June 10, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Human Rights Watch stated on Wednesday that the National Basketball Association faces the risk of "sportswashing" the human rights image of the United Arab Emirates through an expanded financial alliance with the government of this Gulf nation.
A human rights organization called on the NBA to leverage the prominent stage of the upcoming 2026 NBA Finals to address the United Arab Emirates' track record on domestic issues and its suspected support for the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.
"Amid growing proof of the UAE's military backing for Sudan's violent Rapid Support Forces, the NBA will feature Emirates logos prominently during the 2026 NBA Finals," stated Joey Shea, Senior Researcher from the United Arab Emirates at Human Rights Watch.
"Rather than employing basketball to cover up UAE violations, the NBA ought to seize this prominent platform to address the nation's human rights situation, specifically highlighting the UAE's involvement in Sudan," Shea remarked.
Over the past five years, the NBA has entered into several sponsorship deals with UAE officials and government-affiliated businesses, such as a long-term agreement with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and a significant ad partnership with Emirates Airlines.
Human Rights Watch reported that it has newly uncovered proof indicating that Colombian private security personnel, employed by a firm based in the United Arab Emirates, passed through Emirati military bases prior to being sent to Sudan to assist the Rapid Support Forces.
A human rights organization stated that this transfer serves as additional proof that the UAE is significantly supporting the RSF's ability to carry out war crimes during its conflict with the Sudanese armed forces.
The United Arab Emirates has firmly rejected claims of offering military aid to the RSF, asserting that its help to the area is solely for humanitarian purposes.
The international press, UN officials, and advocacy groups for human rights have consistently recorded the movement of arms, individuals, and additional assistance from the UAE towards the RSF during the past three years.
Sudan's ongoing conflict has led to a major human crisis, with 14 million individuals driven from their residences and 4.4 million forced to leave the nation's territory.
Human Rights Watch said it wrote to the NBA outlining its concerns and asking if the league had agreed to any clauses restricting its freedom to speak out publicly on UAE abuses, but the basketball association has not responded.
