Region’s biggest indoor arena readies to open in Dubai

By Angel Chan

DUBAI 2 April 2019: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday visited Dubai Arena, the new multi-purpose arena developed by Meraas at its popular lifestyle destination City Walk.

The venue is the largest indoor arena of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa.

Sheikh Mohammed affirmed that the government places a high priority on infrastructure projects as they represent key pillars of the country’s development plans aimed at further cementing Dubai’s leading position on the global economic map and consolidating its high ranking in global competitiveness indexes. His Highness underlined the significant role of both semi-government and private sectors in developing infrastructure projects that meet the highest global standards.

Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied during his visit by Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; and Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.

The development of the venue is aligned with the objectives outlined in ‘Dubai’s Tourism Vision 2020’ and the ‘Dubai Tourism Strategy’ that aims to attract 25 million tourists a year by 2025. It has a capacity to accommodate 17,000 visitors and host multiple events across diverse domains all year round.

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the UAE’s leisure and entertainment market potential will reach 45 million tourists by 2021, of which international tourists will account for 30 million; while residents, their friends and relatives will account for 15 million.

Another report by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry states that spending within the UAE’s travel and tourism sector is estimated to reach US$56 billion by 2022.

Designed to host end-stage, central and half-stage concerts, sporting events such as tennis, basketball, boxing, volleyball and ice hockey matches, as well as gala dinners, exhibitions, conferences and festivals, the city’s newest entertainment venue is connected to Dubai Metro through a direct metro-link pedestrian bridge.

The day-to-day operations of Dubai Arena are being handled by international venue management company AEG Ogden, part of the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company that owns, controls or is affiliated with over 150 of the world’s preeminent event facilities. Its portfolio currently includes: The O2 in London, Staples Center in Los Angeles, the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai and Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.