International Basketball Week in Abu Dhabi to see debut of 2 American college teams

Kansas State Wildcats take on Mexico as part of International Basketball Week in Abu Dhabi.(DCT)
Short Url
Updated 17 August 2023
Follow

International Basketball Week in Abu Dhabi to see debut of 2 American college teams

  • Kansas State Wildcats face Mexico on Thursday evening and Arizona Wildcats take on Lebanon on Aug. 19 for first time in the Gulf

ABU DHABI: As part of International Basketball Week in Abu Dhabi, the Kansas State Wildcats are set to play against Mexico today, while the Arizona Wildcats face off against Lebanon on Aug. 19, with both contests held at Yas Island’s Etihad Arena.

The games, announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, will see American college teams playing in the Gulf for the first time.

Fans who have already purchased tickets to watch Lebanon versus Egypt on Thursday evening and Germany versus Greece on Aug. 19, will also be able to watch the US teams in action.

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

International Basketball Week will see several of the world’s top men’s national teams taking part in exhibition matches in Abu Dhabi before heading to the FIBA World Cup 2023.

As part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s plans to grow the game in the Middle East, the Etihad Arena hosted NBA games 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 Oct. 5 and 7, featuring a pair of games between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves.


Saudi cultural identity on show at Winter Olympics fashion showcase

Updated 05 February 2026
Follow

Saudi cultural identity on show at Winter Olympics fashion showcase

  • Skier Rakan Alireza represents the Kingdom at event in Milan, modeling bespoke design by renowned Saudi fashion designer Alya Al-Salmi
  • 17 National Olympic Committees participate in showcase and Saudis are sole representatives of the Arab world

MILAN: Ahead of the opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, cross-country skier Rakan Alireza represented Team Saudi at an Olympic Winter Games Fashion Showcase hosted by the International Olympic Committee in Milan this week.
He modeled a bespoke design by renowned Saudi fashion designer Alya Al-Salmi at the event on Wednesday, which took place at Clubhouse 26, the official hospitality venue for the Games.
Seventeen National Olympic Committees participated in the showcase and the Saudis were the sole representatives of the Arab world.
The design of Alireza’s outfit was described as drawing inspiration from Saudi heritage, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens that seamlessly blends tradition with modern elegance, offering a visual narrative of national identity presented within an international context.
Regarded as one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent fashion designers, Al-Salmi also created the outfits worn by team Saudi at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
The opening ceremony for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games is on Friday.