• Islam Makhachev after his win via knockout in the first round of their UFC 294 lightweight title fight in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, October 21, 2023. All images Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Islam Makhachev after his win via knockout in the first round of their UFC 294 lightweight title fight in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, October 21, 2023. All images Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Islam Makhachev knocks out Alexander Volkanovski to defend his lightweight title at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi
    Islam Makhachev knocks out Alexander Volkanovski to defend his lightweight title at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi
  • Islam Makhachev knocks out Alexander Volkanovski with a kick.
    Islam Makhachev knocks out Alexander Volkanovski with a kick.
  • Alexander Volkanovski after his defeat
    Alexander Volkanovski after his defeat
  • Islam Makhachev proved too strong for Alexander Volkanovski
    Islam Makhachev proved too strong for Alexander Volkanovski
  • Khamzat Chimaev during his bout against Kamaru Usman in their middleweight bout at UFC 294
    Khamzat Chimaev during his bout against Kamaru Usman in their middleweight bout at UFC 294
  • Khamzat Chimaev takes down Kamaru Usman
    Khamzat Chimaev takes down Kamaru Usman
  • Khamzat Chimaev won a majority decision against Kamaru Usman
    Khamzat Chimaev won a majority decision against Kamaru Usman
  • Johnny Walker, green shorts, during his light heavyweight bout against Magomed Ankalaev
    Johnny Walker, green shorts, during his light heavyweight bout against Magomed Ankalaev
  • Johnny Walker has to be held back after his fight with Magomed Ankalaev is declared a no contest
    Johnny Walker has to be held back after his fight with Magomed Ankalaev is declared a no contest
  • Ikram Aliskerov after defeating Warlley Alves by TKO in their middleweight bout
    Ikram Aliskerov after defeating Warlley Alves by TKO in their middleweight bout
  • Ikram Aliskerov, white shorts, during his win over Warlley Alves
    Ikram Aliskerov, white shorts, during his win over Warlley Alves
  • Ikram Aliskerov celebrates his win in Abu Dhabi
    Ikram Aliskerov celebrates his win in Abu Dhabi
  • Said Nurmagomedov, white shorts, submits Muin Gafurov in their bantamweight bout
    Said Nurmagomedov, white shorts, submits Muin Gafurov in their bantamweight bout
  • Mohammed Yahya, right, created history for the UAE as he took on Trevor Peek in a lightweight bout in Abu Dhabi
    Mohammed Yahya, right, created history for the UAE as he took on Trevor Peek in a lightweight bout in Abu Dhabi
  • Trevor Peek defeated UAE's Mohammed Yahya in Abu Dhabi
    Trevor Peek defeated UAE's Mohammed Yahya in Abu Dhabi
  • Muhammad Mokaev, white shorts, overpowered Tim Elliott in their flyweight bout
    Muhammad Mokaev, white shorts, overpowered Tim Elliott in their flyweight bout
  • Muhammad Mokaev celebrates his win over Tim Elliott
    Muhammad Mokaev celebrates his win over Tim Elliott
  • Sharabutdin Magomedov, red shorts, takes on Bruno Silva in their middleweight bout at UFC 294
    Sharabutdin Magomedov, red shorts, takes on Bruno Silva in their middleweight bout at UFC 294
  • Sharabutdin Magomedov defeated Bruno Silva on Saturday
    Sharabutdin Magomedov defeated Bruno Silva on Saturday
  • Victoria Dudakova, grey shorts, on route to victory against Jinh Yu Frey in their catchweight bout
    Victoria Dudakova, grey shorts, on route to victory against Jinh Yu Frey in their catchweight bout
  • Muhammad Naimov, white shorts, takes on Nathaniel Wood
    Muhammad Naimov, white shorts, takes on Nathaniel Wood
  • Muhammad Naimov celebrates his win
    Muhammad Naimov celebrates his win
  • Muhammad Naimov defends against Nathaniel Wood
    Muhammad Naimov defends against Nathaniel Wood
  • Mike Breeden celebrates his win over debutant Anshul Jubli
    Mike Breeden celebrates his win over debutant Anshul Jubli
  • Sedriques Dumas after defeating Abu Azaitar
    Sedriques Dumas after defeating Abu Azaitar
  • Sedriques Dumas on his way to victory over Abu Azaitar
    Sedriques Dumas on his way to victory over Abu Azaitar
  • Javid Basharat, white shorts, kicked the groin of Victor Henry, leading to a no contest in their bantamweight bout
    Javid Basharat, white shorts, kicked the groin of Victor Henry, leading to a no contest in their bantamweight bout
  • Fans arrive at the Etihad Arena for UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi
    Fans arrive at the Etihad Arena for UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi

Sport

Combat Sports

Abu Dhabi to host two UFC events in 2024 with Fight Night added to schedule

Additional event takes place in August at Etihad Arena as well as traditional pay-per-view show in October

John McAuley
John McAuley

March 06, 2024

  • English
  • Arabic

Abu Dhabi will host two UFC events this year, with a Fight Night to take place this summer before its traditional pay-per-view show in October.

The UFC announced on Wednesday the additional event for August 3, which will take place at Etihad Arena. The Fight Night will represent the organisation’s 19th event held in the emirate since debuting there in 2010.

In a statement, UFC CEO Dana White said: “Abu Dhabi is one of the most incredible cities in the world. I love everything about Abu Dhabi, and I’m excited to bring another epic event.

“Abu Dhabi is an amazing destination, especially if you are a fight fan. I tell everyone to fly in early, check out the amazing food and experiences Abu Dhabi has to offer, and then end the trip with incredible fights.”

The accompanying press release said the fight card was “soon to be announced”, adding that it will "see international and local talent enter the octagon for a must-see spectacle, featuring a number of the sport’s most talented athletes”.

The new event means the UFC will stage three events in the Gulf this year, with the promotion holding an inaugural Fight Night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 22 – part of the partnership extension signed last October between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the UFC.

The agreement, which runs until 2028, guarantees one numbered UFC event to be held in the UAE capital each year, with additional Fight Nights to take place “across the Mena region” as part of the deal.

The UFC’s most recent visit to Abu Dhabi came last October, when UFC 294 was headlined by lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s knockout victory against Alexander Volkanovski at Etihad Arena.

On Wednesday, Saleh Al Geziry, director general for tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said in a statement: “Hosting Abu Dhabi’s first-ever UFC Fight Night is a major milestone in our ongoing partnership. Some of the most iconic moments in UFC history have taken place during epic Fight Nights - and we are excited to create more spectacular memories for MMA fans.

“As our UFC partnership evolves, we will deliver unforgettable experiences for fans across the region and the millions watching around the world.”

In 2020, Abu Dhabi hosted the historic Fight Island series that allowed the UFC to stage events during the Covid-19 pandemic. Fight Island featured some of the sport’s most prominent names, including former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, former two-division belt-holder Conor McGregor, and former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

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While you're here

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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