How to Attend a Show At Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena Coming from Dubai!

Where is Etihad Arena?

Etihad Arena is situated at Yas Bay on Yas Island, in the UAE’s capital city, Abu Dhabi. A multi-purpose indoor stadium, it’s capable of holding intimate stage shows through to arena spectacles.

As you can likely guess, the arena is sponsored by Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, based out of the adjacent Zayed International Airport.

How to get to Etihad Arena from AUH airport

If you’re arriving at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, it’s incredibly easy to catch a cab door to door from the airport to the venue in just 10 minutes, costing you around AED 40 (as there’s an AED 25 flagfall from the airport).

You can also catch the Yas Express Shuttle (check latest timings here), which will drop you just next door at Hilton Abu Dhabi, Yas Island.

How to get to Etihad Arena from Dubai

We’ll discuss multiple options, though we’d note that public transport might be the cheapest but by far the longest and most likely painstaking way to get to the venue from Dubai.

Drive to Yas Island

The drive from Dubai to Yas Island is approximately 1 hour, depending on your starting point. It is a straight route down the E11, which becomes the E10 as you approach Abu Dhabi.

The most convenient place to park is P1 Waterfront Parking. However, it’s essential to note that parking in this underground car park is only available on show days with a VIP ticket. Whether this is Gold, Emerald, Platinum, etc., for each show, please check your ticket entitlements, as you’ll be turned away at the incorrect entry.

For everyone else, there are three (free) public car parks which we’ve marked on a map for you here. We will assume you are driving straight down the E11/E10 and taking the Yas tunnel – this is well sign posted on the freeway:

• The multi-deck is the easiest car park to access and the closest to the arena (Yas Bay P2 Parking on Google Maps). You U-turn at the first traffic light out of the tunnel and take the first slip lane on the right. We’ve never had a problem parking here, and it’s then very easy to get back through the tunnel and onto the E10 home.

• Depending on whether the police are controlling the traffic at larger events, you may not have a choice but to go straight after the Yas Tunnel. If the road is closed, they will likely direct traffic into the large open-air car park next to Two Four 54 (C37 Etihad Arena Parking). It’s a few minutes longer to walk over the road from here, but not the end of the world, factor it into your timing (and footwear!).

• The other option, if traffic flow around the venue permits, is the open-air car park at the far end of Yas Bay (Yas Bay Waterfront on Google Maps, also called Pier71 Parking). This can, of course, get busy on big weekends, but we find it is the easiest one to park in if you’d like to walk along the waterfront and choose somewhere to eat (see more below!) before heading into a show.

Public Transport to Etihad Arena

There’s no door-to-door public bus service from Dubai to Yas Island. You would need to take an Intercity bus from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station (Route 100) or Ibn Battuta (Route 101) in Dubai to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, then double back by local bus (Route 190) to Yas Island.

Nol works on the intercity bus and will cost you AED 25 each way, while the local bus in Abu Dhabi, you will need a Hafilat bus card (this can be purchased at the central bus station). This journey will cost you AED 6.

The other option is Route 102 from Ibn Battuta via AUH airport. You can alight at AUH and connect with the Yas Express, which, although infrequent, may be a shorter total journey than traveling all the way into town and back (see timetable, it’s NOT a regular service!).

Taxis/Ride Share

Taking a taxi from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, you can expect to be in the vicinity of AED 300 to 400 in each direction, depending where you’re leaving from. In an Uber/Careem, this could be more like AED 400-500.

If you can find a private car service for the whole evening under AED 600, this would be the wise way to go. (Prevent bottlenecks on departure, though, and have them park a short distance away, such as the C37 car park, which is easily accessible and means you can return directly onto the main road without all the traffic lights).

We have a complete guide to Dubai to Abu Dhabi transport options here.

Getting into the Arena

There are numerous entrances into the arena (although they predominantly use only entrance gate 5), and the crowds are well-managed. Generally, gates open 1 hour before shows start.

We’ve only ever encountered long lines to get in for shows that had ‘no phones’ rules in place, and security staff needed to bag all phones.

One thing to note is that the arena is quite strict on bringing in large bags and strictly prohibits outside food and beverages. Bags will be scanned, and a body scanner will be used as you enter. You will need to leave any larger bags in their lock-up cages near the entrance

Staying Overnight in Abu Dhabi

Yas Island has multiple hotels, though the most convenient place to stay for Etihad Arena shows is the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island.

With convenience, of course, comes price. If Hilton is out of your budget, consider trying one of the Yas Plaza hotels instead. There are some value options, such as Centra and Park Inn, as well as mid-range options like Rotana and Radisson.

Another option is the W Hotel, which is lovely and glitzy, but a little beyond walking distance in most seasons; you’ll want to use the shuttle bus.

A bonus of overnight stays at any of the Yas Hotels is that you can package your stay with a theme park visit, allowing you to make a complete weekend of your stay in Abu Dhabi. Presently, this includes Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World, Ferrari World, and SeaWorld.

See our complete guide to visiting Yas Island Abu Dhabi to plan a longer trip further

Where to eat before a show at Etihad Arena

Yas Bay Waterfront Restaurants

If you are heading to a show, make sure the staff know that you need prompt service!

Yas Bay Waterfront is the obvious choice with multiple options spread along the gorgeous waterfront (albeit at present, there’s not much of a view thanks to the construction of two new beaches; this eyesore will hopefully be gone soon). Some top choices that may interest:

• For families, it has to be Central – with burgers to bowling and gaming machines for kids, this is a family haven in Abu Dhabi where kids can play while parents enjoy a drink. It’s essential to book a table, though, on show days to guarantee your spot.

• Lock Stock and Barrel – just next door, this is the nearest pub-style option to the arena, great for dine and dash customers or if you just want a cheeky one before/after the show.

• Casual diners, stay tuned as the signage is up for a new California-style beach bar, Bayside Diner, promising burgers, ice creams, and hops!

• Fancy a proper steak, wine, and dine experience? Hunter and Barrel is the go-to for fabulous fine dining on Pier71.

Other top options to look into include Asia Asia, Barbossa, and Bua Thai Cafe (all licensed).

For coffee only or cafe-style food, try the utterly Instagrammable EL&N London or Art Market, both of which are immediately adjacent to the venue.

Dining on Yas beyond Yas Bay Waterfront

If you fancy a cheaper eat, you’re only minutes away from Yas Mall with several food court-style options, as well as many mid-range dining options. You will need to drive or take a taxi between the two, though, so allow yourself plenty of time if you choose this option.

There are also multiple dining options at Yas Marina, but sadly, in the current layout of Yas Island attractions, there’s no easy way to walk between Yas Bay and Yas Marina – an oversight we can only hope they fix in the future. Moving cars between the two venues on event nights is a real hassle. The other option is the internal Yas shuttle bus, but again, factor this into your timings.

Food and Drinks at the venue

You can grab a variety of assorted bar snacks at the venue, although don’t expect a full meal (this only occurs on limited special occasions).

Most of the bars within Etihad Arena serve drinks in plastic cups that can be taken into the theatre (unless that show specifically forbids F&B in the arena area, there will be warnings if this is the case). There may be select champagne bars set up for special events in the main lounge, but you will strictly not be allowed to bring a glass within the arena.

Expect to pay about AED 40 – 50 for an alcoholic drink. You’ll need to present an ID to receive a wristband for individuals over 21.

What’s on at Etihad Arena?

The lineup changes each month, so the best way to stay up-to-date with what’s on is to visit the Etihad Arena events website directly or try Platinumlist Abu Dhabi for the latest ticket sales information.

We cover what’s happening in Abu Dhabi for the upcoming year over here on our Abu Dhabi Travel website.

And don’t miss all the great events happening in Dubai this year!

We hope this helps you plan for your upcoming event at Etihad Arena – let us know if you have any questions to make your plans go smoothly!