mixed Tier 2. In the U12 category, Zain Al Sibai (Champs Black) won the Boys Tier 1 award, Rayan Muhanna (Jam Green) took the Boys Tier 2 award, and Amelie Rezan (OPS Academy) claimed the Girls award.

For the U14 divisions, Elias Sawaya (Game Time Sports) received the Boys Tier 1 award, Thomas Azar (Twenty4 Academy) won for Boys Tier 2, and Rebecca Hashem (Champs Black) took home the Girls award. In the U16 categories, Aiden O'Brien (NBA 76) secured the Boys Tier 2 award, Madison Kroll (NBA Aces) won the Girls Tier 1 award, and Drina Rodriguez (Jam Green) was honored for Girls Tier 2. The individual accolades concluded with Wael Sulaiman (Jam Green) receiving the Excellence Award for the U19 Boys category.

The roster of 24 participating clubs and academies featured prominent names from both within and outside Dubai, including Al Nasr Club, Shabab Al Ahli Club, Sharjah Women's Sports Club, and Dubai Basketball Academy, alongside other leading regional sports institutions.

This championship aligns with the Dubai Sports Council’s strategic objective to strengthen the foundational base of youth sports, providing the consistent competitive exposure necessary to cultivate a world-class generation of athletes ready to fly the UAE flag at future global sporting events.