The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the National Basketball Association (NBA) have extended their collaboration, which includes hosting more NBA preseason games in Abu Dhabi, expanding joint marketing activities, and launching the NBA Global Academy in the emirate's capital. The partnership will also strengthen youth development programs and interactive fan experiences in the emirate in the coming years. The NBA Global Academy in Abu Dhabi will serve as an international hub for the league's academies, offering an advanced basketball skills development program, as well as training programs for top high school-aged student-athletes from the UAE, the Middle East region, and the world. This long-standing collaboration reflects our ambitions to cement Abu Dhabi's position as a leading destination for culture, tourism, and sports, enriching the lives of its community and visitors. NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum said: "Our collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has yielded tangible, positive results in driving the growth of basketball and increasing its fanbase in the UAE and the Middle East region." The program focuses on elevating health and wellness, personal development, life skills acquisition, and on-court training under the guidance of coaches with high-level professional, collegiate, and international experience. Future plans include expanding the "Junior NBA Abu Dhabi" and "Junior WNBA Abu Dhabi" leagues from the current four boys' and girls' leagues held in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to six leagues starting in the fall of 2025, increasing to 12 leagues by 2028. Abu Dhabi will also host two annual basketball tournaments that bring together the top young talent from around the world. The inaugural event was the Abu Dhabi NBA Global Academy 2025, held from September 25-27, 2025, at New York University Abu Dhabi, featuring elite players from four academies: the Africa Academy (Senegal), the USA Academy, the France Academy, and the Australian Centre of Excellence for Basketball. The academy's program provides a holistic model for player development through a clear pathway to refine their skills and achieve optimal results. Abu Dhabi's long-term hosting of NBA games serves as a source of inspiration for current and future generations. The academy's activities include a development program for approximately 20 local junior players, programs for junior girls, and a residential program for up to 24 young talents from around the world. Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, said: "Extending our partnership with the National Basketball Association contributes to strengthening Abu Dhabi's position as a hub for basketball in the Middle East, embodying our mission to empower youth, inspire the community, support economic diversification efforts, and establish the emirate on the international tourism map." Over 40 academy alumni have gone on to play professionally or signed contracts, including 15 players who were drafted into the NBA. NBA games have been broadcast in the UAE since the 1987-88 season, and Abu Dhabi has hosted six NBA teams for preseason games since 2022. Since the inaugural Abu Dhabi NBA games, presented by ADQ, the rate of basketball participation in the country has increased by 60%, and the number of fans of the game has grown by more than 25%, according to YouGov data. More than 150 academy graduates have represented their national teams at various levels, and over 100 have gone on to play at Division I universities in the United States.
