F1 season finale and the biggest entertainment weekend in the region
The 2025 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marks the finale of the historic 75th season of F1, bringing the pinnacle of motorsport to Yas Marina Circuit for a weekend that has become the region’s defining mega-event.
Since 2009, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has established itself as one of the sport’s premier events, consistently breaking attendance records and expanding its global reach. The 2024 edition reached 77.8 million viewers worldwide and attracted 192,000 fans, with 70% travelling from abroad, making the Grand Prix an international gateway to the emirate.
The twilight format is the event’s signature, and the only one on F1’s 24 race calendar. As the desert sun sets over the Arabian Gulf, racing begins in golden hour and concludes under the circuit’s floodlights. Combined with futuristic architecture and the iconic curves of the Yas Marina Circuit, it creates a visual spectacle unmatched on the F1 calendar.
What distinguishes Abu Dhabi is the convergence of elite racing with entertainment at scale. The 2025 edition delivers the most ambitious package in the event’s history with eight global artists performing at signature Yasalam After-Race Concerts and After-Parties.
The event’s unique appeal has driven exceptional demand for 2025, with the majority of tickets sold out months in advance, marking real vote of confidence from the fans who trust Abu Dhabi will deliver sporting drama, unmissable entertainment and an unforgettable experience.
The 2025 race will be the 17th edition of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, taking place from Thursday, December 4 to Sunday, December 7.
The biggest show in town
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has built one of the most extensive and enduring entertainment programmes in Formula 1. Since 2009, more than sixty concerts and over one hundred Grammy-winning artists have performed as part of race week.
It has grown into the region’s biggest annual entertainment moment, combining elite sports with four nights of A-list concerts, exclusive after-parties and a full waterfront nightlife schedule across Yas Island and Abu Dhabi.
After-Race Concerts blockbuster line-up
Benson Boone headlines the 2025 Emirates NBD Yasalam After-Race Concerts on Thursday, December 4, with Post Malone and Elyanna taking the stage on Friday, December 5, and Metallica on Saturday, December 6. Katy Perry will bring the curtain down on the 2025 F1 season on Sunday, December 7.
Official After-Parties
The Yasalam Official After-Parties extend the celebrations deep into the night, featuring international DJs and open-air venues across Yas Island. On Friday, December 5, Keinemusik takes the stage at Yas Gateway Park, while Idris Elba performs at Garden on Yas, W Abu Dhabi. On Saturday, December 6, Calvin Harris headlines Garden on Yas. On Sunday, December 7, Enoo Napa headlines an exclusive after-party at the Luna Lounge by Cé La Vi.
Nightlife across Yas Marina and Yas Bay
Beyond the concerts and after-parties, Yas Marina and Yas Bay come alive with performances, DJ takeovers and entertainment at waterfront lounges, rooftop venues and restaurants throughout race week. The district-wide atmosphere has become a hallmark of the season finale, with venues curating bespoke menus, live shows and race-week celebrations.
Bucket-list F1 destination
In 2024, international visitors accounted for over 70% of racegoers at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With summer weather, beautiful beaches, and award-winning hotels, the event offers many travelling fans an appealing proposition for combining a race weekend with a holiday. Building on this opportunity, organisers have packed race tickets with experiences that extend far beyond the circuit, turning the race week into an adventure for every type of traveller.
Ticket inclusions
A three-day Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket includes complimentary access to many of the UAE capital’s premier attractions. F1 fans can enjoy thrills at Ferrari World, as well as other Yas Island theme parks such as Yas Waterworld and SeaWorld, making for an excellent family-friendly outing before the day’s racing action. For those seeking culture, the ticket also grants access to architectural and artistic landmarks, including Qasr Al Watan, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the recently opened teamLab Phenomena, a cutting-edge multisensory art museum.
With two cultural landmarks in the Saadiyat Cultural District, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum, set to open ahead of the 2025 Grand Prix, there is more to see and discover in Abu Dhabi than ever before for ticket holders.
A mega event that drives tourism and the economy
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the UAE’s flagship event, drawing thousands of international visitors each year and showcasing the emirate to millions of viewers worldwide. In the 16 years since its debut, it has grown far beyond the racetrack into a global showpiece that plays a leading role in driving Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s tourism ambitions.
Visitation
● The 2024 edition recorded the highest attendance with 192,000 spectators across four days.
● Almost 70% travelled from overseas.
● More than half were visiting Abu Dhabi for the first time.
● In 2025, international fans are projected to come from 104 different countries.
Citywide economic boost
● Visitor spending reached AED 1.25 billion in 2024, a 6.8% year on year increase.
Job creation
● 88% of accredited staff working on the Grand Prix are UAE-based, reflecting local participation across operations, logistics, hospitality and event delivery.
Elevating the Abu Dhabi brand
● The 2024 race drew 77.8 million viewers, showcasing Abu Dhabi’s spectacular blend of futuristic architecture and marina-side scenery.
● In 2025, F1: The Movie brought the Hollywood spotlight to the Yas Marina Circuit. Captured during the 2023 and 2024 race weekends, the film showcases the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in more than 30 minutes of high-energy screen time.
Bringing fans closer to the action and delivering premium experiences
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix continues to innovate fan experience each year, introducing new hospitality concepts, expanding access and adding flair and entertainment to every moment across the race week.
Most in-demand fan experiences expanded and re-invented
The 2025 edition reinvents and expands on two of the most sought-after fan experiences. There will be not one, but two pit lane walks on Thursday, with one session starting from 10:40AM and other at 6PM. The evening session includes a ‘Pit to Park’ experience where fans can explore teams’ garages and then stroll the track under the stars, arriving at Etihad Park in time for Benson Boone’s performance.
On Sunday, December 7, for the first time in the event’s history, all gates will be opened to allow every fan to join post-race celebrations on the grid, creating an iconic moment befitting the season finale. Following the party under the podium, fans can walk the iconic Yas Marina Circuit track once again, arriving at Etihad Park, where Katy Perry will bring the curtain down on the 75th season of Grand Prix racing.
Trackside hospitality that sets the standard
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will feature an award-winning line-up of international cuisine and exceptional dining experiences located at key corners around the Yas Marina Circuit. Among the new offerings is 360 at Sixteen, a multi-level open-air lounge above Turn 16 with panoramic circuit views and curated dining. Returning fan favourites include Deck at Two, showcasing fire-led cuisine by Dani García’s LEÑA; Deck at Nine, serving Greek-inspired dishes by OPA; and Luna Lounge, curated by Cé La Vi, all back by popular demand.
Yas Marina Circuit
Yas Marina Circuit, designed by acclaimed German engineer Hermann Tilke, one of only four designers recognised by the FIA, is among Formula 1’s most distinctive venues. The 5.281 km counterclockwise track is famed for its twilight race, where the transition from day to night under floodlights creates the only spectacle of its kind on the F1 calendar.
A major redesign ahead of the 2021 season finale reprofiled Turn 5, Turn 14, and the Hotel Section, reducing the number of corners from 21 to 16. These changes delivered a shorter, faster lap with more overtaking opportunities and closer wheel-to-wheel action.
Drivers now spend around 69% of the lap at full throttle, reinforcing Yas Marina’s reputation as one of the fastest circuits on the calendar. The venue also hosts the largest Formula 1 Paddock Club of the season, welcoming more than 5,000 VIP guests each year.
Specifications and facts include:
● Circuit Length: 5.281km
● Race Distance: 306.183 km
● Number of Laps: 58
● Lap Record: 1:25.637, set by Kevin Magnussen in 2024
● Circuit Turns: 16
● Direction: Counterclockwise
● Spectator Capacity: Approx. 60,000 per day, depending on the track configuration
On track for the most sustainable Abu Dhabi Grand Prix yet
A champion of sustainability in motorsports, Yas Marina Circuit and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are working toward ambitious targets: cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and running events on 100% renewable energy by 2035.
In 2024, Yas Marina Circuit visitor numbers jumped 27%, from 315,346 to 400,453, yet overall emissions dropped by 8.7%.
Some highlights include installing nearly 4,000 LED fixtures that use 32% less energy and last 24 times longer than the old lights. A 1 MW solar car park went live during the 2024 race and now generates 700-800 kW of renewable energy daily, covering about 30% of the circuit’s annual needs. Temporary power solutions, developed in partnership with Aggreko, reduced pure diesel usage, relying on solar and battery tech for cleaner and reliable power.
Building on this momentum, the 2025 Grand Prix will expand renewable energy even further. Temporary solar power has been tripled, battery energy storage solutions have increased sixfold, and temporary generators will run on 100% higher-concentration biofuel.
There’s also a significant push to eliminate single-use plastic across the event site during the Grand Prix weekend. All plastic bottles and cups for beverages are being replaced with sustainable alternatives, including free public water stations, canned water from Ma Hawa, and the AgainPlease programme’s reusable cups across all food and beverage vendors. Ma Hawa sources water using air-to-water technology and operates a circular production and recycling system. All F&B vendors are switching to canned beverages, paper cups and reusable cups, a regional first developed in association with the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
Yas Marina Circuit holds a Three-Star Environmental Certification from the FIA, with its sustainability programme certified to both ISO 14001 and ISO 20121 standards. The programme aligns with Formula One’s Net-Zero 2030 commitment and the UAE’s Net-Zero 2050 vision.
Community engagement
Yas Marina Circuit continues to leverage motorsport’s global reach to inspire the next generation through ADNOC Yas in Schools. This flagship educational programme brings STEM education to life through hands-on challenges. The programme enables students to pursue STEM subjects with a view to potential careers in engineering and motorsport.
Yas in Schools features three core programs – STEM Racing, Formula Ethara, and 4×4 in Schools – delivered through the state-of-the-art ADNOC Yas in Schools Experience Centre for students aged 6-21. The 2024 National Final, held in June 2025, attracted a record number of participants, with 1,265 students and 314 teams from 89 schools across the UAE.
Since its launch in 2010, the program has delivered over one million hours of student learning across more than 1,100 schools nationwide. During the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 weekend, the Yas in Schools Experience Centre will open its doors to all ticket holders for hands-on workshops and challenges.
