Abu Dhabi to host historic matches as Kansas State Wildcats face Mexico on 17 August and Arizona Wildcats take on Lebanon on 19 August for first time in the Arabian Gulf

ABU DHABI – 16 August 2023: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced that regional debuts of two esteemed American university basketball teams will be hosted in Abu Dhabi, when the Kansas State Wildcats Men's Basketball team plays against Mexico on 17 August at 5pm (UAE time) and the Arizona Wildcats Men's Basketball team faces off against Lebanon on 19 August at 5pm (UAE time), both at Yas Island’s Etihad Arena. 

Fans can now purchase tickets from Etihadarena.ae and Ticketmaster.ae. Those who have already purchased tickets to watch Lebanon vs. Egypt on 17 August and Germany vs. Greece on 19 August will be able to access Etihad Arena from 4pm (UAE time) to enjoy both games on each respective day.

Additionally, Arizona Wildcats and Kansas State Wildcats will each play a UAE All Star team on 17 and 18 August at Repton School and New York University Abu Dhabi, respectively. 

The UAE capital is already abuzz with sport courtesy of International Basketball Week, during which a number of the world’s top Men’s National Teams are bringing their best moves to Abu Dhabi before heading to the FIBA World Cup 2023. 

The announcement reinforces DCT Abu Dhabi’s contribution to further establish the emirate’s reputation as a global hub for sporting events. A week-long showcase of basketball excellence, International Basketball Week will directly contribute to the growth of the sport in Abu Dhabi, the UAE and broader region, as well as foster a new generation of healthy and active individuals.

As part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s plans to grow the game in the Middle East, the Etihad Arena hosted the NBA for the first time in 2022, featuring two official pre-season games between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks. The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023, presented by ADQ, is set to return on 5 and 7 October featuring a pair of games between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves.