NBA, DCT Abu Dhabi Extend Partnership, Launch Global Academy

Abu Dhabi has taken another major step towards becoming a regional hub for basketball after the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced a long-term extension of their partnership. The renewed agreement will bring more preseason NBA Global Games to the emirate, expand marketing and fan engagement activities, and, most importantly, establish an NBA Global Academy in Abu Dhabi.

The new NBA Global Academy will serve as the worldwide centre of the league’s NBA Academy programme. It will operate year-round as an elite basketball development and academic institution for top high-school-age players from the UAE, the Middle East and other parts of the world. The academy will include advanced training for up to 20 UAE-based boys, structured basketball programmes for UAE-based girls, and a residential programme for up to 24 male prospects from overseas.

His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said the extended partnership underlines Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become the new home of basketball in the Middle East. He noted that the collaboration supports youth development, strengthens community engagement, and helps diversify the economy through sport and entertainment. He added that the NBA Global Academy will create new opportunities for Emirati and UAE-based athletes, coaches and sports professionals to learn from some of the best minds in the game, while the continued hosting of NBA Global Games will inspire young people across the region to take up the sport.

NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum said the partnership with DCT Abu Dhabi has already played a key role in growing basketball participation and fandom in the UAE and across the Middle East. He said the league looks forward to building on this success in the coming years, particularly through the new academy, which will help develop elite players from the region and around the world.

As part of the renewed agreement, DCT Abu Dhabi, through its destination brand Experience Abu Dhabi, will continue as the NBA’s Official Tourism Destination Partner in the Middle East, China and Europe. The destination partnership will now expand further to include Africa, Asia, Canada and Latin America, giving Abu Dhabi even greater global visibility through the league’s platforms.

The collaboration will also significantly expand youth development programmes in the emirate. Since 2022, NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi initiatives have already reached more than 20,000 boys and girls. The existing four Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA leagues in Abu Dhabi and the Al Ain Region will grow to six leagues this fall, with plans to reach 12 leagues by 2028.

In addition, Abu Dhabi will host two international basketball tournaments every year featuring top youth and elite players from around the world. This initiative began with the 2025 NBA Academy Showcase, held at the NYU Abu Dhabi campus from 25 to 27 September 2025. The event brought together leading high-school-age players from four elite programmes: NBA Academy Africa in Senegal, IMG Academy in the United States, INSEP in France and the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence.

The NBA Academy programme follows a holistic approach to player development, focusing not only on skills on the court but also on health, character, education and life skills. Over the years, more than 150 NBA Academy athletes have represented their national teams, more than 100 have committed to or attended NCAA Division I universities in the United States, and more than 40 have gone on to play professionally, including 15 who have reached the NBA.

Abu Dhabi has already proven to be a successful host for major NBA events. 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 2 and 4 October at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. These games were part of the wider multi-year collaboration, which also includes fan events, NBA 2K League exhibitions, and a series of clinics promoting health, wellness and core values such as teamwork and respect.

NBA games have been broadcast in the UAE since the 1987–88 season, and six NBA teams have played preseason games in Abu Dhabi since 2022. According to YouGov research, basketball participation in the UAE has increased by 60 per cent since the launch of the Abu Dhabi games, while the sport’s fan base in the country has grown by more than 25 per cent.

With the launch of the NBA Global Academy and the expansion of games and grassroots programmes, Abu Dhabi is set to play an even bigger role in shaping the future of basketball in the region and beyond.