Women Open CupUAERegister

UAE Basketball Association · 4th Edition

WomenOpen CupUAE

The open women’s basketball competition of the United Arab Emirates. Four recognised clubs, six academies and universities, one round robin and two roads to a title — played on home courts across the Emirates.

Register your team

2026–2027 season · AED 6,000 per team

Women Open Cup UAE
  • 120+Players
  • 10Teams
  • 5v5Open format

About the competition

The ultimate 5v5 open women’s competition in the UAE

Our commitment to women’s sport has never been stronger, and last season’s numbers were a clear indication of the growing popularity of women’s basketball in the UAE.

The UAE Basketball Association is tipping off the Women Open Cup UAE: gathering more than 120 players from all over the United Arab Emirates, who will battle for the title across two separate rankings. Competitive games at a recreational level — open to every skill level, played under FIBA rules, covered game by game.

  • 120+Players from across the Emirates
  • 2Separate rankings, two titles
  • 45Games in the round robin
A Women Open Cup player driving to the basket

Event info

Everything you need to know

  • Number of teams

    10 teams

    4 local clubs & 6 private academies / universities

  • Venue

    Home courts

    Local clubs, private academies & university courts

  • Start date

    26 Sept 2026

    Season tip-off. Registration closes 20 Sept

  • Games’ basis

    Round robin

    Every team faces every other team once, then playoffs

  • Prizes

    Cash prize

    For the 1st place teams + cups, medals & valuable gifts

Why be part of it

Why join the Women Open Cup?

  • 01

    Spotlight on women’s basketball

    The light goes on the women’s basketball players of the UAE.

  • 02

    Full media coverage

    Game news, pictures, stats and scores on websites, the mobile app, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and newspapers.

  • 03

    High competition level

    Amazing engagement and a high competition level between women’s basketball players in the UAE.

  • 04

    Competitive, yet recreational

    Competitive games at a recreational level — open to all skill levels.

  • 05

    Well-organised tournament

    Professional organisation involving 10 to 12 teams and more than 120 players.

  • 06

    Giveaways & prizes

    Great giveaways and prizes for players throughout the games.

Competition format

One group, two roads to a title

All 10 teams are placed in one group and face each other once — 45 games. The standings after round one split the competition into two separate rankings, each with its own semi-finals, third-place game and final.

Round oneRound robin · all 10 teams in one group · each team faces every other team once · 45 games

Champions Series

4 local clubs

  1. 1The four officially recognised sports clubs are seeded on their round-one ranking.
  2. 2Semi-finals: 1st v 4th and 2nd v 3rd, played home and away as a series, best of three.
  3. 3Semi-final winners qualify for the final; semi-final losers play for third place.

Elite Series

6 private academies & universities

  1. 1The six private teams play the same 10-team round robin as the clubs.
  2. 2The bottom two ranked private teams are eliminated after round one; the top four advance.
  3. 3Semi-finals: 1st v 4th and 2nd v 3rd, home and away, best of three, then the final and the third-place game.
A layup under the rim in a Women Open Cup game

Key dates

Mark your calendar

  1. 20Sept 2026

    Registration deadline

    Last day for teams to register.

  2. 22Sept 2026

    Final roster submission

    Each team provides the federation its final list of players.

  3. 26Sept 2026

    Season tip-off

    Round one begins on the home courts across the UAE.

Once the player list is submitted, no changes to player names are allowed for any reason, including travel or injury.

Player registration

Who can play

Players from different age categories may take part provided they are 16 years of age or older. A player may not play for more than one team during the competition.

Eligible categories

  • UAE nationals.
  • Daughters of UAE national women.
  • Holders of UAE passports.
  • Female residents living in the UAE.

Conditions for resident players

  • A valid legal UAE residence permit.
  • Resident in the UAE for at least one year before the start of the tournament.
  • All required supporting documents submitted during registration.

Team roster

  • Minimum 8 players registered.
  • Maximum 18 players on the tournament roster.
  • A maximum of 12 players may be listed for each match.
  • Up to 9 members may be registered as technical and administrative staff.

Rules & regulations

Playing by the book

On and off the court

  • The latest FIBA Official Basketball Rules and amendments apply throughout.
  • Referees are at equal distance from all teams and players.
  • UAE Basketball Association and Dubai Sports Council requirements must be followed.
  • All team jerseys must be identical, including shorts. Players in a different jersey are not allowed to play.
  • Each team has one unique-colour uniform, with numbers from 0 to 99.
  • Each player must have medical insurance coverage.
  • The official ball is a Molten size 6, or another ball approved by the Association.

Game day

  • Only 12 players may play in each game.
  • Any player not on the submitted list is ineligible to play.
  • Game dates, times and full attendance must be respected.
  • A team arriving more than 20 minutes late immediately loses the game; a no-show is a forfeit.
  • Any ejection carries an automatic suspension until a decision is issued on the case.
  • Misbehaviour suspends the player for one game or more, up to the whole tournament.
  • A team withdrawing after the schedule is published may face a financial penalty and exclusion from the next edition.
  • 2Points for a win
  • 1Point for a loss
  • 0Absent or late

Participation

What the participation fee includes

One fee covers the whole competition — officiating, statistics, filming, coverage and the awards.

AED 6,000per team, for the full season

  • 2 floor & 3 table referees

    In every game.

  • Game-by-game statistics

    Personal and team stats kept by two statisticians.

  • Professional cameraman

    Every game captured.

  • Live coverage

    On the UAE BA or Sports Mania YouTube channels.

  • Schedule management

    Managing and following up games and related issues.

  • Results exposure

    Social media and online newspapers.

  • MVP trophy every game

    For the best player of the game.

  • Cups & medals

    For 1st and 2nd place.

  • 6 individual trophies

    Best Rebounder, Best Coach and more.

Register your team Registration closes 20 September 2026.

The Women Open Cup trophy table

Awards

What the season is played for

Each of the two rankings is treated as a separate competition, with its own full set of awards.

  • Champions

    Championship Cup and gold medals for the champion in each separate ranking.

  • Runners-up

    Silver medals for the runner-up in each separate ranking.

  • Third place

    Bronze medals for third place in each separate ranking.

Gallery

Shots from previous editions

A team huddle after winning the title

Teams onboard

The teams that built this competition

Clubs, academies and universities from across the Emirates in previous editions.

Stats & data

Personal & team stats, every game

Every game is tracked live by a dedicated stats crew. Box scores, shot charts, team comparisons and standings are published after each game for players, coaches and fans.

  • Box score & player stats
  • Shot charts
  • Live standings
  • FIBA-standard game statistics
  • Live box score, published as the game is played

    Live box score, published as the game is played

  • Shot charts for every player and every team

    Shot charts for every player and every team

  • Team comparison across the four factors

    Team comparison across the four factors

Organising partners

The team behind the competition

All games are played under FIBA rules and regulations.

  • UAE Basketball Association

    Organiser

    UAE Basketball Association

    The governing body of basketball in the United Arab Emirates.

  • Dubai Sports Council

    Supporter

    Dubai Sports Council

    Supporting the competition across the Emirate of Dubai.

  • Sports Mania

    Operator

    Sports Mania

    Setting all game schedules, team communication, media posts, pictures, stats, interviews and live streaming.

  • FIBA rules

    Played under

    FIBA rules

    The latest FIBA Official Basketball Rules and amendments.

Contact us

Let’s tip off together

Questions about entering a team, the fee or the schedule? Talk to us.

Register your team