The announcement came during key meetings of the Gulf Basketball Association and a consultative session for Gulf federation presidents, held at the Sheraton Doha Hotel and hosted by the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF).
These gatherings underscored the region’s commitment to advancing basketball through enhanced collaboration and development initiatives.
The meetings, attended by prominent figures including His EE Sheikh Saud bin Ali al-Thani, President of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), focused on strategic priorities for the sport’s growth. Key participants included Mohammed bin Saad al-Mughaiseeb, President of both the Gulf and Qatar Basketball Associations; Hagop Khajirian, FIBA’s Executive Director; and Saadoun Sabah al-Kuwari, Secretary-General of the Gulf Basketball Association.
Board members such as Hamoud al-Malki, Salem al-Mutawa, Mohammed Nasser al-Hasani, Thamer Ayed al-Shanfa, and Mohammed al-Ajmi also contributed to discussions on upcoming plans. A major highlight was the approval of the 2025-2026 Gulf basketball tournament calendar, designed to foster youth and women’s participation across the region
Bahrain will host the Gulf 3×3 Youth Championship for under-21 men and women on November 19-20, 2025. Saudi Arabia will stage the Gulf Women’s Championship in November 2025. Oman will organise the Gulf 3×3 Men’s Championship on November 28-29, 2025.
Qatar will host the Gulf 3×3 Under-21 Championship in 2026 and the Gulf Under-18 Youth Championship next year. Abu Dhabi, UAE, will welcome the Fatima bint Mubarak Gulf Women’s Academy Cup next year. Oman will also host the Gulf 3×3 Men’s Championship next year, alongside the Gulf Women’s Championship.
The sessions emphasised innovative projects, including the publication of a comprehensive book chronicling the history of basketball in Gulf countries—from the founding of federations to current achievements. Additionally, a new Gulf Clubs Cup of Cups tournament will launch next year, with regulations ensuring participation from each nation’s cup champions, provided they are not competing in the West Asia Super League (WASL).
This initiative aims to provide broader regional opportunities for Gulf clubs .In the consultative meeting, Gulf federation presidents — including Sheikh Mohammed bin Ahmed al-Khalifa (Bahrain), Engineer Khalfan bin Saleh al-Naabi (Oman), Ghassan Yusuf Tashkandi (Saudi Arabia), Dhari Burjis (Kuwait), and Abdul Latif Nasser Al Fardan (UAE)—unanimously affirmed their full backing for Qatar’s 2027 World Cup organizing committee.
They expressed confidence in Qatar’s ability to deliver a world-class event from August 27 to September 12, 2027.Deliberations explored avenues for Gulf-wide cooperation on the World Cup, such as sharing expertise, joint training programs, friendly matches, and development initiatives for referees, statisticians, and coaches.
A workshop for new federation members and secretaries was proposed to introduce effective governance principles, alongside an overview of FIBA regulations and their practical application.
The Gulf Association received proposals from Oman to establish and host a new under-14 girls’ tournament, and from Bahrain to organize the Gulf Men’s 5×5 Championship.
Mohammed bin Saad al-Mughaiseeb highlighted the meetings’ objectives: “These gatherings are pivotal in strengthening ties among Gulf federations and elevating basketball at all levels. We take great pride in Qatar’s role in hosting regional tournaments and leading the organisation of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup — a landmark moment for the sport globally.” He added that the agenda also prioritizes scheduling tournaments to avoid conflicts with student-athletes’ exams, ensuring a balanced environment for academic and athletic pursuits.
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