• NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal to Headline Return of  “NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi” and “NBA District”

LONDON AND ABU DHABI – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) today announced that tickets for The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024 presented by ADQ will go on sale to the general public at ticketmaster.ae today at 1 p.m. GST..  The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024 presented by ADQ will feature the 17-time NBA champion Boston Celtics and the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets playing preseason games on Friday, Oct. 4 and Sunday, Oct. 6 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. 

Unrivalled access, hospitality and experiences for fans as well as local excursions and hotel accommodations are also available for purchase at http://nbaexperiences.com/abudhabi.

The NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi also today announced that four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal will headline the return of “NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi” and “NBA District”, two interactive fan events that will take place in October in conjunction with The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024 presented by ADQ. 

“NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi” will take place will take place at Etihad Arena on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 4:30 p.m. GST.  The family-friendly entertainment experience will feature world-class game entertainment, skills competitions, and appearances by Celtics and Nuggets players, O’Neal and other NBA legends.  Special celebrity guests will be announced a later date.

The weekend-long NBA District will return to Manarat Al Saadiyat for the third consecutive year from Thursday, Oct. 3 to Sunday, Oct. 6.  Fans will have the opportunity to participate in immersive experiences, partner activations, NBA talent appearances, basketball activities on a full-size NBA court, and purchase limited-edition NBA merchandise.

Tickets for NBA Fan Appreciation Day in Abu Dhabi and NBA District are on sale now at ticketmaster.ae. 

The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024 presented by ADQ will air live in the UAE, across the Middle East and around the world, reaching fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media.  In addition to presenting partner ADQ, the games and surrounding events will be supported by a roster of marketing partners, including Aldar, Emirates, Experience Abu Dhabi, Nike and Tissot.

Both the Celtics and Nuggets are participating in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, which are airing live in the UAE on beIN SPORTS and NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service available via the NBA App.

NBA games have aired in the UAE since the 1987-88 season.  Fans can follow the NBA on Instagram, Snapchat and X (@NBAArabic) for the latest updates, news and content in Arabic.  NBA fans in the UAE and across the Middle East can shop online at NBAStoreME.com and at the NBA Store at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi for the widest selection of official NBA merchandise ever available in the region.

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About the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi 

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuelling economic progress and helping to achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions.

By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the emirate’s people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.

For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit: dct.gov.ae and visitabudhabi.ae

About ADQ

Established in 2018, ADQ is an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company with a broad portfolio of major enterprises. Its investments span key sectors of the UAE’s diversified economy including energy and utilities, food and agriculture, healthcare and life sciences, and mobility and logistics, amongst others. As a strategic partner of Abu Dhabi’s government, ADQ is committed to accelerating the transformation of the Emirate into a globally competitive and knowledge-based economy.

For more information, visit adq.ae or write to media@adq.ae. You can also follow ADQ on X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues:  the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2023-24 season featured a record 125 international players from 40 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.3 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms.  NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.