Abu Dhabi GP issue defiant F1 message as Middle East crisis continues

Ethara chief executive Saif Rashid Al Noaimi has insisted the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix remains "on schedule" for December 6, despite the ongoing security crisis gripping the Middle East.

Al Noaimi, whose company promotes the season finale at Yas Marina Circuit, pointed to construction already under way on site as evidence the race will go ahead as planned.

His comments come at a sensitive moment for the region. Saudi Arabia has come under repeated attack from Houthi forces in recent weeks, with strikes targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Saudi Aramco's headquarters in Dhahran. 

The Saudi-led coalition reported 20 separate attacks on the Riyadh airport alone in the first two weeks of October.

Qatar, which hosts the round immediately before Abu Dhabi on the calendar, sits just over 150 kilometres from areas of Saudi Arabia that have been hit, sharing its only land border with the kingdom.

Formula 1 has so far held firm that the season will conclude in Qatar and Abu Dhabi as originally planned, resisting pressure to shift the finale elsewhere. 

But behind the scenes, the sport has quietly lined up Imola as a contingency, with temporary grandstands already authorised in case the Middle Eastern rounds cannot take place. 

Under that fallback plan, Imola would stage a single replacement race on December 6 rather than hosting two separate events, meaning one round would be dropped from the calendar entirely.

Abu Dhabi GP has 'always been happening'

Speaking to Dubai Eye 103.8FM, Al Noaimi was adamant the Abu Dhabi weekend is proceeding without disruption.

"It's happening, It's always been happening, it's on schedule, December 6, season finale right here in Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi," he said.

"As you can see, the venue is getting busy. The structures are all coming up. We have by far the biggest Paddock Club we've ever done. 

"We're exceeding 12,000 this year. 40,000 people are accredited to deliver this event, so that's 40,000 workforce that are involved in delivering something at this scale."

"We have 1,500 volunteers. 90% of them are UAE nationals. We have over 220 companies that are suppliers that are supporting, that are building the event, and we couldn't do it without them and then over the years we've seen that local ecosystem grow and develop from where it was from the first edition."