Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena to open in April

Developer Miral has announced that Abu Dhabi’s new Etihad Arena will open in mid-April with Disney On Ice’s Frozen to be the first event at the multi-purpose indoor venue.

With construction of the 18,000-seat arena nearing completion, the Disney On Ice presents Frozen show will run from 15th to 18th April under an agreement with US-based Feld Entertainment.

To be operated by Flash Entertainment, once open to the public the venue is intended to become a regional landmark for live entertainment with a flexible capacity ranging from 200 to 18,000 people.

A recently signed strategic agreement between Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi), Miral and Sportainment Entertainment & Sports (SES Live), also aims to position the HOK-designed arena as a leading entertainment destination in the region as part of the Emirate’s Accelerator Programme - Ghadan 21.

Etihad Arena forms part of Yas Bay, a wider Dh12 billion (US$3.26 billion) development on which work began back in 2017.

The development encompasses Yas Bay Waterfront as well as residential areas, with Waterfront also incorporating the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, a beach club, and an 11,000 metre² pier with 37 cafes and restaurants and 19 retail outlets.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, commented “we are excited to be soon hosting the first event at Etihad Arena, the most highly anticipated events landmark in Abu Dhabi this year.

"The Arena has been designed to complement Yas Island’s vision by creating a new hub in the UAE and across the region. Etihad Arena, is yet another unique addition to Yas Island that will help position it as a top global destination for entertainment, leisure and business, while also contributing to the UAE’s vision for economic diversification.”

The venue’s first event announcement comes after Etihad Airways last month agreed a deal to acquire its naming rights.