Abu Dhabi To Host UFC Title Fights For 5 Years

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) have announced a five-year deal for Abu Dhabi to host UFC events.

The deal will see UFC events return to Abu Dhabi for the first time since 2014, in which they will air live on global broadcasters around the world on Pay-Per-View in select markets.

UFC president, Dana White, said the deal was finalised largely due to the demand from fans in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“We are making a long-term commitment to Abu Dhabi because we have had great success in that market,” he said.

“The demand from our fans to bring UFC back to Abu Dhabi has been overwhelming, and over the next five years, DCT Abu Dhabi will help us deliver some spectacular UFC championship fights to the UAE.

“I’m very excited about this partnership and what it will mean for the growth of this sport and for UFC in the region,” Mr White said.

DCT Abu Dhabi chairman, HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, said this deal adds further to the work Abu Dhabi has done to attract world-class sporting events.

“Abu Dhabi is now firmly established as a unique tourism destination which offers a diverse mix of activities and initiatives that cater to all kinds of audience and visitors,” he said.

“The emirate also has a strong affiliation with world-class sporting events, such as the FIFA World Club Cup, the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the Red Bull Air Race, and now this deal to bring UFC here allows us to once again show our ability to stage major events that thrill visitors and residents alike.

“UFC will become a key component of Abu Dhabi’s thriving events calendar for the next five years, which is already packed full of not only great sporting events but also cultural, arts and entertainment offerings as well.

“This spectacular mixed martial arts event, which has a huge following around the world, will bring heightened impetus to visitation in the third quarter for the emirate and will no doubt boost incoming tourist numbers as fight fans across the world gather in Abu Dhabi,” Mr Khalifa Al Mubarak said.

The deal will officially begin September 7, with UFC 242, which will include open workouts, weigh-ins, press conferences, live entertainment and more to be announced closer to the date.