Doha: The Board of Directors of the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) convened for its second meeting at the Federation’s headquarters, presided over by Mohammed bin Saad Al-Mughaseeb, the Federation’s President. Present at the meeting were Saadoun Sabah Al-Kuwari, the Secretary General, and Ahmed Yousef Mohammed Mubarak Al-Darwish, the Assistant Secretary.
The meeting also featured Board members: Abdullah Sultan Al-Jaber, Abdulrahman Hamad Mohammed Al-Mana, Mishaal Abdullah Yousef Al-Malki, and Zahra Majed Burhan Al-Zaidan, the sole female member of the Board.
The session commenced with a welcoming address from the President of the Federation, who expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Board members for their significant contributions during the 2024-2025 sports season, congratulating them on its successful conclusion. Several critical topics were discussed during the meeting, particularly the approval of the agenda for the upcoming 2025-2026 sports season, a detailed presentation of the national teams’ forthcoming foreign participation schedule, and a dialogue regarding the implementation of the strategic plans previously established by the Federation to enhance the game, broaden its reach, and improve its visibility both locally and internationally.
Throughout the meeting, the Federation sanctioned several vital decisions, including the discussion and endorsement of the Competitions Committee’s recommendations and the establishment of the calendar and activities for the forthcoming season.
Additionally, the Federation introduced new modifications to the Men’s General League competition framework, considering the unique characteristics of the impending phase, as Qatar prepares to host the prestigious global event, the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which is set to take place for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa region from August 27 to September 12, 2027.
The new system is set to be implemented across all clubs associated with the Federation in the near future. As per the sanctioned schedule, the Men’s General Basketball League is scheduled to take place from October 25, 2025, to February 16, 2026. The initial round of matches will occur between October 25 and December 25, 2025, while the subsequent round of matches will take place from December 31, 2025, to January 29, 2026. The semifinal matches are planned for February 5 to 9, 2026, and the final round is slated for February 12 to 16, 2026.
Following this, the Qatar Cup for the Men’s category will commence, taking place from February 23 to March 9, 2026. The principal men’s tournaments will conclude with the Emir’s Cup, scheduled from March 26 to April 23, 2026.
In terms of age group competitions, the Under-19 General League is set to run from September 15, 2025, to May 28, 2026. This league will consist of two segments: the first segment will occur from September 15 to December 1, 2025, and the second segment will take place from January 20 to May 28, 2026. The Qatar Cup for Under-19s is scheduled for May 4 to 27, 2026.
The General League for Under-16s will take place from September 14, 2025, to May 26, 2026, and will also be divided into two segments: the first segment will run from September 14 to November 30, 2025, and the second segment will be from January 18 to May 26, 2026.
The Qatar Cup for Under-16s is scheduled to take place from May 3 to May 26, 2026, while the Qatar Cup for Under-16s will also occur from March 30 to May 23, 2026.
In relation to the General League for Under-14s, the first section is set to be conducted from September 13 to November 29, 2025, whereas the matches for the second division will be held from January 17 to April 25, 2026. Additionally, the Qatar U-14 Cup is planned for May 2 to May 25, 2026.
The seasonal agenda further encompasses the organization of sports festivals aimed at younger age groups, specifically under 9 and under 12, during the timeframe from November 1, 2025, to May 16, 2026. This initiative is part of the association’s commitment to fostering a culture of the game from an early age. Concerning women’s activities, it has been decided to conduct festivals for girls from January 17 to February 10, 2026.
The Under-15 Girls League is scheduled from January 16 to May 25, 2026, and the Under-18 Girls League will take place during the same timeframe. The Women’s General League is also set to occur from January 17 to May 25, 2026.
At the end of its meeting, the Federation reiterated its unwavering dedication to executing its development plans and annual calendar in alignment with the highest organizational standards. This commitment aims to fulfill the aspirations of the Qatari basketball community and to enhance the preparedness of national teams and clubs for forthcoming local and international events, particularly the significant occasion of hosting the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
