Events Lead - Middle East

Role overview

Based in Abu Dhabi, this position leads the planning, design, and delivery of NBA events and related operations across the Middle East. The work sits within the NBA’s international office structure, supporting the league’s global growth through events, commercial relationships, media initiatives, and community-focused activity. The role requires close coordination with teams in the Middle East, Europe, New York, and other NBA locations, with shared responsibility for decisions, execution, and alignment across a highly matrixed environment.

The selected candidate will oversee event budgets, programme plans, vendor relationships, and venue coordination to create a strong experience for partners, promoters, guests, and teams. The role calls for a confident and decisive leader who can communicate well, build partnerships, and work effectively across events, partnerships, production, marketing, and communications.

The NBA provides eligible employees the option to work remotely one day each week.

Responsibilities

• Act as the main point of contact for events in the Middle East, supporting planning and stakeholder coordination with partners, agencies, and promoters while keeping activity aligned with the NBA’s global events direction.
• Work closely with regional and global teams to develop and deliver event concepts, plans, and execution in a fully collaborative manner.
• Spot opportunities to expand and improve existing Middle East events so they strengthen fan engagement and create new business value through partnerships, content, and engagement initiatives.
• Partner with business teams to shape monetization approaches and explore new event formats for partners, promoters, and government bodies in the region.
• Recommend suitable event types and platforms based on market knowledge, league priorities, fan demand, and commercial potential.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with institutions, government stakeholders, venues, and other key parties to support smooth delivery and regulatory compliance.
• Handle permissions, licences, permits, and other local procedural requirements from the idea stage through event execution.
• Create and manage operational plans covering staffing, logistics, production schedules, and budgets.
• Support Global Partnerships and Global Media teams with partner deliverables such as activations, hospitality, and social programming.
• Lead vendors and contractors to ensure service quality, timeline adherence, and compliance with NBA standards.
• Provide on-site leadership for Middle East events and activations, with a focus on stakeholder satisfaction and ongoing improvement.

Requirements

• Strong project and process management capability, with the confidence to work independently in a demanding and fast-moving setting.
• Proven ability to manage relationships and expectations across internal and external stakeholders.
• Commercial understanding, including support for marketing, ticketing, and partner activation goals.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Excellent organization and attention to detail, with the ability to balance several priorities and deadlines at once.
• Adaptable, proactive, and solution-driven approach.
• Strong computer skills, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Asana, and similar project management tools.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally when needed.
• Business-level English is required; Arabic is an added advantage.
• At least 8 to 10 years of relevant event management experience, ideally in the U.A.E.
• Background in sports, live events, or agency environments, preferably with global or regional sports brands.
• Proven experience managing large-scale events and complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in a matrixed organization while balancing local ownership with global alignment.
• International exposure, especially living or working in the U.A.E. or the Middle East, is strongly preferred.
• A bachelor’s degree is required.

Additional information

This is a full-time role based in Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates. The stated salary range is not available.

The NBA does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or other third parties. Any such submission becomes NBA property, and no fee will be paid if the NBA hires from an unsolicited resume.

Hiring decisions are made on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs, without discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics under applicable law.

The NBA is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace. For onsite work in its New York and New Jersey offices, full COVID-19 vaccination is required, subject to accommodation for qualifying medical or sincerely held religious reasons.

About the NBA

The National Basketball Association is a global sports and media organisation focused on connecting and inspiring people through basketball. Its international footprint spans games and programming in 215 countries and territories, in more than 50 languages, with merchandise sold in over 200 countries and territories across all seven continents. NBA digital properties include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App, and NBA League Pass. The league also has one of the world’s largest social media communities and supports social impact work through NBA Cares.