The Basket Lab, among the European press selected for Dubai BC’s EuroLeague debut

The big news of the 2025/26 EuroLeague season is the debut of Dubai BC, the first team from the Middle East to take part in the top continental competition in the 21st century. After years of negotiations, the club from the United Arab Emirates was finally accepted by the ECA owners and joins the elite of European basketball with a five-year contract, marking another step in the EuroLeague’s expansion towards one of the world’s most dynamic regions. In autumn 2024, an agreement was reached for Abu Dhabi to host three Final Fours between 2025 and 2029, and the entry of Dubai BC confirms this new direction.

For the first game at the Coca-Cola Arena against Partizan Belgrade, Dubai BC selected a group of top-tier European media: historic names in sports journalism such as L’Équipe, Marca, or Mundo Deportivo, alongside emerging outlets specializing in basketball such as Eurohoops (Greece) and Basketnews (Lithuania), were among the invited press. Also present was The Basket Lab, representing two of the media it regularly collaborates with: Gigantes del Basket and Jijantes FC.

The EuroLeague CEO, Paulius Motiejunas, attending Jijantes FC

“For us, it’s an honor, a great source of pride, and a huge recognition of our work that a club with the potential of Dubai BC invited us to their home on their debut day,” said The Basket Lab CEO, Marc Mundet. “Being able to experience the club firsthand, meet the people working there, and discover the city of Dubai is a tremendous privilege, and we’re extremely grateful for the invitation.”

The trip took place from September 28 to October 1 and included the official public presentation of the club with EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas, Dubai BC General Manager Dejan Kamenjasevic, and Dubai Sports Council Director Eisa Sharif Al Marzooqi. The Basket Lab participated in a guided tour of the Coca-Cola Arena and the pre-game activities leading up to the Dubai BC vs. Partizan game on Matchday 1. The Lab was also invited to a welcome dinner at Nola Bijou, a French bistro in the heart of Dubai’s City Walk.

“The entire trip was a unique opportunity to make contacts and build relationships with everything happening in and around Dubai, and also to understand new market trends within the basketball industry in the Middle East,” added Mundet. In addition to the insights and connections gained, the trip has resulted in a series of features for Gigantes del Basket and Jijantes FC that will be published throughout the season.