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ETHARA REFLECTS ON MONUMENTAL YEAR FOR COMPANY FOLLOWING LANDMARK INTEGRATION WITH RECORD EVENT ATTENDANCES IN 2023
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After a monumental year which saw the official launch of Ethara following the integration of Flash Entertainment and Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management in May 2023, the region’s leading events and venue management operator has marked a landmark year for the company. With record attendances across its event portfolio, over 1.3 million fans experienced incredible moments on Yas Island and beyond in 2023.
In a record-breaking year for attendances across more than 100 events at the world-renowned Ethara-operated venues on Yas Island – Etihad Arena, Etihad Park, Yas Conference Centre and Yas Marina Circuit – 2023 was significant for the company, bringing together its 30+ year collective expertise in leading the events and entertainment scene in the Middle East, reaching over 17.3 million fans across its combined operating history.
Since the official launch of Ethara on 15th May 2023, the UAE-born company has led on some of the biggest global events to take place in the Middle East, including the first ever International Basketball Week at Etihad Arena and the milestone 15th edition of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to conclude the longest season in F1® history.
With regional milestones including the first World Supercross Championship race in the Middle East - the WSX Abu Dhabi GP in November 2023 – Ethara contributed to the region’s ever-growing events and venue management capabilities, also playing a key role in COP28, the international climate summit held at Expo City Dubai to close out a record year for large-scale events in the UAE.
In 2023, the Yas in Schools programme involved more than 23,000 students across 3 different programmes, with over 1,000 students from schools across the UAE competing in the season finale at Yas Marina Circuit. Yas in Schools offers dynamic programmes designed to cultivate students' 21st-century science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset. Through this initiative, students embark on exciting learning journeys, exploring the realms of innovation and creativity. This programme will continue to grow year after year with anticipated growth this year in the nation-wide initiative, aligned with the UAE’s 2071 vision.
In 2023 alone, Ethara also unveiled several unique new sustainability initiatives across its venues, notably achieving its FIA 3-Star Recertification ahead of the 15th edition of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, highlighting the company’s commitment to working with leading global entities in its Net Zero Goal by 2030.
With several new additions to the company’s venues and events calendar, including the all-new solar powered initiative set to commence in partnership with Masdar and Emerge in Q1 2024, with plans for further upscaling across its venues this year and across the region, Ethara is gearing up to reach new milestones and make further history in the events and venue scene over the coming 12 months and beyond.
