Abu Dhabi has secured a deal to become the title sponsor of EuroLeague Basketball, the first sponsorship change in 15 years for Europe’s top men's club competition.
The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, in partnership with Etihad Airways, has signed a four-year agreement to further enhance the emirate’s growing influence in international sport.
“This partnership is important to position Abu Dhabi as a global destination for entertainment, international sport and all types of events,” Saood Al Hosani, under-secretary of the DCT Abu Dhabi, told The National.
For Etihad, the new collaboration represents a chance to align with an expanding international presence. “EuroLeague has 90 million fans and is spread across the globe," said chief executive Antonoaldo Neves. “This gives us the kind of visibility we need to address our future marketing needs, given the growth we have ahead of us.”
The deal comes as EuroLeague continues to expand, with Dubai Basketball one of three new teams joining for the new season, which begins on September 30.
Dubai will face Partizan Belgrade at Coca-Cola Arena on the first night. Hapoel Tel Aviv and Valencia are the other new teams in what is now a 20-team competition after Alba Berlin withdrew.
Turkish Airlines was the title sponsor for the previous 15 years, but the league is rebranding with a new visual identity, including a refreshed logo, as part of its global expansion strategy.
Introduced in 1958 before becoming EuroLeague Basketball in 2000, the competition is widely regarded as the top-tier and most prestigious men's club basketball competition in Europe.
This season, each club will play 38 games in a round-robin format, with the top six advancing to the play-offs. The teams finishing seventh to 10th face each other in one-off matches for the chance to claim the two other play-off spots.
After four best-of-five play-off series, the season will culminate in the Final Four – semi-finals, third-place play-off and final – in Athens next year. Last season's Final Four was hosted for the first time in the Middle East at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena in May, when Turkish club Fenerbahce defeated French side Monaco in the final.
EuroLeague Basketball chief executive Paulius Motiejunas said the timing of the Abu Dhabi sponsorship deal could not be better, with the league marking its 25th anniversary season.
“The stars fell into play,” he said. “It’s perfect timing for us with the Final Four coming and then this dual partnership coming, so it plays out like a dream.
“They had the courage to take the Final Four – the best product that we have. We brought in the best teams with passionate fan bases and they loved the city. The area was amazing. The hotels and restaurants were great. All the infrastructure is amazing. We had so many fans who came in and they loved the experience.”
Over the years, the league has built a strong identity, increasing attendance and forging a reputation for raising standards. While the NBA may be more widely known, Motiejunas believes EuroLeague offers something unique.
“We are the best passionate league in the world,” he said. “I know that everybody knows the NBA and they have a great product. There’s so many things for us to learn from on the business side, but from the passion side, we have the best fan bases and the best rivalries.”
Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Results
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
SPECS
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Mane 51', Salah 53'
Chelsea 0
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
