Latest:
oct 27 2026EuroLeague Basketball has once again turned to the Middle East for its flagship event. Euroleague Basketball and Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) have announced that the Final Four will return to the UAE capital in 2027 and 2029, two years after its debut at the Etihad Arena.
The 2027 edition will take place at the same venue on Yas Island on Friday, May 28 and Sunday, May 30. The semifinals will be held on Friday, and on Sunday, the Next Generation final and the championship game will take place. The organization has not yet announced the dates for 2029 or the venue for 2028.
The 2025 Precedent
Abu Dhabi hosted the Final Four for the first time in May 2025, with Fenerbahçe crowned champion before 12,000 spectators. According to the organization, tickets sold out within hours and the competition set records for viewership and engagement across its platforms. Dejan Bodiroga, president of Euroleague Basketball, described it as "one of the best Final Fours" in the competition's 26-year history.
Read also:
- Valencia-Fenerbahçe and Baskonia-Real Madrid open the double matchday
- TJ Shorts and Zach LeDay, co-MVPs of EuroLeague Matchday 7
- Andrés Feliz set for contract extension with Real Madrid through 2029
The Middle East Strategy
The agreement fits into the league's international growth strategy, which combines traditional European basketball markets with global cities featuring world-class facilities and tourism appeal. "Abu Dhabi has become a key partner in that vision," explained Chus Bueno, CEO of Euroleague Basketball. The renewed partnership comes following the arrival of Dubai Basketball to the competition, whose inaugural 2025-26 season accumulated 19.57 million viewers across the region, and following the first EuroLeague Basketball Super Cup, which was held in Abu Dhabi last September.
Experience Abu Dhabi will continue as the title sponsor of the competitions and will name the Final Four, with presence in arenas, broadcasts, and jerseys throughout the season. The agreement is part of the emirate's tourism strategy for 2030.
