Following a successful third staging of the NBA Abu Dhabi Games, top management in the league are looking to strengthen the relationship between the NBA and the Gulf region.
The last two NBA champions, the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets, squared off in two preseason games at Etihad Arena last week, as part of a wider six-day visit that included a host of community events, clinics, grassroots initiatives, and entertainment activations organised by the NBA in collaboration with DCT Abu Dhabi.
The UAE capital has established itself as a hub for world-class basketball in the region, having attracted top NBA teams, as well as national sides like USA, Serbia, and Australia, who have all come to Abu Dhabi to hold training camps and compete in exhibition games over the past two years.
It’s all thanks to a multi-year deal signed between DCT Abu Dhabi and the NBA, whose commissioner Adam Silver believes the agreement is only just the start for the league in this part of the world.
“We're particularly excited about, not just the opportunity here in Abu Dhabi, but the Gulf region generally,” Silver said during a roundtable discussion at Etihad Arena last week.
“We're seeing rapid growth here, and it's our hope that we not only continue playing games here in Abu Dhabi, but we play in other countries in the Gulf region, and ultimately bring over WNBA games as well. That's something we'd like to see here.”
Silver chose to defer the revelation of any concrete plans to his counterpart Cathy Engelbert, the commissioner of the WNBA, but says the interest is certainly there from Abu Dhabi as hosts.
The WNBA’s popularity has exploded in North America this year with the advent of star rookies like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, which is something the league wants to capitalise on.
“We've been in discussions with our hosts here in the past. There's no question there's interest in bringing a WNBA game as well,” said Silver.
“It's fascinating for me because we've been working on the WNBA – it’s in its 28th season, so it may not be quite the overnight sensation that it appears to be, but nevertheless, it's remarkable to see the spike in interest we're experiencing now.
“Which I think it's in part, of course, with this rookie class of tremendous players, led by Caitlin Clark. But in addition, it's a larger movement that we're seeing in women's sports. We certainly saw it in Paris at the Olympics. We're seeing it in football, in tennis and volleyball, many other sports. It’s long overdue.
“I will leave it to Commissioner Engelbert to work through the issues on behalf of the WNBA with her players as well. But it's certainly something I would love to see happen.”
The NBA brought its Her Time to Play programme to Abu Dhabi last week, where 130 girls aged between 11 and 14 were coached by the likes of two-time WNBA champion Sylvia Fowles and former WNBA All-Star Allison Feaster.
Silver says that overall, through their Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA programmes on the ground throughout the week, they connected with 7,000 kids, and also held workshops for 450 coaches coming from inside and outside the UAE.
According to figures released by the NBA, the Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League has reached more than 11,000 boys and girls since 2022.
Since the inaugural NBA Abu Dhabi Games in 2022, NBA fandom in the Middle East has reportedly grown by more than 25 per cent and basketball participation has grown by 60 per cent in the UAE and by more than 50 per cent in the Middle East.
These numbers are making a compelling case for the NBA to launch an academy in Abu Dhabi, similar to those already established in Australia, Mexico and Senegal.
Khaman Maluach is the latest success story to come out of the NBA Academy in Saly, Senegal. The 18-year-old was recruited by Duke University, where he just started his freshman year, and has been ranked by ESPN as the third-best prospect in the 2025 NBA draft.
Maluach represented South Sudan at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“We’re looking at focusing on some elite training here,” said Silver. "Abu Dhabi has become a sports and entertainment hub for the whole region and we see an opportunity, potentially, with an elite academy here to bring in young people from the region, broadly described – maybe as far away as India, as far away as Africa as well – and take some of the best youth players and bring them here to train together and to develop to play at the highest levels for their national teams, and potentially in professional competition as well.”
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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DUNE%3A%20PART%20TWO
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPros%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEasy%20to%20use%20and%20require%20less%20rigorous%20credit%20checks%20than%20traditional%20credit%20options%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOffers%20the%20ability%20to%20spread%20the%20cost%20of%20purchases%20over%20time%2C%20often%20interest-free%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EConvenient%20and%20can%20be%20integrated%20directly%20into%20the%20checkout%20process%2C%20useful%20for%20online%20shopping%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHelps%20facilitate%20cash%20flow%20planning%20when%20used%20wisely%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECons%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20ease%20of%20making%20purchases%20can%20lead%20to%20overspending%20and%20accumulation%20of%20debt%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMissing%20payments%20can%20result%20in%20hefty%20fees%20and%2C%20in%20some%20cases%2C%20high%20interest%20rates%20after%20an%20initial%20interest-free%20period%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFailure%20to%20make%20payments%20can%20impact%20credit%20score%20negatively%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERefunds%20can%20be%20complicated%20and%20delayed%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ECourtesy%3A%20Carol%20Glynn%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
The specs: 2019 Audi Q8
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 340hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
If you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Chicago from Dh5,215 return including taxes.
The hotels
Recommended hotels include the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, located in an iconic skyscraper complete with a 1929 Olympic-size swimming pool from US$299 (Dh1,100) per night including taxes, and the Omni Chicago Hotel, an excellent value downtown address with elegant art deco furnishings and an excellent in-house restaurant. Rooms from US$239 (Dh877) per night including taxes.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
SPECS
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The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
WITHIN%20SAND
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Moe%20Alatawi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Ra%E2%80%99ed%20Alshammari%2C%20Adwa%20Fahd%2C%20Muhand%20Alsaleh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A