The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has turn out to be one among Formulation 1’s strongest financial drivers, drawing a document 192,000 followers in 2024 and contributing AED1.25 billion to the capital’s financial system.
“We had 192,000 attendees over all the weekend of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix [in 2024] which is a document quantity for us. Of these guests, 70 per cent of them have been coming from outdoors the UAE. From a global customer standpoint, that’s big,” Ethara CEO Saif Al Noaimi mentioned in an unique interview with Arabian Enterprise.
He mentioned the race provides a “window” into Abu Dhabi for world audiences.
F1 drives document tourism to Abu Dhabi
Customer surveys present a lot of these attending have been in Abu Dhabi for the primary time, with a majority indicating plans to return. “The occasion is a chance to point out Abu Dhabi to the world,” Al Noaimi mentioned.
The Grand Prix’s contribution consists of spending on resorts, eating places, transportation, sights 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 world 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 at the moment are ladies and 43 per cent are below the age of 35.
The Yas Marina Circuit, which hosts the season finale, has turn out to be 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 sights 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 development and financial impression,” 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 have been shot at Yas Marina Circuit. “The climax of the film was filmed on the circuit,” Al Noaimi mentioned. “From our perspective, wanting 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.
Wanting forward, Ethara plans to broaden premium hospitality choices, improve fan zones and introduce new digital engagement instruments. “We have a look at what experiences we will add and the way we will continually adapt each single yr,” Al Noaimi concluded.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 is about to happen from December 5th to 7th. A large lineup of artists have been introduced for the after-race concert events together with Publish 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 obtainable beginning at AED5,995 and up.
