The Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will celebrate its 10th anniversary of hosting the final race of the season this year, as well as marking 15 years since the Yas Marina Circuit began staging races in 2009.
As host of the season finale to the world's premier race series, each year organisers look to up the stakes to deliver the best entertainment for fans.
Last year’s race drew a record of more than 170,000 fans across the weekend and organisers are expecting an even bigger crowd for the 16th grand prix, which will take place at Yas Marina Circuit from December 6-8.
It is standard practice to begin work on the following year's event after the chequered flag is waved to end the season. Saif Al Noaimi, chief executive of Ethara, the management company behind the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, says they aim to transform Yas Island into a week-long carnival for race week.
“The entire area will be like a festival city during the race week with plenty of activities for the fans to spend an entire week or weekend without a dull moment,” Al Noaimi told The National.
“Of course, the main attraction is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but fans will have access to theme parks and the Louvre, musical concerts, and with the F2, F1 Academy and F4 Trophy races providing more action on the track.
“We just released the tickets on our website and we're seeing a significant demand as in last year, with some of the categories in the main and northern grandstands and some of the other products already sold out.
“Our ticket sales are well ahead of any previous years. The demand is extremely high and anybody who wants a ticket should act quickly.
“There's significant demand for the products. We've seen the return of many popular products from the last few years, and some of the ones that we launched last year.”
With 24 races, the 2024 calendar will be the biggest-ever season in F1 and Al Noaimi is hoping for the championship to reach an exciting conclusion in the UAE capital.
Red Bull's triple world champion Max Verstappen has made a flying start to his title defence by winning the first two races, in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and it looks like the 26-year-old Dutchman will once again dominate the drivers' championship.
Al Noaimi said: “This will be the longest-ever F1 season. So, between now and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a lot's going to happen, a lot's going to change.
“The development of the car is also going to change between now and the summer. It'll be interesting to see that growth and that change. It's going to be a nice mix of racing.
“Hopefully it will be a championship-deciding race for us and hopefully it will be an interesting wheel-to-wheel battle in Abu Dhabi.”
Plans to ensure the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix achieves net-zero carbon status as an event and venue by 2030 are progressing well, Al Noaimi said, with more than 30 per cent of Yas Marina Circuit's annual power consumption generated from solar.
“We're seeing the return of all our sustainability initiatives that we had in previous years. We have a commitment and a strategy that will get us to net zero by 2030,” Al Noaimi added.
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Manchester City 5 Swansea City 0
Man City: D Silva (12'), Sterling (16'), De Bruyne (54' ), B Silva (64' minutes), Jesus (88')
The specs
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
