By Ayomide Otitoju
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) have announced a long-term extension of their partnership, expanding their collaboration to include preseason NBA Global Games, enhanced marketing initiatives and the establishment of an NBA Global Academy in the UAE capital.
Under the renewed agreement, additional youth development programmes and fan engagement activities will be rolled out across Abu Dhabi and neighbouring communities over the coming years, further deepening the NBA’s presence in the region.
The NBA Global Academy, to be based in Abu Dhabi, will serve as the global hub for the league’s NBA Academy programme. It will operate as a year-round elite basketball and academic development centre for top high-school-age student-athletes from the UAE, the Middle East and other parts of the world. The academy will provide elite training for up to 20 local boys, basketball development activities for local girls, and residential programmes for up to 24 male prospects from outside the region.
Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, said the extended partnership reinforces Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a leading basketball destination in the Middle East while investing in youth development and community engagement.
“Our long-term collaboration with the NBA strengthens Abu Dhabi’s position as a global sports and entertainment hub, inspires our youth and promotes healthy, active lifestyles,” Al Mubarak said. “The NBA Global Academy will create new pathways for Emirati and UAE-based athletes, coaches and sports professionals to learn from the best, while the continued hosting of NBA Global Games will motivate the next generation.”
NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum described the partnership as pivotal to the growth of basketball in the region.
“Our collaboration with DCT Abu Dhabi has been instrumental in growing basketball participation and fandom in the UAE and across the Middle East,” Tatum said. “We look forward to building on that momentum, including through the launch of an NBA Global Academy that will help develop elite players from the region and around the world.”
Details of future NBA preseason games in Abu Dhabi, including schedules and participating teams, will be announced later.
As part of the agreement, DCT Abu Dhabi, through its Experience Abu Dhabi destination brand, will continue as the Official Tourism Destination Partner of the NBA in the Middle East, China and Europe, with the partnership expanded to include Africa, Asia, Canada and Latin America.
The collaboration will also see a significant expansion of youth basketball programmes. Since 2022, NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi initiatives have reached more than 20,000 boys and girls. Plans are in place to grow the existing four Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA leagues in Abu Dhabi and the Al Ain Region to six leagues this fall and 12 leagues by 2028.
Abu Dhabi will additionally host two annual international basketball tournaments, beginning with the 2025 NBA Academy Showcase, held at NYU Abu Dhabi from September 25 to 27. The event featured elite high-school-age players from NBA Academy Africa (Senegal), IMG Academy (United States), INSEP (France) and the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence.
The NBA Academy programme offers a holistic approach to player development, focusing on health, wellness, character building and life skills, while providing access to experienced professional, collegiate and international coaches. To date, more than 150 NBA Academy alumni have represented their national teams, over 100 have committed to or attended NCAA Division I schools, and more than 40 have played or signed professional contracts, including 15 who progressed to the NBA.
The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025, presented by ADQ, featured two sold-out preseason matches between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers on October 2 and 4 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. The games formed part of the multiyear partnership between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi, which also includes fan events, NBA 2K League exhibitions, and Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA and NBA Cares clinics promoting health, teamwork and sportsmanship.
NBA games have been broadcast in the UAE since the 1987–88 season, with eight NBA teams participating in preseason games in Abu Dhabi since 2022. According to YouGov research, basketball participation in the UAE has increased by 60% since the inaugural NBA Abu Dhabi Games, while the sport’s fanbase has grown by more than 25%.
