The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Euroleague Basketball have announced that the EuroLeague Final Four Presented by Experience Abu Dhabi will return to the UAE capital in 2027 and 2029.
Following Abu
Dhabi’s successful debut as host of the tournament in May 2025, the 2027
EuroLeague Final Four presented by Experience Abu Dhabi will return to Etihad
Arena on May 28 and 30, once again bringing together the four best teams in
European club basketball to compete for the championship.
The announcement
reflects Abu Dhabi's continued investment in world-class sporting events that
attract global audiences, strengthen the visitor economy and reinforce the
emirate's position as a leading destination for international basketball.
On Friday May 28,
the season’s top four teams will contest the Semfinal matchups, with the
winners advancing to the Championship Game. The weekend concludes on Sunday May
30 with the adidas NextGen EuroLeague Final, showcasing the brightest young
talent in European basketball, followed by the EuroLeague Championship Game to
crown the season’s champion.
Saleh Al Geziry,
Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The return of the Final
Four in 2027 and 2029 reflects the strength of Abu Dhabi’s partnership with
Euroleague Basketball and the emirate’s growing stature as a home for
basketball in the region. The value of events of this scale extends well beyond
the court: they attract investment, create jobs and support local businesses,
while inspiring a new generation of players and fans across our communities. It
is this lasting impact, on our economy and on our people, which gives moments
such as these their true significance.”
Dejan Bodiroga,
President of Euroleague Basketball, said: “It is an enormous pleasure to
announce that the Final Four will return to Abu Dhabi. I would like to thank
Abu Dhabi for its continued support and confidence. Together, we delivered one
of the best Final Fours in our 26-year history, proving the tremendous global
appeal of the EuroLeague experience. This new milestone demonstrates our shared
commitment to growing basketball and creating unforgettable experiences for our
fans.”
Chus Bueno, CEO of
Euroleague Basketball, said: “Renewing our commitment with Abu Dhabi for the
2027 and 2029 Final Four editions represents another significant step forward
in our international growth strategy. Our model of combining Europe's
traditional basketball markets with global cities that offer world-class
facilities, strong tourism appeal and passionate sports communities continues
to prove highly successful. Abu Dhabi has become a key partner in that vision,
and together we will continue bringing European club basketball to the widest
possible global audience.”
The 2025 EuroLeague
Final Four was a landmark success, with tickets selling out within hours and
millions of fans following the event through Euroleague Basketball’s broadcast
and digital platforms, setting new audience and engagement records.
Fenerbahce Beko
Istanbul claimed the championship title before a capacity crowd of 12,000 at
Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
The return of the
Final Four marks another milestone in DCT Abu Dhabi's multi-year partnership
with Euroleague Basketball, brokered by the league’s strategic partner IMG, and
further strengthens the emirate’s position as a globally recognised destination
for elite sport.
As part of the
collaboration, Experience Abu Dhabi continues as a main partner of Euroleague
Basketball competitions and presenting partner of the EuroLeague Final Four,
with destination branding integrated throughout the season across in-arena
signage, broadcasts, and team jerseys.
The partnership
also reflects the growing momentum of European club basketball across the
Middle East and North Africa.
In 2025-26 the
region’s first EuroLeague season featuring Dubai Basketball generated a
cumulative television audience of 19.57 million viewers across the MENA region
through Euroleague Basketball broadcast partner Dubai TV, while fans across the
region had another opportunity to enjoy top-level basketball at the inaugural
Euroleague Basketball SuperCup, held in Abu Dhabi in September 2026.
The announcement
supports Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030, which aims to increase visitor
numbers by more than half between 2023 and 2030, generate 178,000 new jobs, and
grow the tourism and travel sector’s GDP contribution from approximately AED49
billion ($13 billion) in 2023 to AED90 billion annually by 2030. -TradeArabia News Service
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