Recent regional tensions had raised some doubts around the event
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is set for a return later this year, despite recent regional events leading to the cancellations of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races.
In the latest update coming straight from Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali, the Abu Dhabi is currently confirmed.
He said: “For us today, the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed. By the way, they are already sold out. That is an incredible sign of how much the sport is bigger than the problem that our world is living.”
The F1 boss added that if the situation changed, a new location has not been ruled out. He stated: “But of course, if the situation will not be cleared the way that we believe it should be, before the middle of September we will take the decision. If this will not be possible, the end of the season will be in Europe, because we cannot go in other places.”
Recently, Ethara and Yas Marina Circuit maintained that Abu Dhabi’s position at the end of the season isn’t up for discussion.
David Powell, chief portfolio & strategy officer at Ethara, told The National: “The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix dates are December 3-6 and they’re not going to change. They were never going to change.
“Abu Dhabi, we can say, is 100 per cent going to happen the weekend that it is scheduled for, and we look forward to another great event.”
There’s also a practical reason behind it all. The Formula 1 calendar needs to wrap up in early December to allow teams enough time to reset, rebuild cars, and prepare for the following season.
Pushing the finale later simply isn’t feasible, which effectively locks Abu Dhabi into its usual slot.
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Aside from logistics, there’s also the scale of planning involved. From entertainment bookings to supplier agreements and global fan travel plans, the event is mapped out well in advance.
Changing dates at this stage would create major disruption, something organisers are clearly keen to avoid.
For fans, the message is its business as usual. The race weekend, along with its headline concerts and city-wide buzz, is expected to return in full force.
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Lewis Capaldi, Zara Larsson and Imagine Dragons have already been confirmed to perform, and more names are due to be announced soon.
If anything, the current situation has only reinforced Abu Dhabi’s role as a reliable, high-profile season close, and one of the biggest dates on the Formula 1 calendar.
3-6 December, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi. For further information, visit abudhabigp.com
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