Dubai Basketball are one of the hottest stories in European basketball right now, and on May 21 the ABA League semi-finals stakes officially went up. The 2025/26 AdmiralBet ABA League semi-finals opened with Dubai Basketball hosting Budućnost VOLI at Arena Husejin Smajlović in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tip-off was at 6:00 PM local time — 8:00 PM back home in the UAE.
This was a finals berth on the line, and after the season Dubai have had, it was must-watch basketball.
Why the Game Was in Zenica, Not Dubai
The original plan was to play at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, but that changed quickly. Due to recent geopolitical events in the region, the first game of the semi-finals series between Dubai Basketball and Budućnost VOLI could not be staged at Coca-Cola Arena as initially planned. Over the preceding days, the club worked with all parties involved to explore the possibility of returning to the UAE, but it was ultimately decided the game would be played in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The date also shifted — from May 20 to Thursday, May 21 at 6:00 PM.
Since regional unrest began in February, Dubai Basketball had been forced to relocate all ABA League and EuroLeague home fixtures to Bosnia and Herzegovina, playing nine home fixtures between Sarajevo and Zenica over a 66-day relocation period. Game 1 of the semis was a continuation of that run — and it marked the first time in history that AdmiralBet ABA League basketball had been played in Zenica.
Games 2 and 3 (if needed) were set for May 25 and May 28, after which the team was expected to return to Dubai.
Dubai Basketball's Road to the ABA League Semi-Finals
Getting here was no accident. Dubai Basketball swept the quarterfinal series against Spartak Office Shoes 2-0, winning Game 1 in Sarajevo and Game 2 on the road in Subotica to punch their ticket to the final four.
Now they ran into Budućnost VOLI, the Montenegrin club from Podgorica that survived a tough quarterfinal of their own. Budućnost VOLI beat U-BT Cluj-Napoca 112-81 in the decisive third game of their series, setting up a high-stakes semifinal showdown.
Dubai Basketball had already faced Budućnost twice this season, coming out victorious both times — winning 89-78 in Sarajevo and 95-78 in Podgorica during the Top 8 stage. Playoff basketball is a different animal, but that head-to-head record gave Dubai a real psychological edge walking in.
Who Is Dubai Basketball?
Founded in 2023, Dubai Basketball moved quickly from ambitious entrant to one of the most watched teams in the ABA League. The roster was built around experienced international talent, with Dzanan Musa as the central figure in the offensive setup, supported by a group capable of spreading scoring across multiple positions.
Despite the venue disruptions, the front office had already been planning aggressively for the 2026-27 season, with top-tier head coaching candidates and potential player signings in the pipeline. The project was clearly going somewhere fast.
What to Expect
Semi-finals against a battle-tested club like Budućnost VOLI were always going to be physical and tight. Budućnost entered the tie with a longer history of competing at the upper end of regional basketball — experience was going to be a factor. But Dubai had handled this opponent twice at a high level in the regular season, and they went in with the confidence of a team that had not dropped a playoff game yet.
The club regretted not being able to reunite with their fans in Dubai and continued working towards bringing games back to the city ahead of a potential finals qualification.
If Dubai could get through this series, the finals stage was where their home crowd would finally get their moment. That was the goal — and Game 1 was just step one.
Game Details
Match: Dubai Basketball vs Budućnost VOLI Competition: AdmiralBet ABA League Semi-Finals, Round 1 Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026 Tip-off: 6:00 PM (Bosnia) / 8:00 PM (UAE) Venue: Arena Husejin Smajlović, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina Series Schedule: Game 1 — May 21 | Game 2 — May 25 | Game 3 (if needed) — May 28
