The NBA, alongside Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism department, revealed an extension of their collaboration on Thursday, as the league committed to bringing preseason matches to the Middle East and concluding discussions to establish a new global academy in the capital of the United Arab Emirates for elite boys’ players.
While financial details were kept under wraps, it’s fair to assume that the nine-year extension could exceed $300 million—drawing from the DCT’s agreement to pay the EuroLeague a reported 25 million euros ($29.2 million) for hosting the league’s final four last year.
This extension arises during a period when the NBA and FIBA are collaborating to initiate a new league in Europe, potentially as soon as next year. The DCT has strong connections to Manchester City, which is thought to be one of the franchises that have discussed the prospect of competing for a position in the new basketball initiative. Manchester City also has an interest in the Co-Op Live Arena, where the NBA plans to hold a regular-season game in 2027.
«Extending our alliance with the NBA reinforces Abu Dhabi’s status as the emerging center of basketball in the Middle East and emphasizes our dedication to our youth, inspiring our community, diversifying the economy, and enhancing the emirate’s reputation as a global destination,» stated Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, the chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi.
He is the sibling of Khaldoon Al Mubarak, who oversees Manchester City and holds a senior position at Mubadala, one of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth funds.
Throughout the last four preseasons, the NBA has played in Abu Dhabi: Milwaukee and Atlanta were there in 2022, Dallas and Minnesota in 2023, Boston and Denver in 2024, and New York and Philadelphia in the 2025 preseason.
USA Basketball also performed in Abu Dhabi prior to the 2023 Basketball World Cup in the Philippines and the 2024 Paris Olympics. It’s reasonable to anticipate that USA Basketball will return in 2027 ahead of the upcoming World Cup, which is set to take place in Qatar.
NBA games have been broadcast in the UAE for almost four decades, and the league, referencing research from YouGov, claims «basketball participation has surged by 60% in the UAE, and basketball’s fanbase in the nation has expanded by over 25%» since the onset of annual preseason visits in 2022.
«Our partnership with DCT Abu Dhabi has been crucial in amplifying basketball participation and fandom in the UAE and throughout the Middle East,» remarked NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum.
The anticipated NBA Global Academy in Abu Dhabi will serve as the worldwide hub for the league’s NBA Academy initiative. According to the league, this Abu Dhabi facility will function year-round, providing an «elite basketball development and academic program for leading high-school-age student-athletes from the UAE, the Middle East, and globally.» The academy will also include basketball development initiatives for local girls, as indicated by the league.
