Ethara has announced the official renaming of Etihad Park to Etihad Live, marking a new phase for one of the region’s most established live entertainment venues and offering an early view of its future development.
The new identity reflects the venue’s continued evolution from a major outdoor event site into a more integrated live entertainment platform for Abu Dhabi. Owned by Ethara, Etihad Live forms part of a longer-term plan to strengthen venue capability, enhance hospitality and fan experience, and support the emirate’s ability to attract more complex, large-scale international productions.
David Powell, Chief Portfolio & Strategy Officer at Ethara said, “Etihad Live reflects the next phase of a venue that has been central to Abu Dhabi’s live entertainment growth for more than 17 years. As the demands of global touring continue to evolve, the venue has committed significant investment on strengthening the infrastructure, experience and operational capability required to bring more ambitious productions to the emirate, while continuing to reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position within the international live entertainment industry. We look forward to releasing these plans to the public as we move into a new era for Etihad Live”
First opened in 2009, the venue has played a significant role in the development of Abu Dhabi’s live entertainment sector. The flexible 42,000-capacity site has hosted major international artists, festivals, sporting events and cultural events, including the Yasalam After-Race Concerts during the Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Its stage has welcomed global names including Madonna, Coldplay, Guns N’ Roses, The Weeknd, Post Malone, Rihanna, The Rolling Stones, and the highest attended concert by Eminem. The venue has also hosted landmark formats such as Creamfields, Ultra Music Festival and KCON, reinforcing its role as one of the region’s most established open-air venues.
In 2025, the Yasalam presented by e& entertainment programme drew 136,000 attendees, with Benson Boone delivering the biggest Thursday in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix history, underlining the venue’s role in driving race week footfall and supporting Abu Dhabi’s major events calendar. In 2026, this momentum continues with Offlimits festival featuring artists including Jonas Brothers and Shakira, whilst Lewis Capaldi, Zara Larsson, and Imagine Dragons are set to perform at the venue later this year at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix After-Race Concerts, further reinforcing its position as a key regional stop for global artists and touring productions.
The new Etihad Live identity will be accompanied by a multi-million-dirham revamp in 2027, featuring elevated views, focus on core infrastructure, premium hospitality touchpoints, crowd flow and the wider audience journey. The revamp will support the venue’s ability to meet rising expectations from audiences, promoters, rights holders, and touring productions.
Etihad Live offers more than 22,000 sqm of flexible event space, supported by a 24-metre by 18-metre performance area and adaptable staging solutions. Its layout allows for multiple event formats, from international concerts and festivals to sports events, corporate functions and community programming. Current facilities include a main bowl, fan village, premium and general admission areas, private suites, elevated viewing platforms, viewing platforms for people of determination and VIP hospitality zones.
Located ten minutes from Zayed International Airport and less than an hour from Dubai, Etihad Live is positioned to serve both domestic and international audiences. As the venue enters its next phase, Ethara will continue to work with promoters, partners and production teams to bring major live experiences to Abu Dhabi, while strengthening the emirate’s role within the global live entertainment industry.
