Fourteen teams will compete at Festival Bay on 6–7 November, with free admission and a programme linking elite basketball with school sport.
DUBAI — Olympic gold medallists Worthy de Jong and Dimeo van der Horst will be among the leading names competing when Dubai hosts a FIBA 3x3 World Tour event on 6–7 November, bringing 14 teams to a purpose-built court at Festival Bay, Dubai Festival City Mall.
Dubai Sports Council said construction and preparations were under way at the waterfront venue, with the tournament being organised under the supervision of the International Basketball Federation, FIBA, and in cooperation with the UAE Basketball Association. The event forms part of the council's strategic partnership with FIBA, which runs until 2028.
De Jong and Van der Horst, members of the Netherlands team that won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, will represent Amsterdam Rabobank. They join a field featuring Serbian teams Ub and Liman, alongside teams from Germany, China, Spain, Croatia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Switzerland, Thailand and Qatar.
Host team Dubai will compete for the title under Serbian coach Dušan Bulut, a former world No 1 whose playing career includes four FIBA 3x3 World Cup titles, four World Tour titles with Novi Sad and an Olympic bronze medal at Tokyo 2020.
The team heads into the tournament following encouraging performances in Bucharest, Madrid and Barcelona, according to the council. Its wider squad combines international professionals with Emirati players Khalid Khalifa and Hussein Habib, reflecting an effort to develop local talent through exposure to experienced overseas players.
Teams will compete for prize money and international ranking points as the World Tour season moves towards its finale in Rio de Janeiro on 12–13 December.
The council also highlighted the event's relevance to the international 3x3 ranking system and the pathway towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Preparations extend beyond the competition court. Organisers are coordinating venue facilities, spectator services and team arrivals, while a programme of school visits and student competitions will connect the tournament with grassroots basketball.
On Thursday, 5 November, Amsterdam's Olympic champions are scheduled to visit Dubai schools, meet pupils and share their experiences of competing at the highest level. The visits are intended to encourage participation in basketball and introduce more young people to the three-a-side format.
The tournament court will also host the Dubai Schools Games 3x3 basketball finals that day, giving qualifying school teams the opportunity to compete at the same venue as the international players.
The council will hold a press conference at Festival Bay on 5 November to announce final competition arrangements and details of the accompanying activities.
Admission to the tournament will be free, with spectators required to register in advance through the Coca-Cola Arena website.
Played on a half-court with one basket, 3x3 basketball pits two teams of three against each other in a fast-paced contest. Games last 10 minutes, unless a team reaches 21 points before time expires.
For Dubai Sports Council, the event supports the wider ambitions of the Dubai Sports Plan 2033, which includes attracting international competitions, strengthening partnerships with global sports bodies and expanding opportunities for young athletes and community participation.