Muscat: Oman Basketball Association (OBA) announced the details of the Muscat Nights International 3x3 Basketball Tournament, which will be held on 23 and 24 January 2026, in Muscat Governorate. The announcement was made during a press conference held today at the headquarters of the Oman Olympic Committee and Sports Associations.
Eng. Khalfan Saleh Al Naabi, Chairman of Oman Basketball Association, emphasized that organizing the Muscat Nights International 3x3 Basketball Tournament is an initiative by Muscat Municipality to host an international championship in cooperation with the Association. He noted that Al Araimi Boulevard was chosen as the venue because it is a vital location with a high turnover of citizens and residents, in addition to its role in promoting tourism in the Sultanate of Oman.
He explained that the tournament represents the beginning of future cooperation with Muscat Municipality, in hosting upcoming international championships or organizing local tournaments in high-density areas across Muscat Governorate, thereby contributing to the popularity of the game and enhancing its community presence.
The OBA Chairman noted that the international tournament will run from 23 to 24 January, preceded by a local tournament on 22 January featuring teams from within the Sultanate of Oman. This aims to expand the base of community participation and promote basketball.
He affirmed that the Association continues its efforts to promote 3x3 basketball and instill its spirit within Omani society, highlighting the growing presence of the game in recent years in terms of reach and community engagement.
Al Naabi further explained that the OBA has previously organized and hosted GCC and Arab championships featuring elite teams, given the rising global status of 3x3 basketball as one of the fastest-growing sports on the international stage. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with several companies to launch leagues bearing corporate names targeting the youth, junior, and cadet categories.
Hussain Said Al Ramhi, Supervisor of Sports and Beach Events for Muscat Nights, stated that the importance of the Muscat Nights International Basketball Tournament is not limited to sports; It extends to economic, tourism, and cultural dimensions by attracting international teams and fans, stimulating tourism and commercial activity, and highlighting Oman as a destination capable of hosting global sporting events in modern, open-air venues.
He explained that including the tournament in the Muscat Nights program reflects the integration of sports, entertainment, and culture, providing the public with a unique sporting experience that helps spread athletic activities and attract new segments of society, particularly the youth.
Regarding the competition system, Said Ahmed Al Habsi, Acting General Secretary of the Association, explained that both the men's and women's tournaments will follow a two-group format. Matches will be played in a single round-robin system, with the first and second-place winners from each group qualifying for the final rounds—a competitive system that ensures a higher number of matches and a high level of technical excitement.
He noted that the tournament at Al Araimi Boulevard features international teams representing diverse technical schools.
The men's competition includes teams from Oman (A), Oman (B), Malaysia, India, Kenya, and the Philippines, while the women's competition features national teams from Oman (A), Oman (B), Iran, India, and Kenya, lending the tournament a strong international competitive character.
Al Habsi concluded by affirming the Oman Basketball Association's commitment to organizing high-quality tournaments and enhancing the presence of Omani basketball regionally and internationally, in line with the Sultanate of Oman's vision to support sports as a tributary of comprehensive development.
