The sporting year kicks off with the docking of Volvo Ocean Race yachts in the capital.
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority's entry, Azzam, will be the main attraction for local fans. The sailors will remain in Abu Dhabi for two weeks before continuing on their gruelling round-the-world yacht race against five other competitors.
AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain will play at Dubai's Rashid Stadium on Wednesday, and other events will bring some of the world's biggest names in sport to the country, including Tiger Woods at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship at the end of January.
Later in the year, the date has been set for horse racing's richest event, the Dubai World Cup, which takes place on March 31.
The fourth Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be the third-last stop on the F1 calendar, from November 2 to 4.
