The 2024 Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix drew record crowds and generated Dh1.25 billion in visitor spending, organisers Ethara announced on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The race, which serves as the annual F1 season finale, has gone from strength to strength since its first staging in 2009. <\/p>\n
That was evident in numbers showing a sharp increase in visitors in 2024 \u2013 and with it a financial bump for Abu Dhabi’s leisure and tourism sector.<\/p>\n
Attendances grew across all four days of last December’s event, resulting in an overall jump from 170,000 to 192,000 \u2013 an increase of 12.9 per cent. <\/p>\n
Ethara says 70 per cent of those spectators came from abroad, and that racegoers parted with Dh1.25 billion over the four days, a 6.8 per cent increase in visitor spending from the previous year. <\/p>\n
The 2025 event, set to be held at Yas Marina Circuit<\/a> from December 4-7, is expected to be even bigger still, with Ethara confirming \u201cthe majority of tickets\u201d have already been sold. <\/p>\n \u201cThe Abu Dhabi Grand Prix continues to raise the bar, generating Dh1.25 billion across four unforgettable days,\u201d said Saif Al Noaimi, CEO of Ethara. <\/p>\n \u201cThis figure demonstrates how we\u2019ve evolved the event into an entertainment and tourism destination that transcends sport. <\/p>\n \u201cWith an unprecedented level of advance sales for the 2025 race, fans are telling us they trust in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix experience and everything that it brings both on and off the track. That excitement drives us to keep pushing boundaries and deliver extraordinary moments for fans and visitors every year.\u201d <\/p>\n The event\u2019s signature Yasalam after-race concerts also experienced record crowds, with 110,000 attending four nights of shows at Etihad Park.<\/p>\n The race itself drew a huge broadcast audience, with 62 million watching last year\u2019s championship finale on TV and streaming platforms.<\/p>\n That was further enhanced by F1<\/a> teams, drivers and celebrities sharing their experience on social media, giving the event an online reach of 4.6 billion, according to Ethara.<\/p>\n Organisers also revealed that in 2024 some 85 per cent of international visitors arrived by air. More than half were visiting Abu Dhabi for the first time and many turned their stays into full holidays. <\/p>\n Alongside the racing, fans filled Yas Island\u2019s theme parks and visited cultural landmarks like Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Watan. Over 30,000 visits were recorded across these sights during the 2024 race weekend, with a Grand Prix ticket granting complimentary access. <\/p>\n In 2025, ticket benefits have been extended and now include teamLab Phenomena<\/a> on Saadiyat Island. <\/p>\n Besides tourism, the event contributes to the local economy by generating jobs. Notably, 88 per cent of staff on-site at Yas Marina Circuit last year were UAE-based.<\/p>\n The Formula One season resumes in Singapore this weekend. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri leads the drivers’ championship from teammate Lando Norris, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen gaining momentum<\/a> after wins in Azerbaijan and Italy.<\/p>\n UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsGYAN\u2019S ASIAN OUTPUT<\/p>\n 2011-2015: Al Ain \u2013 123 apps, 128 goals<\/p>\n 2015-2017: Shanghai SIPG \u2013 20 apps, 7 goals<\/p>\n 2016-2017: Al Ahli (loan) \u2013 25 apps, 11 goals<\/p>\n Champions\u00a0League\u00a0Last\u00a016<\/p>\n \u00a0Red\u00a0Bull\u00a0Salzburg (AUT)\u00a0v\u00a0Bayern\u00a0Munich (GER)\u00a0<\/p>\n Sporting\u00a0Lisbon (POR)\u00a0v\u00a0Manchester\u00a0City (ENG)\u00a0<\/p>\n Benfica (POR)\u00a0v\u00a0Ajax (NED)\u00a0<\/p>\n Chelsea (ENG)\u00a0v\u00a0Lille (FRA)\u00a0<\/p>\n Atletico\u00a0Madrid (ESP)\u00a0v\u00a0Manchester\u00a0United (ENG)\u00a0<\/p>\n Villarreal (ESP)\u00a0v\u00a0Juventus (ITA)\u00a0<\/p>\n Inter\u00a0Milan (ITA)\u00a0v\u00a0Liverpool (ENG)\u00a0<\/p>\n Paris\u00a0Saint-Germain\u00a0v\u00a0Real\u00a0Madrid (ESP)\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n More from Neighbourhood Watch:UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsCryopreservation: A timeline<\/p>\n Mohammed bin Zayed MajlisMore on animal traffickingUAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsICC\u00a0men’s\u00a0cricketer\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0year<\/p>\n 2004 –\u00a0Rahul\u00a0Dravid (IND) ;\u00a02005 –\u00a0Jacques\u00a0Kallis (SA)\u00a0and\u00a0Andrew\u00a0Flintoff (ENG);\u00a02006 –\u00a0Ricky\u00a0Ponting (AUS);\u00a02007 –\u00a0Ricky\u00a0Ponting;\u00a02008 –\u00a0Shivnarine\u00a0Chanderpaul (WI);\u00a02009 –\u00a0Mitchell\u00a0Johnson (AUS);\u00a02010 –\u00a0Sachin\u00a0Tendulkar (IND);\u00a02011 –\u00a0Jonathan\u00a0Trott (ENG);\u00a02012 –\u00a0Kumar\u00a0Sangakkara (SL);\u00a02013 –\u00a0Michael\u00a0Clarke (AUS);\u00a02014 –\u00a0Mitchell\u00a0Johnson;\u00a02015 –\u00a0Steve\u00a0Smith (AUS);\u00a02016 –\u00a0Ravichandran\u00a0Ashwin (IND);\u00a02017 –\u00a0Virat\u00a0Kohli (IND);\u00a02018 –\u00a0Virat\u00a0Kohli;\u00a02019 –\u00a0Ben\u00a0Stokes (ENG);\u00a02021 –\u00a0Shaheen\u00a0Afridi<\/p>\n EA Sports FC 26<\/p>\n Publisher:<\/strong> EA Sports<\/p>\n Consoles:<\/strong> PC, PlayStation 4\/5, Xbox Series X\/S<\/p>\n Rating:<\/strong> 3\/5<\/p>\n More coverage from the Future ForumMATCH INFO<\/p>\n Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:<\/strong><\/p>\n Ajax 2-3 Tottenham<\/p>\n Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate<\/p>\n Final:<\/strong> June 1, Madrid<\/p>\n Zayed Sustainability PrizeVolvo ES90 Specs<\/p>\n Engine: <\/strong>Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)<\/p>\n Power: <\/strong>333hp, 449hp, 680hp<\/p>\n Torque: <\/strong>480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm<\/p>\n On sale: <\/strong>Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region<\/p>\n Price: <\/strong>Exact regional pricing TBA<\/p>\n Read more about the coronavirusTop goalscorers in Europe<\/p>\n 34 goals –\u00a0Robert Lewandowski (68 points)<\/p>\n 34 – Ciro Immobile (68)<\/p>\n 31 – Cristiano Ronaldo (62)<\/p>\n 28 – Timo Werner (56)<\/p>\n 25 – Lionel Messi (50)<\/p>\n *29 – Erling Haaland (50)<\/p>\n 23 – Romelu Lukaku (46)<\/p>\n 23 – Jamie Vardy (46)<\/p>\n *NOTE: Haaland’s goals for Salzburg count\u00a0for 1.5 points per goal. 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<\/strong>Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 (Paris Saint-Germain \/ France)<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Aitana Bonmat\u00ed (Barcelona \/ Spain)<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Lamine Yamal (Barcelona \/ Spain)<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Vicky L\u00f3pez (Barcelona \/ Spain)<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City \/ Italy)<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Hannah Hampton (England \/ Aston Villa and Chelsea)<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Sarina Wiegman (England)<\/p>\n\n
2289 \u2013 Dh10
2252 \u2013 Dh 50
6025 \u2013 Dh20
6027 \u2013 Dh 100
6026 \u2013 Dh 200<\/p>\n
6.35pm:\u00a0Festival\u00a0City\u00a0Stakes \u2013\u00a0Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D)\u00a01,200m
7.10pm:\u00a0Dubai\u00a0Racing\u00a0Club\u00a0Classic \u2013\u00a0Listed (TB) $100,000 (Turf)\u00a02,410m
7.45pm:\u00a0Jumeirah\u00a0Classic\u00a0Trial \u2013\u00a0Conditions (TB) $150,000 (T)\u00a01,400m
8.20pm:\u00a0Al\u00a0Maktoum\u00a0Challenge\u00a0Round-1 \u2013\u00a0Group\u00a02 (TB) $250,000 (D)\u00a01,600m
8.55pm:\u00a0Cape\u00a0Verdi \u2013\u00a0Group\u00a02 (TB) $180,000 (T)\u00a01,600m
9.30pm:\u00a0Dubai\u00a0Dash \u2013\u00a0Listed (TB) $100,000 (T)\u00a01,000m<\/p>\n
What time:<\/strong> Each day\u2019s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: <\/strong>The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.<\/p>\n