Real Madrid's basketball team will start their 2026-27 season with a semi-final against Dubai in the first EuroLeague Super Cup, set for 18 September at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena. The match brings top-level European basketball to the UAE and marks the launch of a new continental tournament.
The EuroLeague Super Cup will feature two semi-finals on 18 September, with Dubai BC facing Real Madrid and Olympiacos meeting Fenerbahçe, followed by the third-place game and final on 19 September.
Dubai's basketball team, which recently made its full-squad debut and won a preseason game in Turkey (as reported earlier), now faces its toughest challenge yet. The semi-final against Real Madrid will test both the club's ambitions and the region's ability to compete with Europe's best. Multiple reports, including in.gr and sportdog, confirm that Dubai BC vs Real Madrid is set for 20:00 local time on 18 September, with Olympiacos and Fenerbahçe meeting in the other semi-final.
The arrival of the EuroLeague Super Cup in the UAE gives local fans a rare chance to see top European teams in person and offers Dubai's team a chance to compete against one of the sport's most successful clubs. The results will help shape how the new tournament and the UAE's role in basketball are viewed. The Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, will host the event, as confirmed by Dnews.
Despite earlier uncertainty due to security concerns, independent Greek coverage reports that all participating teams received guarantees and were expected to travel to the UAE. The tournament was confirmed to proceed as normal at Etihad Arena on 18-19 September, solidifying Abu Dhabi's role as a new stage for European basketball.
