Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Saturday, Aug 02, 2025

Abu Dhabi 'pushing' to allow F1 fans in but won't risk coronavirus safety

Abu Dhabi 'pushing' to allow F1 fans in but won't risk coronavirus safety

Senior tourism official says would be happy to allow even 10% of normal crowd to race weekend in December

Hopes remain that fans will be allowed to attend this year’s Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December, an Abu Dhabi tourism official has told Arabian Business.

Saeed Al Saeed, marketing director at Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi, admitted that allowing a restricted number of fans into the Yas Circuit is something that he has been “pushing”, particularly in light of the successful Fight Island and Return to Fight Island UFC events.


However, he added that there would be a “zero tolerance” approach to potential health and safety risks.

The global coronavirus pandemic has hit the F1 calendar hard this year, with races in Australia, the Netherlands, Vietnam, Monaco, the US, Mexico, Brazil and Canada all cancelled as a result of Covid-19. Even the races that have gone ahead so far have done so without spectators.

However, it was announced last week that next month’s Eifel Grand Prix at Germany’s Nuerburgring track can have as many as 20,000 fans in attendance.

"The permission for 20,000 fans is within the decision of the state that allows up to 20 percent of stadium capacity for major sports events if infection figures are inconspicuous and the public infrastructure allows for social distancing rules to be met," Ahrweiler district council said.

Al Saeed said: “I’m glad that’s happening in Germany because that’s an indicator for us as Abu Dhabi that Formula One themselves are open to the possibility. So now it comes down to looking at the actual circuit, the stands, the entrances, the ins and outs and how to be socially distant."


Saeed Al Saeed, marketing director at Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi


He told Arabian Business: “That is a good indicator for us. It is about the fans and none more so than the Formula One as an event, especially with us in Abu Dhabi. I think a lot of people are not even Formula One fans that show up to the F1 weekend, that enjoy the lifestyle components, the city-wide activation, the parties and the socialising.

“Even if it’s just 10 percent of what would happen in normal year could come back, we would definitely be more than happy to support it and see it happen.”

Around 135,000 visitors attended last year’s Formula 1 Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi.

According to analysts STR, occupancy levels in Abu Dhabi’s hotels reached 90.45 percent during last year’s event.


“It’s a complicated task to ensure there are zero risks involved and there are many entities that need to actually approve the plan once it’s put in place, but we are more than happy to discuss it with any entity that wants to look at the learnings we’ve had from our experience, how best to approach it and what needs to happen in order for it to become a reality,” said Al Saeed.

The season-concluding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place at the Yas Marina Circuit on December 13.


Five of the biggest sporting events held in Abu Dhabi


1. The season-concluding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is one of the highlights of the F1 calendar and is where the world champion is officially crowned each year.

2. Some of the very best names in the world of tennis are attracted to the emirate each year for the Mubadala Championships.

3. One of the biggest events and winner's cheques on the European Tour golf circuit is the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

4. Abu Dhabi is gaining a worldwide reputation as the destination for UFC with its Fight Island events.

5. Although cancelled earlier this year because of coronavirus, Abu Dhabi is now a fixture on the ITU World Triathlon circuit, attracting some of the sport's biggest names.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
×