The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) announced today that it entered into a strategic partnership with Dubai Basketball, becoming one of the club’s founding sponsors and leveraging its international visibility and reach to reinforce Dubai’s position as a leading global hub for sports, events and entertainment.
DET and Dubai Basketball will work together to support the growth and development of the basketball community in the city, for both players and fans. This partnership also highlights the shared commitment between the two organizations to showcase the emirate as a must-visit travel destination.
“This collaboration not only supports the growth of the sport locally but also enhances Dubai’s reputation as a premier global destination for world-class events, paving the way for more fans from Europe and beyond to visit Dubai,” stated Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, part of DET.
First Middle East to compete in Europe’s ABA League
In a statement, DET also announced that the Dubai logo and visitdubai.com website now feature on the back of the team’s shirts, as well as prominently within the Coca-Cola Arena during the club’s home games.
This season, Dubai Basketball has made history as the first team from the Middle East to compete in Europe’s ABA League, seeing them play top teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro, both home and away.
With the city’s first international sports franchise hosting their home matches at Coca-Cola Arena, it also provides an opportunity for opposition fans to fly into Dubai, watch their team play and enjoy the emirate’s diverse destination offering.
“With Dubai established as one of the top global tourism destinations, Dubai Basketball will help attract further visitors from Europe to the emirate by competing in Europe’s ABA League, giving them an opportunity to not only see high-quality action at Coca-Cola Arena, but also some of the emirate’s famous attractions, and learn more about the UAE’s culture and heritage,” stated Dejan Kamenjašević, general manager and co-founder of Dubai Basketball.
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Propelling Dubai’s thriving sports scene
The partnership between DET and Dubai Basketball further reinforces Dubai’s status as a dynamic destination for world-class sporting experiences, with a thriving sports scene propelled by a blend of homegrown events, local clubs and global competitions.
Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment continues to drive and support many of these initiatives, positioning Dubai as a top choice for both participants and fans, while also attracting more international sporting events to the region, further enhancing its appeal as a premier global destination for tourism and entertainment.
“We are confident that this partnership will contribute to the emirate’s vibrant sports and tourism ecosystem, in line with the strategic goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure,” added Al Khaja.
