If you hadn’t realised by now, Abu Dhabi has gone crazy for the UFC event being held on Yas Island next month.
On Saturday September 7, UFC 242 will take place at The Arena, a new indoor venue being purpose-built for the occasion.
There are only a few VIP and hotel and event tickets still remaining for the huge night of sport, which will be headlined by Khabib Nurmagomedov and Duston Poirier.
Also taking place in the week running up to the UFC are two huge gigs at The Arena, one from Red Hot Chili Peppers on Wednesday September 4 and a second by an as-yet-unannounced act the following night.
But that’s not all, as there will be parties, deals and offers around the capital from September 1.
On September 2 and 3 there will be pool parties as Saadiyat Beach Club before the venue hosts a fight night viewing party on September 7.
Between September 1 and 7 September 7 The Abu Dhabi EDITION will be hosting a poolside brunch every afternoon, and on the night of September 6 there’ll be a post-weigh-in afterparty at the hotel’s ANNEX nightspot.
Superclub Mad on Yas Island will host the official after-parties to the two huge gigs, with BIZAAR by Mad on September 4 and Drai’s Las Vegas taking over the club the following night.
On Friday September 6 Drai’s will also host a pool party at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, while after UFC 242 itself there will be two parties, The White Experience (details of where this is taking place are still to reach us) and Socialista at Cipriani on Yas Island.
As if more was needed, there are also promotions planned at hotels and restaurants on Yas and Saadiyat Islands (though we don’t have any more details on those at the time of writing), ‘Knockout Deals’ at malls across the city (including Abu Dhabi Mall, WTC Abu Dhabi and Yas Mall) with offers including 25 percent off sport and fitness items and a Shop & Win competition for anyone spending more than Dhs200 to win a Mercedes-Benz.
Time Out has also teamed up with restaurants across the capital for a series of Knockout Burgers deals, so watch this space for more on that.
There will be activations in malls, photo opportunities with UFC stars and the chance to get your picture taken with UFC belts.
“We have assembled some of the world’s biggest leisure and nightlife brands to create Abu Dhabi Showdown Week’s wide-ranging schedule of beach, pool and after parties across a number of Abu Dhabi’s leading hotels, resorts and clubs,” says Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Acting Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi.
“This diverse bill of concerts, lifestyle and nightlife events will elevate Abu Dhabi’s growing status as an entertainment capital, and significantly strengthen the emirate’s standing as an international, globally renowned leisure hub,” he adds.
Across the week, there will be open workouts, autograph signings and meet-and-greet sessions at various locations and you will be able to apply for a free ticket to the UFC 242 weigh-in at The Arena on September 6.
Yas Island will also be offering a UFC Fan Experience and The Abu Dhabi Sports and Fitness Expo, managed by UAE-based Universal Music Fitness and Fashion (UMFF). It will feature leading international exhibitors, competitions, fitness programmes, activations, and international conferences during three days at du Forum from September 5-7.
Fitness stars taking part include four times Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler and Mr. Universe, Mike O’Hearn. Tickets are Dhs50 for a one-day pass and Dhs120 for a three-day pass. A one-day VIP pass costs Dhs100 and gives you the chance to meet the celebrities taking part.
IMG, part of the Endeavor network alongside UFC is promoter for Showdown Week and UFC 242. They are urging people to only buy tickets for any of the events from official channels.
Various locations and prices. Sep 1-7. www.adshowdownweek.ae.
