Yes, you absolutely read that right, UAE’s first-ever official baseball league is finally heading to the pitch! But let’s backtrack a little. You might have thought the UAE was just filled with motorheads, but the country actually has official teams for more major sports than you think, including football, cricket, basketball, and since 2024, Baseball! Let me introduce you to Baseball United, the first professional baseball league dedicated to the Middle East and Indian subcontinent. The league has just announced its debut season, so keep reading to find all the exciting home-run details you need to know. (Bad pun, I know)
Also read: Dubai To Get Middle East’s First-Ever Professional Baseball Park
When & Where?
The league’s historic first season will run from November 14 to December 14, with all matches taking place at the Baseball United Ballpark in Dubai. After hosting three major baseball events over the past few years, Baseball United is finally launching the first-ever professional baseball season in the region!
Meet The Dream Teams
The league will debut with four founding teams:
- Arabia Wolves (UAE & GCC team)
- Mid East Falcons (UAE & GCC team)
- Mumbai Cobras (Indian Subcontinent team)
- Karachi Monarchs (Indian Subcontinent team)
Each team will play 9 regular-season games, facing each opponent 3 times. The top teams will then battle it out in the best-of-three United Series from December 12, leading up to the championship. In total, 21 games will take place over 30 action-packed days!
India vs. Pakistan: Baseball Edition
If you though Cricket was steamy, get ready for the Baseball edition of India vs. Pakistan! The season kicks off with the Subcontinent Series (November 14-16), featuring the Mumbai Cobras vs. Karachi Monarchs. This will be the first time ever that Indian and Pakistani teams face off in a baseball match! A match you won’t want to miss!
Big Names In The Game
Full team rosters will be announced later this spring, but here’s a sneak peek at some of the biggest stars:
- Robinson Canó – 8x MLB All-Star
- Andrelton Simmons – 4x MLB Gold Glove winner
- Pablo Sandoval – 3x MLB World Series Champion
Representing the region, Karan Patel, the first Indian-origin player ever drafted by an MLB team, will pitch for the Mumbai Cobras. Meanwhile, former Atlanta Braves All-Star Jair Jurrjens will take the mound for the Arabia Wolves. Each team will have 26 players on its roster.
A Ballpark Built For History
Here’s a fun fact for you, the Baseball United stadium at The Sevens in Dubai was built in just 38 days last year! Since then, it has hosted the region’s largest-ever amateur baseball tournament, the Arab Classic, as well as last month’s UAE Series. It’s officially the first pro baseball stadium in the Middle East! Are you excited for UAE’s first-ever Baseball league to hit the pitch this November? Tickets will be out soon, so stay tuned to Gulf Buzz for all the latest updates!
With football, cricket, basketball, and now baseball covered – what official sports team would you like to see next for UAE? Field Hockey, anyone?
