LONDON/ABU DHABI: The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Al Mana Fashion Group (Al Mana) opened the first brick-and-mortar NBA Store in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the league’s first e-commerce site dedicated to fans in the Middle East launching later this month. The new brick-and-mortar store, operated by Al Mana and located at Yas Mall on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, marks the second NBA Store in the Middle East, joining Doha, Qatar.
The official store opening was attended by nine-time NBA All-Star Dominique Wilkins, who was joined by Al Mana Sports Division General Manager Tom Foley; NBA Commissioner Adam Silver; NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum; NBA Europe and Middle East Managing Director Ralph Rivera; Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi Chairman, H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak; Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi Undersecretary, H.E. Saood Abdulaziz Mohamed Al Hosani; and Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi Director General for Tourism, H.E. Saleh Mohammed Algeziry.
The 500+ square-meter interactive retail and community space features a wide range of authentic NBA merchandise and memorabilia, including current and former player jerseys, fan apparel, headwear, footwear, basketballs and accessories from major brands such as Nike, Mitchell & Ness, New Era and Wilson. The store also features exclusive NBA Abu Dhabi-branded apparel and novelties, as well as a customization area where fans can personalize NBA jerseys.
“We are thrilled to open our new NBA Store in Yas Mall – the first of its kind in the UAE,” said Foley. “We welcome the basketball community in the UAE to visit and look forward to becoming an extension of the NBA family by offering a unique interactive experience.”
“We are proud to expand our collaboration with Al Mana Fashion Group and open the first NBA Store in Abu Dhabi ahead of the historic games here that tip off tonight,” said Rivera. “This beautiful new space will serve as a one-stop destination for fans in Abu Dhabi and those visiting to come together and celebrate their love of the game.”
Beginning later this month, NBA fans in the UAE and across the Middle East will be able to shop online at NBAStoreME.com for the widest selection of authentic NBA products ever available in the region. Fans can sign up now at NBAStoreME.com to stay up to date on the launch of the site, which is available in both Arabic and English.
Fans visiting Yas Mall through Saturday, Oct. 8 will also be able to enjoy a number of interactive basketball activities within an NBA-themed area located in the Mall’s Town Square courtyard one floor below the NBA Store, including NBA Jam and NBA 2K23 kiosks, basketball arcade games and the Larry O’Brien Trophy on display.
The sold-out NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 are part of a groundbreaking multiyear collaboration between the NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) that earlier this year saw the launch of the first Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League, a youth basketball league for 450 boys and girls ages 11-14 from schools across Abu Dhabi. The collaboration also includes a variety of interactive fan events featuring appearances by current and former NBA players, a series of NBA FIT clinics promoting health and wellness, and an NBA 2K League exhibition event.
Fans can purchase tickets to NBA District, an immersive, interactive fan event that will be held at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi from Wednesday, Oct. 5 – Sunday, Oct. 9, and The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 by visiting NBAEvents.com/AbuDhabi. Fans can also follow the NBA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@NBAArabic) for the latest updates, news and content in Arabic.
There are more than 400 NBA-branded retail stores and attractions worldwide that serve as the league’s official destinations for fans around the world.
