New 18,000-capacity indoor entertainment venue in Abu Dhabi officially named Etihad Arena

The new venue is part of the Dh12 million Yas Bay mega project

South of Yas Island Master Plan. Courtesy Miral

A rendered view over Yas Bay. Courtesy Miral

The waterfront Etihad Arena. Courtesy Miral

Hilton Family Resort and Beach Club will be one of two hotels located in Yas Bay. Courtesy Miral

A rendering of the Yas Bay Pier. Courtesy Miral

What the Yas Bay Promenade is expected to look like. Courtesy Miral

A new 18,000-capacity indoor entertainment venue set to open on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island will officially be named Etihad Arena.

In a partnership between Etihad Airways and developer Miral, the name was revealed on Wednesday by the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office. Announcing the news in a Tweet, it said, “#AbuDhabi’s newest large-scale indoor entertainment venue will officially be named Etihad Arena as part of a partnership between Miral and @EtihadAirways. Etihad Arena is part of Yas Bay, an iconic mixed-use development located at the southern end of @YasIsland.”

The arena will accommodate a variety of events including sporting competitions, corporate events, cultural performances, concerts, and many other activities throughout the year, and will offer a flexible capacity spanning from 200 to 18,000 people.

“It’s an honour to partner with an Abu Dhabi institution such as Miral on this joint venture, that will further promote Abu Dhabi and Yas Island as a hub for entertainment, tourism and culture", said Tony Douglas, group chief executive officer of Etihad Aviation Group. "Etihad Arena complements our global presence at a number of sporting and entertainment venues, most notably Etihad Stadium in Manchester, home of Manchester City Football Club. This new arena will bring an abundance of talent to our capital, providing a diverse range of entertainment options for guests visiting our beautiful city, or for those who call the UAE home.”

Work on the Yas Bay development began back in 2017, and was said to be 75 per cent complete in October 2019. As well as the arena, the Dh12 billion mega project will feature dozens of cafes and restaurants, a pier, promenade, infinity pool, and even room for a metro.

The one million-square-metre Yas Bay area also includes a sprawling Hilton hotel, homes and the new headquarters of TwoFour54, the media free zone that operates from Khalifa Park.

The development is on track for a 2020 opening, although an exact date is yet to be announced.