The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has develop into certainly one of Formulation 1’s strongest financial drivers, drawing a file 192,000 followers in 2024 and contributing AED1.25 billion to the capital’s economic system.
“We had 192,000 attendees over the complete weekend of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix [in 2024] which is a file quantity for us. Of these guests, 70 per cent of them had been coming from exterior the UAE. From a world customer standpoint, that’s big,” Ethara CEO Saif Al Noaimi mentioned in an unique interview with Arabian Enterprise.
He mentioned the race affords a “window” into Abu Dhabi for international audiences.
F1 drives file tourism to Abu Dhabi
Customer surveys present lots of these attending had been in Abu Dhabi for the primary time, with a majority indicating plans to return. “The occasion is a chance to indicate Abu Dhabi to the world,” Al Noaimi mentioned.
The Grand Prix’s contribution contains spending on motels, eating places, transportation, points of interest and race attendance. The occasion’s rising footprint displays how main sporting spectacles are more and more leveraged as financial engines and tourism drivers.
Formulation 1’s international viewers now exceeds 800 million and Al Noaimi mentioned its evolving demographic presents new alternatives for locations like Abu Dhabi. “There’s a shift extra feminine and a a lot youthful viewers,” he mentioned.
In line with current knowledge, 42 per cent of F1 followers are actually girls and 43 per cent are beneath the age of 35.
The Yas Marina Circuit, which hosts the season finale, has develop into central to Abu Dhabi’s tourism and branding technique. The race evidently causes spikes in lodge bookings and flights throughout race weekend and it additionally drives guests towards different points of interest such because the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Yas Island’s theme parks.
“It’s been a journey of 16 years constructing yr on yr on progress and financial influence,” Al Noaimi mentioned. “Each single contact level issues, whether or not it’s somebody sitting on the grass or attending the Paddock Membership. We deal with everybody with the identical care and consideration.”
Abu Dhabi’s F1 season finale
The 2024 race additionally coincided with the premiere of the Formulation 1 movie starring Brad Pitt, elements of which had been shot at Yas Marina Circuit. “The climax of the film was filmed on the circuit,” Al Noaimi mentioned. “From our perspective, trying on the variety of viewers which have seen the film and the truth that it’s been known as the summer time blockbuster of 2025 is one thing we’re very pleased with.”
As Formulation 1 expands to 24 races worldwide, competitors amongst host cities has intensified. But Al Noaimi mentioned Abu Dhabi stays firmly established as a season-ending fixture. “I’d not think about that we compete. I believe we complement,” he mentioned.
Trying forward, Ethara plans to develop premium hospitality choices, improve fan zones and introduce new digital engagement instruments. “We take a look at what experiences we will add and the way we will always adapt each single yr,” Al Noaimi concluded.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 is ready to happen from December 5th to 7th. A large lineup of artists have been introduced for the after-race live shows together with Put up Malone, Katy Perry and Metallica.
Tickets can be found on the official Abu Dhabi GP web site with costs for Basic Admission beginning at AED995. Hospitality packages are additionally out there beginning at AED5,995 and up.
