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 take place at Etihad Arena on 28 and 30 May, 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 28 May, the season’s top four teams will contest the semifinal matchups, with the winners advancing to the Championship Game. The weekend concludes on Sunday 30 May 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.
His Excellency Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Hosting the EuroLeague Final Four by Experience Abu Dhabi reflects the emirate’s standing as a global capital for basketball and the strength of our longstanding partnership with the league. Sporting events deliver tangible strategic benefits, helping attract investment, create new jobs, stimulate tourism and support economic diversification. They also encourage members of the community to take part in sport and inspire future generations of players. This is the sustainable economic and social impact we seek to reinforce.”
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 in 2023 to AED90 billion annually by 2030.
