In brief
Dubai hosted the inaugural FIBA 3x3 World Tour on 6‑7 November 2026, organized by the Dubai Sports Council and supervised by FIBA. The event, part of a three‑year partnership aimed at positioning Dubai as a global sport hub, featured 14 world‑class teams and included community outreach such as school visits. Key officials—Eisa Sharif Al Marzouqi, Salem Al Mutawa, Ignacio Soriano and Olympic gold medallist Worthy de Jong—released details of the partnership and the tournament’s legacy plans.
DUBAI, November 5 2026 – The world’s premier half‑court basketball event, the FIBA 3x3 World Tour, opened its first Dubai edition on Friday at Festival Bay, Dubai Festival City, under a two‑day schedule that culminated on Saturday night. The competition, organized by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) in partnership with the UAE Basketball Association and supervised by FIBA, marks the beginning of a landmark three‑year strategic partnership that will run through 2028.
Details of the tournament were unveiled during an on‑site press conference on Thursday, where Eisa Sharif Al Marzouqi, Director of the Sports Events Department at the DSC; Salem Al Mutawa, Secretary‑General of the UAE Basketball Association; Ignacio Soriano, Head of Events and Partnerships at FIBA 3x3; and Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist Worthy de Jong of Team Amsterdam Rabobank spoke to reporters.
“With 14 world‑class teams competing this weekend, our priority at the Dubai Sports Council was to ensure this global spectacle leaves a lasting community legacy that begins in our schools,” said Al Marzouqi.
Al Marzouqi explained that the pact aligns with the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033, which lists basketball among 17 priority sports. The plan rests on four pillars – Community, Events, Clubs and Talent – and supports 19 programmes and 75 initiatives designed to elevate the sporting sector.
To reinforce the legacy, the DSC’s build‑up programme included visits by Team Amsterdam champions to Dubai schools, giving students an opportunity to engage directly with top players. The tournament’s centre court also hosted the 3x3 finals of the Dubai Schools Games, further demonstrating the focus on grassroots development.
As the inaugural event unfolds, participants and spectators alike will witness how the partnership aims to cement Dubai as a premier global hub for elite 3x3 competitions and international sport at large.
