ADQ and NBA announce multiyear collaboration to engage fans and youth basketball players in Abu Dhabi

ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, and the National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced a multiyear collaboration to engage fans and youth basketball players in Abu Dhabi.  

The agreement makes ADQ the Presenting Partner of The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023, featuring the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves playing two preseason games on Thursday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. GST at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.  ADQ will also host and support the NBA’s grassroots basketball programs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including as part of the league’s existing collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).  

The collaboration will see ADQ support a variety of NBA fan engagement, youth development and social impact initiatives to develop the next generation of fans and players in the UAE and promote a healthy and active lifestyle, including the Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League, NBA FIT clinics, NBA Cares events, and NBA youth basketball development camps over the summer.

Anas Albarguthi, Chief Operating Officer at ADQ, commented: “Through this groundbreaking collaboration, ADQ will contribute to the increasing prominence of the sport and bolster the Emirate’s profile as an attractive destination, while encouraging healthier lifestyles. Our track record in partnering with leading organizations to promote physical activity both on a professional and an amateur level has served to prove that sports yield tangible benefits for local communities.”

“Engaging with local communities and growing basketball at the grassroots level are cornerstones of our broader efforts to use the game to inspire and connect people in the Middle East and globally, and our collaboration with ADQ will help us teach the game and its values to the next generation of fans and players,” said NBA Europe and Middle East Managing Director Ralph Rivera.  

The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 Presented by ADQ will air live in the UAE and across the Middle East and North Africa on beIN SPORTS, The Sports Channel and NBA League Pass, and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media.  NBA games have aired in the UAE since the 1987-88 season.  

The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 Presented by ADQ are part of a multiyear collaboration between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi.  Last year the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks played the league’s first games in Abu Dhabi and the Arabian Gulf.

Tickets for The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 Presented by ADQ will go on sale at a later date.  Fans can register their interest in receiving more information, including exclusive ticket presale, special ticket packages offering premium access, VIP experiences, hospitality and local hotel accommodations, by visiting NBA.com/AbuDhabi.  

Fans can follow the NBA on Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter (@NBAArabic) for the latest updates, news and content in Arabic.  NBA fans in the UAE and across the Middle East can shop online at NBAStoreME.com and at the NBA Store at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi for the widest selection of authentic NBA products ever available in the region.