NBA to Europe, EuroLeague to the Gulf

EuroLeague announced that the Final Four, the most important club event of the season, will be held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, in the 2027 and 2029 seasons. Abu Dhabi also hosted the Final Four in 2025, when Fenerbahce were crowned champions. With this decision, the city will host the final matches three times in the five-year period from 2025 to 2029.

EuroLeague management described the decision as part of its international growth strategy, but many basketball fans reacted on social media. The criticism centers on the claim that the league is trading away European basketball culture for revenue. Under the official announcement, comments asking "Is this a European league or an Asian league?" and pointing to NBA pressure on clubs stood out.

Travel times have also become a topic of debate for fans on the European mainland who want to attend the Final Four. A direct flight from Madrid to Abu Dhabi takes about eight hours, while a connecting flight from Kaunas takes about ten hours. That is almost the same as a flight from Istanbul to the United States.

Interest in the region has been growing since 2025. In June 2025, it was announced that Dubai Basket would take part in EuroLeague for five years. In September 2025, the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and Etihad Airways joined the league as main partners under a four-year agreement. This timing has fueled commentary that NBA pressure is pushing EuroLeague to seek other sources of revenue.

On the other hand, the new league that the NBA and FIBA plan to establish in Europe is focused more on mainland Europe. George Aivazoglou, NBA Executive Director for Europe and the Middle East, said the new league will be built by Europeans, designed for European fans, and will be a truly European league.