Basketball fans in the UAE can look forward to watching the best players on the planet live in Abu Dhabi after the NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi announced a multiyear partnership on Tuesday, with two pre-season games scheduled for October 2022.
Those pre-season games will be the first time NBA teams have played in the Gulf region. The participating teams will be announced at a later date.
The partnership was signed by DCT Abu Dhabi chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak and NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum, and was witnessed by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, a member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office.
In addition to the pre-season games, the partnership will see the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi work together to expand basketball in the UAE and across the region. Junior NBA Leagues for boys and girls will be launched at schools and academies throughout the Emirates, while NBA Fit Clinics will encourage and promote health and wellness for citizens and residents.
Basketball fans in the UAE will also get opportunities to meet current and former NBA players through interactive fan events and coaching clinics, and there will be an NBA 2K League exhibition event.
“The appeal for the NBA was we have a big fanbase here, around three million fans in the UAE," Tatum said. "Secondly, when we look to bring our games outside of the United States, we look for world class facilities and Abu Dhabi has those. The Etihad Arena is as nice as any NBA arena I have been to around the world.
"Thirdly, we look for partners that have the experience of hosting world class events and there is no doubt that Abu Dhabi has done that, whether it’s Formula One, professional golf and tennis championships, Special Olympics – this place knows how to host and put on world class events, which NBA games are. So those are some of the reasons why we chose Abu Dhabi as the destination."
The deal with the NBA is the latest significant partnership with a major sports organisation for DCT Abu Dhabi and continues the ongoing efforts to transform the capital into a major international sports hub.
The emirate has already become the international home of the UFC, hosts the Formula One season finale, the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and stages the European Tour season opener, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, among many other international sports and entertainment events.
“We’re very proud to have this multiyear partnership and that goes beyond that game," said Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, executive director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi. "We have shared values with the NBA; values of tolerance, diversity, teamwork – all these things reflect our communities in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
"Positioning Abu Dhabi as a hub for world class sports events in the region is something that we were looking for and having the NBA as part of our portfolio will definitely add value.
"But it’s more about community development, talent development, the whole ecosystem, it’s not just about the games. We have common values and we have many things to work on for the future. This is just the beginning."
A key component of that community development will be focused on grassroots basketball and the junior NBA Leagues. Coaches with NBA and top-level junior basketball experience will visit Abu Dhabi to share their expertise, with the ultimate goal of helping identify NBA-worthy talent from the region.
"Once we have all these coaches come to Abu Dhabi to work with different teams here and to bring the culture of the NBA to the region, I believe we will start to see new talents and new fans," Al Shaiba said. "Kids have that dream of reaching the NBA but we need to create that environment for them. It is a process, and it will take time, but we are building the foundations for the next generation."
While still too early to confirm which teams will be participating in the first pre-season games in Abu Dhabi next October, Tatum said there has been a great response from players keen to make the trip to the UAE.
"We’ve been in conversation with lots of teams and they have raised their hands and said they want to come and play games in Abu Dhabi," he said. "It will be a cooperative process with our partners here to figure out the first two teams, and the two teams after that, but there is no shortage of interest from NBA teams."
The NBA is no stranger to staging games outside of North America, with regular season games held in London, Paris, and Mexico City over the past few years. However, travel logistics mean that for now, only pre-season games will take place in Abu Dhabi.
"We understand the fans would love to see regular season games," Tatum said. "I think we have to deal with the practical issues of having teams travel far distances in the middle of the season. That is a challenge for us. It doesn’t mean it can’t be overcome.”
Additionally, the NBA were keen to stress that their involvement in Abu Dhabi will be year-round and not solely focused on the games, while insisting that pre-season games will be more beneficial to basketball fans in the UAE as players will be more accessible.
"Obviously around the game week, there will be a significant set of activities, we’ll have our players out and about in the community in addition to playing the game," said Ralph Rivera, managing director of NBA Europe and Middle East.
"But throughout the year we will have other events where we bring talent and legends over. This is holistic and not just about a game. That is the way we make a sustainable impact in the community."
Tatum added: "The benefit of doing the games here in pre-season is that our players can spend more time here. As Ralph mentioned, in the lead-up to those games they are going to be in the community, working with kids, they are going to be very present and visible.
"With regular season games, it’s hard to do that. Because the schedule is so condensed, they have to be in and out, so that was one of the reasons why pre-season is beneficial."
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Floward%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdulaziz%20Al%20Loughani%20and%20Mohamed%20Al%20Arifi%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EE-commerce%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbout%20%24200%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAljazira%20Capital%2C%20Rainwater%20Partners%2C%20STV%20and%20Impact46%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C200%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
INDIA'S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS
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What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
UAE'S%20YOUNG%20GUNS
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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What%20is%20cystic%20fibrosis%3F
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3ECystic%20fibrosis%20is%20a%20genetic%20disorder%20that%20affects%20the%20lungs%2C%20pancreas%20and%20other%20organs.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIt%20causes%20the%20production%20of%20thick%2C%20sticky%20mucus%20that%20can%20clog%20the%20airways%20and%20lead%20to%20severe%20respiratory%20and%20digestive%20problems.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPatients%20with%20the%20condition%20are%20prone%20to%20lung%20infections%20and%20often%20suffer%20from%20chronic%20coughing%2C%20wheezing%20and%20shortness%20of%20breath.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ELife%20expectancy%20for%20sufferers%20of%20cystic%20fibrosis%20is%20now%20around%2050%20years.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
'Manmarziyaan' (Colour Yellow Productions, Phantom Films)
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
