Seven teams representing six Arab nations in fray in basketball event at AWST 2026

Basketball competitions will begin on Tuesday, February 3, as part of the eighth edition of the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST 2026), being organised by Sharjah Women’s Sports from February 2 to 12 across the Emirate of Sharjah.

The biennial tournament brings together 63 teams from 16 Arab countries, competing across nine individual and team sports. 

The basketball competition features seven teams representing six Arab countries, making it one of the tournament’s most competitive and widely-followed sports.

The strong participation reflects the rapid development of women’s basketball at the club level across the Arab region, alongside the rising technical standards of participating teams.

Competing in the basketball event are Sharjah Women’s Sports Club and Khorfakkan Women’s Sports Club (United Arab Emirates), Al Fatat Sports Club (Kuwait), Al Hala Club (Kingdom of Bahrain), Shabab Fuheis Club (Jordan), Ghaz Al Shamal Club (Iraq), and Al Amal Sports Club – Al Watan Al Qibli (Tunisia).

Basketball matches and training sessions will be hosted at Al Bataeh Cultural and Sports Club. Meanwhile, Al Riqa Children’s Centre will host the teams’ official training sessions. This arrangement ensures the highest technical and organisational standards and supports the teams’ readiness throughout the tournament.

Pride in hosting basketball was expressed by His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah bin Halis Al Ketbi, Chairman of Al Batayih Cultural and Sports Club, who highlighted the venue’s capacity to accommodate more than 500 spectators and the inclusion of community activities showcasing local culture alongside the competitions.

Sharjah Women’s Sports invites fans and basketball enthusiasts to attend the matches, support Arab women athletes, and experience the competition firsthand in an atmosphere that reflects the growing momentum of women’s sport across the region.

Host clubs and facilities have confirmed the completion of all maintenance and preparations, and announced their full readiness to stage competitions and training sessions in line with the highest standards, ensuring smooth operations, capacity for all spectators, and a comprehensive sporting experience befitting the scale of the event.

Basketball remains one of the tournament’s flagship sports, enjoying strong public and media interest due to its fast-paced nature and advanced skill level. The competition also serves as a prominent platform to showcase the progress of Arab women’s clubs and their ability to compete at the regional level.

The organisation of the basketball competition aligns with the tournament’s broader vision to present an integrated sporting model that strengthens women’s participation in competitive sport and reinforces Sharjah’s position as a regional hub for women’s sport, bringing together clubs and athletes from across the Arab world.

Meanwhile, the table tennis competitions of the tournament will begin on Monday, February 9, at Al Qarayen Children’s Centre.

The table tennis segment will see the participation of eight teams representing eight Arab countries, highlighting one of the most technically demanding and fast-paced sports, which continues to attract growing interest within Arab women’s sports programs.

Participants in the table tennis competitions include Sharjah Women’s Sports Club (United Arab Emirates),Al Fatat Sports Club (Kuwait), Al Qadisiyah Club (Saudi Arabia), Libyan Women’s Al-Ittihad Club (Libya), Petrojet Sports Club (Egypt), Al Nadwa Al Qamatiyah Club (Lebanon), Palestine Club (Palestine) and Amal Tiznit Table Tennis Club (Morocco)

Official matches and training sessions will be held at Al Qarayen Children’s Centre, while team training sessions will take place at the Sharjah Women’s Olympic Centre.

All venues have confirmed the completion of preparations, ensuring full technical and operational readiness to support the smooth running of competitions, accommodate delegations and spectators, and deliver a comprehensive sporting experience throughout the tournament in line with its scale.

Sharjah Women’s Sports invites fans to attend and follow the competitions in person, supporting Arab women athletes in a competitive environment that reflects the ongoing development of female sports in the region.

Table tennis is among the disciplines that highlight the diversity of competition at the Arab Women Sports Tournament, demanding speed, precision and sustained concentration. The sport continues to gain momentum within Arab women’s sports programmes, offering athletes a platform to compete at closely matched levels while demonstrating technical ability on a regional stage.