The 2025 Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is set to be the largest edition in the event’s 17-year history, with a record-breaking crowd expected across Yas Marina Circuit and Etihad Park and a packed entertainment roster across the four days from December 4 to 7. To deliver a weekend of this scale, Ethara brings together more than 40,000 people working on ground across the event.
More than 1,500 volunteers form part of this on-ground workforce, supporting guest experience operations throughout race week. Volunteers join through several partners across the UAE, including Emirates Foundation, whose programmes have supported the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009. This year, 70 percent of their volunteers are Emirati and 30 percent expats, and they are often the first point of contact for arriving fans, assisting with guest services, accessibility support and multilingual guidance.
For many, volunteering has become a defining annual milestone. Some have grown with the programme from their late teens into leadership roles, developing skills in crowd management, hospitality and team operations. Others describe the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as an opportunity to contribute to the community while gaining first-hand experience of one of the world’s most iconic sporting events.
Among returning Emirati volunteers is Ahmad Al Musaabi, 24, who joined the programme at 19 and now returns for his fifth season. “This event is very significant for the region and for the country. Every year is a new experience, and I learn more in three or four days than in an entire year. Seeing different cultures supporting their favourite teams in a safe space, smiling and joking together, is a memory that stays with me and is what motivates me to come back every year.”
Similarly, Alia Salem Al Ajeel first participated as a student and now returns as a team leader, reflecting the programme’s evolution into a platform for personal development and national pride. Women make up nearly 70 percent of this year’s volunteer community, a trend that has held steady over the last three years. Her journey mirrors the wider trajectory of the volunteer ecosystem, which continues to attract young participants from every emirate.
This growing nationwide engagement is echoed by Mohammed Al Abbasi, Senior Projects Lead at Emirates Foundation, who has overseen the partnership for more than 16 years and has seen the programme evolve into a nationwide point of pride. “Formula One is one of the most attractive opportunities. We see university students, government employees and volunteers from every emirate joining each year. The team becomes like family and volunteers love giving back,” he said.
Ethara’s Guest Experience and Operations teams work closely with Emirates Foundation and other partners throughout the year to train, brief and support volunteers to ensure seamless coordination across Yas Marina Circuit and Yas Island. During race week, between 250 and 300 volunteers from Emirates Foundation support crowd flow, guest interactions, accessibility assistance and operational needs. Nearly three quarters of all volunteers are aged between 18 and 25, reflecting a growing, youthful and nationally diverse group contributing to one of the region’s most significant sporting and entertainment moments.
