- Groundbreaking Partnership Marks First Games Between NBA Teams in the Gulf region 

- Partnership Also Includes Fan Events, Jr. NBA Leagues for Boys and Girls, NBA Fit Clinics and NBA 2K League Events Beginning in 2022 

LONDON and ABU DHABI, UAE, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nov. 16, 2021 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) today announced a groundbreaking multiyear partnership to host the first NBA games in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The preseason NBA games in Abu Dhabi beginning in 2022 will mark the first games between two NBA teams in the Arabian Gulf.

NBA – DCT Abu Dhabi Announcement Video: Online version | Social media version

NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum; NBA Managing Director, Europe and the Middle East, Ralph Rivera; and Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi Chairman HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak (Credit: NBAE/Getty Images)

The partnership will see DCT Abu Dhabi, under "Visit Abu Dhabi," the tourism promotion initiative of the UAE's capital city, serve as the Official Tourism Destination Partner of the NBA in China, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

Abu Dhabi will host preseason NBA games beginning with two games in October 2022. The participating teams and host venue will be announced at a later date. Fans can register their interest in receiving more information by visiting nba.com/abudhabi.

The partnership will also include a variety of interactive fan events featuring appearances by current and former NBA players, the launch of Jr. NBA Leagues for boys and girls at schools across the UAE fostering teamwork and inclusion, a series of NBA Fit Clinics promoting health and wellness, and an NBA 2K League exhibition event.

HE 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. We look forward to the NBA playing an integral role in developing young talent and healthy lifestyles at grassroots level - the heart of the UAE's strategy, which places great emphasis on empowering youth and building a sustainable future for the nation and future generations."

"As we celebrate the NBA's 75^th 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."

During the 2021-22 NBA season, NBA games and programming will reach fans in 11 countries across the Middle East.  Fans in the Middle East can access extensive video highlights, news, stats, scores and original digital content in Arabic on the NBA's official online destination. Fans in the region can also watch every NBA game live and on demand on NBA League Pass, the league's premium live game subscription service.

Abu Dhabi has consistently demonstrated its capabilities in hosting world-class sporting events. Pioneering initiatives such as DCT Abu Dhabi's "Go Safe Certification" highlight the city's unwavering commitment to the community and visitors' health and safety, while enabling it to continue to hold the best of live sporting events. For more information about Abu Dhabi, please visit: https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/campaign/time-is-now.

About the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi's culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi's wider global ambitions. By working in partnership with the organisations that define the Emirate's position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the Emirate's potential, to coordinate effort and investment, to deliver innovative solutions, and to use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi's vision is defined by the Emirate's people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi's status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought. 

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women's National Basketball Association, the NBA G League and the NBA 2K League.  The NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) also jointly operate the Basketball Africa League (BAL).  The NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2021-22 season featured a record 121 international players from 40 countries.  NBA Digital's assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.