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Etihad Arena (initially known as Yas Bay Arena while under construction) is an indoor arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, located on the Yas Bay Waterfront district of Yas Island. Designed by HOK, the capacity of the venue is 18,000 and it is operated by Etihad.[1][2]
 | |
| Location | Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 24.4603°N 54.6040°E |
| Operator | Ethara |
| Capacity | 18,000 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | January 2021 |
| Architect | HOK |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
In 2018, its design received the 2018 MENA Green Building Award for "Sustainable Building Design of the Year".[3]
In January 2020, naming rights for the new arena were sold to Etihad Airways.[4]
Originally expected to open in March 2020, its opening was delayed due to event cancellations tied to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates.[5]
It opened in January 2021, with its first event being UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar. The arena held its second UFC event days later, hosting UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny. The UFC had held mixed martial arts events on Yas Island behind closed doors in a bubble arrangement known as "Fight Island"; this marked the UFC's first event in the series to have spectators at a limited capacity.[6][7] The promotion held its first PPV event that same month, hosting UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2.[8]
The UFC returned to Etihad Arena for UFC 267: Błachowicz vs. Teixeira in October 2021.[9] The UFC returned to the arena in 2022 again for their annual October PPV UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev.[10] In October of 2023 UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 was held as their annual event.
In 2024 two UFC events will be held. UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov in August and UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway in October.
For hosting the 2021 World Swimming Championships in December 2021, a temporary pool was added to the arena.[3][11]
On 21 May 2022, the arena hosted an exhibition boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Don Moore. On November 5, 2022, a WBA light heavyweight title fight was held between Dmitry Bivol and Gilberto Ramírez.
In October 2022, the arena held two NBA preseason games between the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks. The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 marked the league’s first games held in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf.[12]
On 26 January 2023, the arena held Imagine Dragon's Mercury World Tour.[13] It was the band's first concert in the city of Abu Dhabi.
In October 2023, the NBA returned to the arena for two preseason games between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves.[14]
Guns N' Roses performed on June 1, 2023, many old songs were played for the first time in a long time (Anything Goes, Pretty Tied Up and Bad Obsession, Down on the Farm).
In October 2024, the NBA returned to the arena for two preseason games between the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets. The league faced criticism from human rights groups, which claimed the event was assisting repressive regimes in sportswashing their human rights records. Human Rights Watch urged the NBA to undertake measures to address the UAE’s rights records. The game was also attended by U.S. ambassador Martina A. Strong, who was questioned for supporting the NBA’s association with the UAE, despite human rights concerns. Instead, Strong commended the NBA for expanding global access to basketball.[15][16]
- UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar
- UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny
- UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2[8]
- World Swimming Championships: 2021[3][11]
- UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira
- 22nd IIFA Awards[17]
- UFC 280: Oliveira vs Makhachev
- Dmitry Bivol vs Gilberto Ramirez
- Disney on Ice
- Mercury World Tour
- 23rd IIFA Awards
- UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2
- DNA World Tour
- The Lion King
- 24th IIFA Awards
- Westlife: The Wild Dreams Tour
- Guns N' Roses 2023 Tour
- UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov
- UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway
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