NBA Strengthens Abu Dhabi Partnership with Landmark Long-Term Agreement

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has significantly deepened its relationship with Abu Dhabi, announcing a long-term renewal of its strategic partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). The multi-year extension underscores the UAE capital’s growing importance in the NBA’s global expansion strategy and cements Abu Dhabi’s status as a major international hub for basketball development and elite sporting events.

Under the renewed agreement, Abu Dhabi will continue to host the highly anticipated preseason NBA Global Games, which have become a marquee fixture on the international basketball calendar. In a major new development, the partnership will also see the creation of an NBA Global Academy in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant investment in grassroots and elite player development across the region.

The NBA Global Academy will serve as a world-class training and education center designed to identify, develop, and prepare top young basketball prospects from the Middle East and beyond. By combining elite coaching, advanced facilities, and a structured academic framework, the academy aims to nurture the next generation of global basketball talent while embedding the sport more deeply within the UAE’s sporting ecosystem.

The announcement was highlighted by a youth basketball development event in Abu Dhabi, part of the largest Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA week held to date in the region. The event brought together Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, and NBA legend Mark Jackson, alongside local participants, reflecting the partnership’s shared commitment to youth engagement, community development, and sporting excellence.

Since first partnering with DCT Abu Dhabi, the NBA has steadily expanded its footprint in the UAE through preseason games, fan events, grassroots programs, and cultural exchanges. The renewal ensures continuity while also introducing a long-term vision that goes beyond hosting games to building sustainable basketball infrastructure and talent pathways.

For Abu Dhabi, the agreement aligns with broader ambitions to position the city as a global destination for culture, sports, and entertainment. By hosting NBA Global Games and now becoming home to an NBA Global Academy, the emirate reinforces its reputation as a bridge between international sports organizations and regional audiences.

For the NBA, the renewed partnership reflects confidence in Abu Dhabi as a strategic gateway to new fans, markets, and talent. With preseason games, youth initiatives, and elite development now firmly rooted in the UAE capital, the league’s presence in the Middle East is set to enter a new and transformative chapter.

The extension is not just a continuation of a successful collaboration—it is a statement of long-term intent, signaling that Abu Dhabi will play a central role in shaping the future of basketball beyond traditional borders.