Basketball authorities in Morocco and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed a new partnership to work more closely together and launch a joint annual competition between their top teams.
The deal was signed on Monday at the Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat during the African Clubs Championship. It brings together the Royal Moroccan Basketball Federation (FRMBB) and the UAE Basketball Association.
اتفاقية إماراتية – مغربية لتطوير كرة السلة وإطلاق بطولة “السوبر” السنوية
أبرم اتحاد الإمارات لكرة السلة اتفاقية شراكة استراتيجية مع الجامعة الملكية المغربية لكرة السلة، بهدف تطوير اللعبة في البلدين وتبادل الخبرات الفنية والإدارية في مختلف مجالاتها.
جرى توقيع الاتفاقية على هامش… pic.twitter.com/Qv7TKyah5J— ADSportsTV (@ADSportsTV) April 27, 2026
At the centre of the agreement is a new competition called the UAE Morocco Super Cup. It will be played every year between the league champions of both countries. The idea is to raise the level of competition and bring fans from Morocco, the UAE and the wider region closer together.
The agreement also covers wider cooperation. This includes training programmes for coaches and referees, joint training camps for clubs and national teams, support for logistics during international tournaments, and regular friendly matches to keep teams active.
The partnership fits into wider plans in both countries to grow sport.
Basketball officials see the deal as a way to improve the national game and strengthen Morocco’s position in FIBA Africa competitions. Working with the UAE also gives access to more facilities and experience in hosting major events.
The UAE has been expanding its role in global sport. Abu Dhabi has a long-term agreement with the NBA to host preseason games, and regularly stages international basketball events.
Officials say the Super Cup could become the first step towards a wider Arab basketball league. At the moment, regional competitions are limited and do not run regularly. A more structured system could include clubs such as AS Salé in Morocco and Shabab Al Ahli in the UAE.
A key part of the deal is training for referees and coaches. Both sides plan joint programmes to improve standards and bring them closer to international levels set by FIBA.
