The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi extends its partnership with the NBA

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the American National Basketball Association have extended their existing cooperation to organize more NBA preparatory matches in Abu Dhabi, expand the scope of joint marketing activities, and open the NBA’s Global Academy in the UAE capital, while enhancing youth development programs and interactive audience experiences in the emirate over the coming years.
From its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, the NBA World Academy will form an international center for the NBA’s academies, providing an advanced program for developing basketball skills, in addition to training programs for the best athletes of the secondary school age group in the UAE, the Middle East region, and the world. The academy’s activities include a development program that includes about 20 local emerging players, training programs for young girls, in addition to an internal residency program for up to 24 young talents from around the world.
Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “Extending our partnership with the American National Basketball Association contributes to strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a center for basketball in the Middle East region, and embodies our mission to empower youth, inspire society, support economic diversification efforts, and consolidate the emirate’s position on the international tourism map. The Association’s World Academy in Abu Dhabi opens new and ambitious horizons for athletes, coaches and professionals from the Emirates and residents, providing them with distinguished opportunities to benefit from the expertise of the best international talents. Abu Dhabi’s long-term hosting of NBA matches is a source of inspiration for current and future generations. In addition to organizing the most prestigious sporting events in our capital, youth and youth development programs and community association initiatives encourage the adoption of healthy lifestyles and exercise, and highlight its noble values, as it is a universal language that unites peoples. This cooperation, extending over many years, reflects our ambitions to establish Abu Dhabi as a leading destination for culture, tourism and sports, enriching the lives of its community and visitors.”
National Basketball Association Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum said: “Our cooperation with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has achieved tangible positive results in advancing the spread of basketball and increasing its audience in the UAE and the Middle East region. We look forward to continuing this cooperation in the coming years by launching the Association’s World Academy in Abu Dhabi, which will ensure the development of the skills of players at the highest levels from the region and the world.”
The schedule of upcoming NBA Abu Dhabi League matches and the participating teams will be announced later.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, through its tourism identity “Hayakum Abu Dhabi”, continues its role as a tourist destination and the official partner of the American National Basketball Association in the Middle East, Europe and China, with the addition of the markets of Asia, Africa, Canada and Latin America.
Cooperation between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the American National Basketball Association includes enhancing youth development programs, which have attracted more than 20,000 male and female players since 2022. Future plans include expanding the scope of the Junior NBA Abu Dhabi and Junior WNBA Abu Dhabi leagues, from four leagues for boys and girls currently held in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to six leagues as of the fall. 2025, reaching 12 leagues by 2028.
Abu Dhabi also hosts two annual basketball tournaments that bring together the most prominent young talents from around the world, starting with the Abu Dhabi 2025 World Academy Championship, which was held from September 25 to 27, 2025 at New York University Abu Dhabi, with the participation of elite players from four academies: the Africa Academy (Senegal), the United States Academy, the France Academy, and the Basketball Australia Center of Excellence.
The academy program provides an integrated model for developing players’ potential through a clear path to hone their skills and achieve the best results. The program focuses on improving health and wellness, developing personal aspects, and acquiring life skills, in addition to practical training under the supervision of trainers with high-level professional, university, and international experience. More than 150 players graduated from the academy and represented their national teams at various levels, and more than 100 of them joined prestigious universities within the first division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. More than 40 academy graduates have played, continue to play or have signed professional contracts, including 15 players who have been nominated to join the NBA.
The Abu Dhabi 2025 NBA League matches, presented by the Holding Company (ADQ), witnessed two pre-season confrontations between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers, on Thursday and Saturday, October 2 and 4, 2025, at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

These matches come within the framework of a multi-year cooperation between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the American National Basketball Association, which includes hosting the UAE capital for preparatory matches for the American Professional Basketball League, in addition to programs to develop young talents, and a variety of audience experiences in the presence of current and retired stars of the league, and the association’s social responsibility activities (NBA Cares) to raise awareness of the importance of health and wellness.
American Professional Basketball League matches have been broadcast in the UAE since the 1987-1988 season, and since 2022, Abu Dhabi has hosted six of the league’s teams to play preparatory matches before the start of the season. Since the launch of the first edition of the NBA Abu Dhabi League matches presented by the Holding Company (ADQ), basketball practice rates in the country have increased by 60%, and the number of fans of the game has increased by more than 25%, according to YouGov data.