BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Without a doubt, Shabab Al Ahli are coming into the 2024/2025 FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) competitions hungry for success.
For the third time in as many seasons, the proud club from UAE is set to take part in the pan-regional league but this time, they have become even more eager to win especially after a disappointing campaign - in their own standards - last season.
That's because Shabab Al Ahli failed to replicate their Semi-Final finish from the inaugural season, losing to Muharraq in the best-of-3 Qualification to Quarter-Finals that crushed their bid of returning to the FIBA WASL Final 8 as well.
For sure, that kind of motivation makes Shabab Al Ahli an interesting team to watch out for in the new season ahead. But before all that, it's the best time to take a refresher course of sorts about one of the league's pioneers.
History
The club was formed after Dubai CSC and Al Shabab merged with Al Ahli back in 2017, in arguably one of the biggest developments in all of UAE sports.
Shabab Al Ahli are the most successful team in the UAE Basketball League as they have won 10 of the last 11 championships so far - including the 2023-24 meet.
They're no stranger to competing overseas, having played in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2016 and 2017, which were both held in China. The 2016 edition witnessed them go as far as the Semi-Finals, bowing to eventual runners-up Al Riyadi.
The Champions Cup would eventually be rebranded to the Basketball Champions League Asia and Shabab Al Ahli would be part of its maiden run just this year for graciously hosting the continent's most prestigious club competition.
And they weren't just there to host and take part. The crew went all the way to the Final before settling for a runner-up finish against, coincidentally, Al Riyadi.
Emblem
The logo features elements from each club's own identities following their merger. Al Ahli's horse head logo within a crescent red moon is on top of a golden shield, which pays homage to Dubai CSC's colors. The banner in the middle uses Al Shabab green.
Homecourt
Shabab Al Ahli play their home games at the Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall. And if only its walls could talk, it would be immensely proud as the venue has hosted the first FIBA WASL Final 8 in 2023 and the BCL Asia inaugurals last July.
Path to 2024/2025 FIBA WASL
As mentioned above, the club has won 10 of the last 11 ULB championships including the 2023-24 season, beating Al Nasr in the clincher by way of a 91-82 result to not only reassert their dominance locally, but to earn another FIBA WASL appearance.
FIBA