In the space of just a few days, Dubai beat Real Madrid (78–77) and Barcelona (94–87) at home, making their ambitions clear. Now comes the first truly major hurdle for Xavi Pascual’s team: a road trip to fellow unbeaten side Fenerbahce (October 2, 20:45).
The club from the United Arab Emirates handed Pascual the reins this summer and added a wealth of EuroLeague experience to an already well-constructed, dangerous team that narrowly missed out on the Play-In last season, finishing 11th with a 19–19 record. Elie Okobo, Thomas Walkup, Tornike Shengelia, Jaron Blossomgame and Mamadi Diakite all brought their EuroLeague credentials to the Middle East, immediately raising expectations.
Across Europe’s power rankings and preseason analysis, Dubai were tipped as potential top-six contenders heading into the 2026–27 campaign, capable of securing a direct playoff berth. Whether they qualify directly or take the longer route, the goal for a club founded just three years ago, in 2023, is to reach the postseason of Europe’s premier competition. Achieving that would confirm that the project is on the right track, making rapid strides.
Even without Dzanan Musa, Pascual’s players have made an impressive start to their EuroLeague campaign, beating two heavyweights in Real Madrid (78–77) and Barcelona (94–87).
In Round 1, Dubai benefited from an MVP-calibre performance by Dwayne Bacon (24 points, five rebounds and four assists), with McKinley Wright delivering the decisive contribution: 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and the winning basket with 52 seconds remaining. Facing last season’s runners-up, Bacon and his teammates pulled down 45 rebounds, refusing to be intimidated by Edy Tavares and showing the character needed to win tight games.
In Round 2 of the regular season, Pascual’s team played outstanding basketball in stretches and were never seriously threatened by Barcelona. The hosts scored 94 points and once again dominated the boards. This time, Mfiondu Kabengele, one of the league’s leading centres, was their standout performer, finishing with 21 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes. The reliable duo of Bacon (14 points, seven rebounds) and Wright (14 points, three assists) provided strong support, while Blossomgame also reached double figures with 10 points.
Dubai certainly appear to have plenty of options and threats across their roster. Okobo’s playmaking, Shengelia’s basketball IQ, Petrusev’s game, Walkup’s toughness and, further down the line, Musa’s scoring can all add further dimensions as the season unfolds, complementing the players and combinations already working so well.
Their first truly major hurdle, however, comes in Round 3, away to Fenerbahce. Sarunas Jasikevicius’s team, EuroLeague champions in 2025 and regular visitors to the Final Four, have also started 2–0, beating Virtus Bologna 78–68 and Bayern Munich 100–76. They defend with intensity and leave little margin for error on their home floor.
A road win would, of course, change the entire early conversation around Dubai. At this stage of the competition, though, what matters beyond results is the identity taking shape, the philosophy behind it and the signals a team sends about its immediate future. On Thursday night, October 2, the club from the United Arab Emirates will be looking to offer precisely those clues about what comes next.