The NBA’s annual preseason trip to the Middle East won’t take place this year, with reports suggesting the league has decided against staging exhibition games in the region because of the ongoing conflict involving Iran and wider instability across the Middle East.
After making the Middle East a regular stop on its preseason schedule over the past four years, the NBA is opting for caution before returning.
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Since 2022, Abu Dhabi has hosted NBA preseason games at Etihad Arena, welcoming some of the league’s biggest stars as part of its international expansion strategy.
The initiative has helped grow basketball’s popularity in the region while strengthening the NBA’s relationship with local partners. Two exhibition games have been played there each year, beginning with a matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards in 2022.
Although the NBA never formally announced Middle East preseason games for this year, reports indicate that discussions had taken place with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards about participating.
The league also explored the possibility of holding its first-ever game in Doha, Qatar, alongside games in Abu Dhabi, but those plans were never finalized as the regional situation continued to evolve.
International growth remains a priority
Despite this year’s cancellation, the NBA’s long-term commitment to the Middle East appears unchanged.
Earlier this year, the league extended its partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism, reinforcing plans for future NBA Global Games, expanded marketing initiatives and the development of an NBA Global Academy in the UAE capital.
Those agreements remain in place, with reports suggesting preseason games are expected to return once conditions improve.
Qatar also remains part of the NBA’s long-term international vision. League officials have reportedly discussed bringing preseason basketball to Doha, particularly with the city preparing to host the 2027 FIBA World Cup.
An NBA exhibition game had been considered as part of the lead-up to the tournament, although no timeline has been established while conflict continues across the region.
The pause in the Middle East doesn’t mean the NBA is scaling back its overseas ambitions elsewhere. This October, the league is scheduled to play preseason games in China for the first time since 2019, marking another important step in reconnecting with one of its largest international markets.
Meanwhile, regular-season games are already scheduled to take place in France, England, Germany and Mexico as the NBA continues expanding its global reach.
Last preseason, the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers opened their campaigns with two games in Abu Dhabi, highlighting how quickly the destination had become a fixture on the NBA calendar.
While fans in the Middle East won’t see NBA action this preseason, the league’s broader strategy for the region remains intact.
The current pause is widely viewed as a response to security concerns rather than a shift in direction, leaving the door open for Abu Dhabi and potentially Qatar to welcome NBA teams again when the geopolitical climate becomes more stable.
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