Ahead of NBA finals, advocates renew call for league to sever ties with UAE

Ahead of NBA finals, advocates renew call for league to sever ties with UAE Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Tue, 06/02/2026 - 15:54 US lawmaker accuses Abu Dhabi of 'sportswashing' to cover up involvement in Sudan atrocities Mitch Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs, left, speaks to referee Courtney Kirkland, whose jersey displays the Emirates logo, during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the NBA Western Conference finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on 22 May 2026 (Alex Slitz/Getty Images via AFP) Off The New York Knicks are in the NBA Finals, and Arsenal just won the English Premier League before losing the UEFA Champions League Final. What the teams and their achievements have in common isn't just the avid and vocal support of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani , but also lucrative sponsorship deals with the United Arab Emirates. Beyond individual teams, the NBA in recent years has signed two deals: one with the UAE's department of tourism, signed in 2021, and a sponsorship deal with Emirates Airlines, signed in 2024.