ABU DHABI: Ethara, the promoter of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was named Promoter of the Year at the annual F1 Promoter Awards in London on Wednesday, honored for staging the best event of the 2025 season.
The Promoter of the Year award is voted for by Formula One management and is given to the promoter that produced the best all-round event in 2025 and embodied the F1’s mission to deliver the world’s greatest live entertainment spectacle.
Saif Rashid Al-Noaimi, CEO of Ethara, said: “We are proud to be recognized as Promoter of the Year in such a competitive field of promoters. This award is a testament to the strength of the Ethara team who are delivering our vision to become a regional powerhouse in live entertainment. We will continue raising the bar and pioneering unforgettable experiences for fans from around the world.”
Recognizing Ethara’s award, Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, said that 2025 “was another incredible year from start to finish for Formula 1,” adding that “our 24 promoters worked tirelessly to deliver the ultimate race weekend experience for fans.”
Domenicali said that as the sport enters its next generation in 2026, “we have a responsibility to continue breaking barriers and setting a high standard for others to follow.”
In 2025, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix hosted the dramatic three-way F1 Drivers’ World Championship showdown with Lando Norris claiming his first drivers’ title.
The event broke attendance records with 339,000 fans across four days, including 203,000 spectators at Yas Marina Circuit, alongside 136,000 attendees across Emirates NBD after-race concerts and the Yasalam after-parties featuring eight headline acts.
Expanded access brought fans closer to the action with two public pitlane walks, new FAB Track Walks, and a podium party that invited fans to celebrate on the track.
The Promoter of the Year award is the latest in a series of accolades for the event, following the 2024 Best Event Spectacle award that celebrated the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for delivering outstanding off-track entertainment.
Since its debut in 2009, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has established itself as the region’s biggest entertainment weekend, combining elite sport with large-scale entertainment, drawing thousands of international visitors each year and showcasing the emirate to millions of viewers worldwide.
The 18th edition of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place from Dec. 3-6, 2026, bringing the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship season to a close.
