Why Abu Dhabi F1 GP keeps attracting foreign fans every year
A Formula One week has a lull on Thursdays — drivers making the last minute changes to get the cars prepared for Friday’s practice sessions before Saturday’s qualifying sessions and the grand finale on Sunday.
Drivers walk in the media box to be asked questions about the race and their season thus far. There is no action, no drama and of course no F1 car running amok on the Yas Marina Circuit.
But there were also the crowds in Yas Mall who flocked to the shuttle buses to the circuit on Thursday and the people young and old and from all walks of life wanting to enjoy the atmosphere at the great circuit.
The Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix, not only providing great races for 16 years now, but also helping the country’s tourism and economy. In the official figures provided by the organisers, 65 per cent of the 170,000 audience at the Yas Marina last year were tourists.
When we went inside the media centre on Thursday while we waited for security clearance, there were some fans desperate outside the gates demanding tickets.
They didn’t really see that Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has already won the driver’s title this season, the ‘Flying Dutchman’s fourth world title in a row.
There is just no getting away from the attraction of a Formula One race at Yas Marina for these kinds of fans.
Saif Rashid Al-Noaimi, CEO of Ethara, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix organisers, revealed how the F1 race is still captivating fans around the globe and is a major driver of the country’s economy.
"We have had record numbers of requests really this year. Previous year: 2023 was the peak year. "We were 170,000 people the whole weekend and almost 70 per cent of people were outside of the UAE," Al-Noaimi added.
"Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is now a central anchor for the Abu Dhabi tourism strategy and also the Abu Dhabi economy. Those who came to Abu Dhabi last year and watched the Grand Prix spent more than a billion dirhams.
Those are good numbers, driving Abu Dhabi’s economy. It’s four races in the F1 season in the Gulf today but it’s the Abu Dhabi GP that has proved the biggest.
‘The biggest reason why the race is so successful,’ says Al-Noaimi, ‘is that the organisers do not get bogged down in previous successes.
"We try to think of ways for people to attend the Grand Prix. And again this year we have some upgrades and new products new for 2024", he added.
"Firstly, our paddock club product has been upgraded, it has new entrances, we have repainted the roof and the terrace, and we have this fantastic new 360° viewing platform.
Not only that, but we have new merchandise and new platforms for various fan areas at Yas Marina Circuit.
"And so we keep expanding and developing, launching products. So it’s time for the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, on its 16th edition. It’s gonna be the biggest one we have ever made.""
A second main draw for fans are the Yas Marina after-race concerts. There’s the US super star Eminem who will make an appearance on Saturday.
"The after-race concerts are an important part every year, we never forget to provide the most value proposition for everyone’s guest," Al-Noaimi added. "There’s four nights of the biggest acts at the after-race concerts, so everything for the fans to enjoy.
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