Etihad Arena Marks Five Years as a UAE Live Events Powerhouse

Abu Dhabi, UAE, January 20, 2026:

Five years after opening its doors on Yas Bay, Etihad Arena has firmly established itself as one of the UAE’s most active and versatile live entertainment venues. Since debuting in 2021 with the UFC Fight Island Triple Header, the arena has staged more than 500 live events across over 400 show days, with overall programming activity rising by more than 240 per cent over the past half decade.

Reflecting on the milestone, Marcus Osborne, General Manager of Etihad Arena, said the venue was designed to become an integral part of everyday life in the capital. “Our ambition from the start was for Etihad Arena to be a place people return to regularly — whether with family, friends or visitors from around the world,” he said. “Seeing that vision come to life week after week, across completely different types of events, has been incredibly rewarding.”

The anniversary coincides with continued growth across Abu Dhabi’s cultural and entertainment sector. During the traditionally quieter summer season, venues across the emirate welcomed a combined 1.4 million visitors. Located within Yas Island’s leisure and hospitality hub, Etihad Arena plays a key role in maintaining year-round demand for live entertainment as a fully indoor venue.

Five Years at the Heart of the Community

Over the past five years, Etihad Arena has evolved into a regional landmark for live events. It became the first venue in the Middle East to host major Broadway productions including The Lion King and Hamilton, while also welcoming NBA and EuroLeague basketball games, the Indian International Film Festival (IIFA Awards), Disney on Ice, and sold-out global tours by artists such as the Backstreet Boys, Dave Chappelle and Abdulmajeed Abdullah.

The arena’s January 2026 programme highlights its global reach, with Linkin Park set to perform on 20 January as part of the world tour supporting their comeback album From Zero, followed by a concert from A.R. Rahman on 23 January, reinforcing the venue’s appeal to diverse international audiences.

A Venue Built for Rapid Transformation

Etihad Arena was purpose-designed as a flexible, multi-use space capable of hosting events across genres and scales. That adaptability is powered by a dedicated in-house team of 48 local and international professionals who manage daily operations and oversee complex venue transformations throughout the year.

In 2024, the arena achieved its fastest turnaround to date, clearing UFC 308 at 2:00am and reopening later the same day for a comedy performance — completing a full venue conversion in just 16 hours. Another standout transformation came with ArenaCross, when 3,000 tonnes of specialised dirt were installed to create a custom motorsport track within 48 hours, before being dismantled in under 24 hours ahead of Jennifer Lopez’s Up All Night tour stop.

Embedding Sustainability into Operations

Sustainability has been a core focus of Etihad Arena since its design phase, ensuring that operational efficiency keeps pace with the scale of its expanding events calendar. By September 2025, the venue had recycled 25,960 kilograms of waste — a 73 per cent increase compared to 2024.

New recycling streams introduced in 2025, including batteries, cans and e-waste, were complemented by a reusable cup programme that prevented approximately 64 kilograms of plastic waste during the summer season. These initiatives are supported by an energy-efficient building envelope, delivering a 22.4 per cent reduction in energy use and cutting carbon emissions by more than 3,196 tonnes.

Further measures include the introduction of an Air2Water system to reduce reliance on single-use plastic bottles and the transition to 100 per cent digital ticketing, significantly reducing paper consumption while enhancing the audience entry experience.