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Epic Abu Dhabi Showdown Week

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With only a handful of VIP and hotel package tickets left available for UFC 242, Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism—Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has upped its own ante with an expansive series of lifestyle, retail and culinary promotions and an eye-catching schedule of parties and after-parties hosted by major international nightlife brands happening the entire week until Sept. 7.

Epic Abu Dhabi Showdown Week
American rock legend Red Hot Chili Peppers plays first-ever concert in the Emirates. 

Cementing Abu Dhabi’s growing status as an entertainment hotspot, the UAE capital comes alive during Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, with dedicated beach and pool parties by day, and headline concerts and high-energy after-parties by night.

Superstar rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers made its UAE debut with a spectacular concert yesterday followed by another world-class concert by a ‘mystery’ act today. 

While both concerts took at The Arena, a new indoor venue being constructed on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island that will also stage UFC 242 on Sept. 7, the party vibe extends right across Yas Island and beyond all through the week.

 With even more events due to be added in coming weeks, the current line-up of parties and nightlife events includes a fight night viewing party at the same venue on Sept. 7 and a week-long Abu Dhabi Showdown Week poolside brunch offering at The Edition. Things go up a gear with the official Red Hot Chili Peppers After Party, Bizarre by Mad last night, and a second official post-concert After Party, Drais Las Vegas at the same venue following the Sept. 5 concert.

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Tomorrow, Sept. 6, Drais Las Vegas will also host a pool party at the Fairmont and in the evening, following the UFC 242 weigh-in, domestic and international partygoers can enjoy the after party in The Edition Club, The Annex. Partygoers are also spoiled for choice on Sept. 7, as the inaugural Abu Dhabi Showdown Week gets not one but two options for a fitting finale, with The White Experience and Socialista at Cipriani both set to round off the week with a bang.

“We have assembled some of the world’s biggest leisure and nightlife brands to create Abu Dhabi Showdown Week’s wide-ranging schedule of beach, pool and after parties across a number of Abu Dhabi’s leading hotels, resorts and clubs. This holistic entertainment schedule will ensure that international visitors—and local residents alike—experience a dynamic Abu Dhabi Showdown Week programme that lets all fans experience the emirate’s diverse entertainment and nightlife proposition,” said Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Acting Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi.

“This diverse bill of concerts, lifestyle and nightlife events will elevate Abu Dhabi’s growing status as an entertainment capital, and significantly strengthen the emirate’s standing as an international, globally renowned leisure hub,” added Al Shaiba.

On the culinary front, residents and international visitors will be kept well-fed throughout Abu Dhabi Showdown Week with 25-plus restaurants, bars and cafes across the UAE capital participating in a city-wide ‘Knockout Burgers’ campaign running until Sept. 7.

 Elsewhere, hotels and dining destinations on Yas Island and Saadiyat Island will be preparing their own culinary offerings as part of a value-add culinary promotion exclusively for Abu Dhabi Showdown Week.

Shoppers can also weigh-in on Abu Dhabi Showdown Week courtesy of three major promotions in selected malls, including Abu Dhabi Mall, Bawabat Al Sharq Mall, Dalma Mall, Deerfields Mall, Madinat Zayed, Mazyad Mall, WTC Abu Dhabi and Yas Mall, as well as Al Ain Mall, Bawadi Mall and Hili Mall in Al Ain.        

Running from also until Septe. 7, ‘Knockout Deals’ will align with the traditional back-to-school period and offer shoppers discounts ranging from 25 percent upwards on health products, fitness apparel and activewear, while the mega ‘Shop & Win’ promotion will see any shopper spending AED200 or more entered into a unified city-wide raffle for a chance to win a brand-new Mercedes-Benz A Class or C Class.

In addition, a series of in-mall activations running during the seven-day Abu Dhabi Showdown Week period will hand members of the public, money-can’t-buy chances for photo opportunities and meet-and-greets with UFC athletes, and pose for social media-friendly snaps with replica UFC belts.

“With many of Abu Dhabi’s leading malls and retail destinations supporting Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, local and international fans – including more than 4,000 foreign visitors descending on Abu Dhabi for UFC 242 – can take advantage of special discounts, promotions and bumper deals at unbeatable prices all across the emirate,” said Al Shaiba.

“These eclectic offerings will accentuate Abu Dhabi’s credentials as a world-class shopping destination and stimulate increased revenue across participating outlets, while our food and beverage partners have united to create a compelling menu of themed promotions that will ensure the spirit of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week extends well beyond its core concert and MMA components to stimulate business for restaurants, cafes, and bars.”

With UFC 242 serving as the mega Abu Dhabi Showdown Week headliner, fans and the general public will be able to experience the world’s fastest-growing sports franchise in various athlete-led activities across the UAE capital.

Across the week, there will be open workouts, autograph signings and meet-and-greet sessions at various locations. With the UFC 242 weigh-in at The Arena on Yas Island taking place on Sept. 6, further information on how to claim a free ticket to the weigh-in will be released in coming weeks.

“The UFC 242 weigh-in will give fans the opportunity to see their favorite athletes square off face-to-face during an amazing afternoon of drama,” added Al Shaiba.

Fans descending on Yas Island for the weigh-in can also soak up the activity-packed UFC Fan Experience, which allows fans of UFC to fully immerse themselves in the organization and its stars.

The Abu Dhabi Sports and Fitness Expo, managed by UAE-based Universal Music Fitness and Fashion (UMFF), will feature leading international exhibitors, competitions, fitness programs, activations, and international conferences during a three-day run at du Forum on Yas Island from Sept. 5 to 7. This expo is a premier event in the Middle East Region pertaining to wellness, fitness and healthy lifestyle.

Designed to complement the city-wide Abu Dhabi Showdown Week program and promote health and fitness, the dedicated industry platform will welcome fitness celebrities such as four times Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler and Mr. Universe, Mike O’Hearn and feature live fitness shows for all ages. Ticket prices range from AED50 for a one-day pass, to AED120 for a three-day pass. A single day VIP pass, which includes exclusive opportunities to get up-close to global fitness celebrities, is priced at AED100.

With the majority of ticket categories for UFC 242: KHABIB vs. POIRIER sold out, the last remaining hotel and ticket packages for the event are available at www.adshowdownweek.ae. VIP tickets can also be purchased via https://ufcvipexperience.com/ufc-242

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