DMCC the authority on trade, enterprise and commodities in Dubai, announced today it is to sponsor Al Ahli Club Basketball team as they set out to retain their GCC Basketball Club Championship crown and win the title for the third consecutive year. A hat trick will automatically qualify the Al Ahli Club Basketball team to the Asian Championships held in China later this year.

Held in Bahrain, the 2017 GCC Basketball Club Championship will see eight of the strongest Gulf teams compete including Al Ahli (UAE), Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia), Al-Ahli (Bahrain), Al Sadd (Qatar), Al-Manama (Bahrain), Ettifaq (Oman), Al-Rayan (Qatar) and Al Shabab (UAE) from 12-20 May at the Zain Bahrain Basketball Arena in Manama, Bahrain.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, DMCC, said:

“Basketball is a fast, exciting sport with a huge and growing following all over the country and DMCC is delighted to be associated with Al Ahli Club Basketball team as they pursue to win the GCC Basketball Club Championship on behalf of the UAE. As a sponsor, DMCC celebrates the excitement of all aspects of the game, and are delighted to honour the drive, dedication, and teamwork of the Al Ahli Club Basketball team. Their relentless winning attitude resonates greatly with us in DMCC.”

Khalid Bin Zayed, Executive Director, Al Ahli Club, said:

“We are all proud of this precious sponsorship from DMCC which is one of the leading centre for trading international commodities and the world’s fastest-growing Free Zone.

The presence of DMCC confirms our partnership with the private sector, and for this we encourage the private sector to be have more initiatives and promote their relationship with the sport clubs.”

The inaugural GCC Basketball Club Championship took place in Kuwait in 1982 and has since seen the Al Ahli Club win the Championship 2 times. Al Ahli Club was founded in 1970 and is one of the most established clubs in the UAE. The basketball team has won 38 championships to date with 16 of these over the past five years. For further information visit http://www.alahliclub.ae/en.