Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism has confirmed that the EuroLeague Basketball Final Four will return to Etihad Arena on Yas Island in both 2027 and 2029, cementing the emirate's status as a recurring host for one of European basketball's biggest showcases.
The city first staged the Final Four in 2025, when Fenerbahce Beko stunned Monaco in the championship game — the tournament's first appearance outside Europe since 2004. That edition drew strong crowds and set the stage for Abu Dhabi's continued involvement with EuroLeague Basketball.
For the 2027 edition, the semi-finals are scheduled for Friday, May 28, with the championship game following on Sunday, May 30. The NextGen EuroLeague Final, which showcases rising young talent from clubs across the continent, will also take place on the same day at Etihad Arena.
Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, of Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism, said the decision to bring the Final Four back in both 2027 and 2029 reflects the strength of the emirate's partnership with EuroLeague Basketball, adding that the city has become a fixture on the global sporting calendar.
Etihad Arena has steadily built a reputation as a premier venue for major sporting spectacles in the Gulf. It also hosted the inaugural EuroLeague SuperCup in September 2026, won by Real Madrid, underscoring the venue's growing portfolio of top-tier basketball events.
The announcement continues a broader push by the UAE to attract marquee international sporting fixtures, a strategy that has already brought Formula One, golf, tennis and combat sports events to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Organisers expect thousands of travelling fans from across Europe to attend both editions, offering a further boost to the emirate's tourism and hospitality sectors around the tournament dates.