Abu Dhabi is planning to bolster its growing reputation as a global sporting hub with a multi-year partnership to host the first National Basketball Association (NBA) games in the UAE.
The NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) have announced the deal to host pre-season NBA games in Abu Dhabi beginning in 2022, a first for the Gulf region.
The partnership will see DCT Abu Dhabi serve as the Official Tourism Destination Partner of the NBA in China, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Abu Dhabi will host the first pre-season NBA games in October 2022. The participating teams and host venue will be announced at a later date.
The partnership will also include a variety of interactive fan events featuring appearances by current and former NBA players, the launch of Junior NBA Leagues for boys and girls at schools across the UAE, a series of NBA Fit Clinics promoting health and wellness and an NBA 2K League exhibition event.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Today’s announcement further demonstrates the emirate’s position as a top-tier home for global sports and for attracting the very best talent.
“As Abu Dhabi is committed to further developing as a dynamic global destination, adding the NBA to our impressive year-round portfolio of sports and entertainment events, only reinforces the UAE capital’s standing as a centre of sporting excellence.”
“As we celebrate the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Season, partnering with DCT Abu Dhabi to bring the first NBA and NBA 2K League games and events to the UAE marks an important milestone in basketball’s continued global growth,” said NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum.
“Abu Dhabi is a vibrant multicultural hub with a demonstrated track record of hosting world-class sporting events, and this partnership will not only bring the live NBA and NBA 2K League experience to fans in the Middle East, but it will also create opportunities for boys and girls to learn the fundamentals and core values of the game through a variety of grassroots programming and fan events.”
Abu Dhabi has demonstrated its capabilities in hosting world-class sporting events with initiatives such as DCT Abu Dhabi’s Go Safe Certification.
The emirate is already home to UFC and hosts top events in sports including Formula 1, golf, cricket, tennis and cycling.
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