Business & Money | Wednesday 23 November, 2016 2:44 pm |

The FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX is famous throughout the world for its unrivalled entertainment and sporting attractions. But the high-stakes action won’t be limited to the track alone.  

Thousands of executives from the corporate world are due to converge on Abu Dhabi during the F1® weekend, making the Grand Prix one of the region’s largest business meetings.

Formula 1® has been synonymous with corporate entertainment since the earliest days of Grand Prix racing – a blend of business and pleasure where hospitality passes pave the way for executive networking, client engagement and staff rewards.

With its iconic floodlit track, quick access to Abu Dhabi International Airport, and range of nearby hotels on Yas Island, Yas Marina Circuit on race weekend has fast become one of the leading business occasions, attracting thousands of executives, CEOs and leading Government dignitaries from local and international organisations.

Al Tareq Al Ameri, CEO of Yas Marina Circuit, said: “It’s incredible to think that amid the buzz and excitement of the race, there are thousands of business people laying the foundations for multi-million dirham deals. From a chance encounter between two executives to planned meetings in our top hospitality suites, it all sets the groundwork for the corporate world to thrive.

“Our job at Yas Marina Circuit is to cater to all types of visitor – the F1®-loving family that picnics on Abu Dhabi Hill, the senior executives from one of our major sponsors, and the visiting business person seeking chance opportunities in Abu Dhabi. All sets of spectator are equally as important to us, and we do everything possible to create the ideal scenario for them to get the most out of race weekend.

“We have worked hard to get the balance right between establishing Yas Marina Circuit as a relaxed fan-orientated environment and at the same time a place where the corporate world has the facilities to meet their networking requirements. Every year since our first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009, we have been working on perfecting that relationship.”

Yas Marina Circuit boasts 48 hospitality suites across the major grandstands, as well as 24 additional suites in the exclusive Paddock Club. The wide range of facilities allows companies of varying sizes and hospitality budgets to find an appropriate venue.

It all means that as the world’s fastest drivers take to the track, key personalities from a range of industry sectors, including energy, logistics, banking, retail and technology, among many others, are quietly inking deals throughout the three-day event.

Regular attendees such as Etihad Airways, DHL, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Total, Yahsat, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Al Tayer, Al Futtaim, Valvoline and Government bodies such as Masdar use the corporate hospitality spaces as an extension of their boardrooms. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is treated by many entities as the pinnacle of the commercial calendar and lends a cachet of drama and glamour to any deals signed during the event.

For smaller to medium-sized enterprises, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend at Yas Marina Circuit offers access to senior decision makers from a range of public and private sector companies in an informal, cordial atmosphere and is a fantastic opportunity to fill up the contacts book and swap business cards over an extended, relaxed period.