Etihad Park — Attraction in Abu Dhabi

Attended Diljit Dosanjh Dil-Luminati concert on 9th November.

I have some major things to point out here. Though this concert was wayyyy better than others in India, fan satisfaction was few and far between. When fans have made you who you are today from the small town wedding singer you were, so why is it that we have to stand so far and literally get crushed from every angle for your videos to get popular? But vip,platinum,gold,fan section is so damn costly and comfortable enough to dance. What is this class divide you're fostering? Don't you already have more than enough? Kaha jaana hai bhaiya? Chaand pe? Chaand bhi humara hai aur taare bhi. Ye jo views ke chakkar ke liye ghoom rhe ho, jab vo milna band hojaenge, apne hi pind me jaana and wahin gaana. Ya radio pe gaana. Kabhi general crowd ke beech me khade hoke gaaya hai? Tab pata chalega. Abolish your stages and your I'm so great come see me attitude. I was standing in the front of the general section with a pretty good view, behind the shooting crew. My body broke after your concert. Consider this, we give you money, we stand in line for hours, we pay the sponsors their money, we pay for flights, we pay for food and alcohol, we wait hours, days or months to come see you perform in person. Some drivers and Punjabis who want to see you perform, never even get Infinity tickets/Accessible tickets. We don't even get the experience we rightfully deserve. We cry at your songs and we get bullied for it. You shoot our videos in multiple towns in your private jets, you put it on Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube to get famous/more money because "you have babaji ki meher" or "aapko upar se baksha jaata hai sab" or "ye masla bahar di gal da nahi andro da hai" or whatever. But who listens? Who has been listening to you from 15+ years? Who gives you views? And what do you give them in return? I rescheduled my flight, came from family home in Delhi to Abu Dhabi where I live, I tried everything in my power to just witness your concert once. But the roads were jammed. You left in your private cars and ate fancy food, do you even know how long the whole ordeal took normal people? Who are paying surcharge on cabs, still spent 300 aed trying to get back home or find something to sit on. My back was completely crushed from every angle trying to look at you. Now I pay for getting my back fixed for however long it takes. Do you take care of us? Do you give it all back? And how can you???? I refuse to even look at your songs anymore. I download them and you will never get my views again. I'm done paying for your riches. You need to start looking down, we don't look up to you anymore. Again you don't make us who we are, it's vice versa. This is friendly feedback for Etihad arena, please don't collect 30-40k people and cram them in a little park space without seating.DO BETTER. We're already suffocated. Stop squeezing the life out of us. It's personal now. Respectfully, Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji...

Etihad Park, located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, is a renowned open-air venue known for hosting concerts, festivals, and large-scale events. Here’s a comprehensive review:

Key Features:

Capacity and Layout: Etihad Park is the largest outdoor venue in the Middle East, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of people. The wide-open layout ensures excellent visibility and sound quality from various angles, making it suitable for large audiences. Events: The venue has hosted world-famous artists, including Beyoncé, Post Malone, and Guns N’ Roses, as well as international events like the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concerts. Its versatility makes it popular for music, sports screenings, and cultural festivals. Accessibility: Located on Yas Island, it is easily accessible by car, taxi, or Yas Express shuttle buses. It’s close to other Yas Island attractions like Ferrari World, Yas Marina Circuit, and Yas Mall, allowing visitors to combine experiences. Facilities: • Food & Beverage: There are numerous food stalls and drink options during events. However, prices can be on the higher side, typical for concert venues. • Seating: While much of the venue is standing room, VIP and premium sections offer seating options with additional perks. • Restrooms: Clean and well-maintained, even during large events. Atmosphere: The open-air setup and the backdrop of Yas Island create a lively and dynamic atmosphere, especially during evening events when the venue is lit up.

Pros:

• Stunning outdoor venue with a spacious setup. • World-class events and performances. • Well-maintained and organized, even for large crowds. • Proximity to Yas Island’s attractions makes it ideal for tourists.

Cons:

• Standing for long periods can be exhausting for some attendees. • Limited public transport options late at night after events. • Food and beverage prices are high.

Conclusion:

Etihad Park is a premier destination for entertainment in the UAE, offering a unique blend of world-class performances and the vibrant energy of Yas Island. While it can be pricey and tiring for long events, the overall experience is exceptional, especially for music lovers and fans of...

The venue itself is quite nice. It's outdoors but not much of a problem since concerts take place during the cooler season (or an indoor venue).

My biggest issue is who ever is responsible for managing the venue, the queues, etc. The Eminem concert in particular was HORRIBLE to get into (Eminem himself was fantastic. Great show!).

ZERO info from security guards and the people at the ticketing and security counters. And just like last year's The Weeknd concert massive groups of people with NO tickets are bashing the gates and fences trying to sneak in. We had tickets but literally had to squeeze through LITERALLY (yes literally) a hundred people just to get into the ticket checks.

Only to find out they DONT SCAN TICKETS. You literally just wave it at them and you're inside. NO WONDER PPL TRY TO BASH THEIR WAY IN. THEY KNOW THEY CAN ENTER THE VENUE WITHOUT TICKERS BECAUSE OF THE MANAGERS' INCOMPETENCY.

It was a massive safety hazard IDK how Flash Entertainment or whomever is responsible hasn't been shutdown.

Just scan the damn tickets. Hire some DECENT security and maybe just maybe you won't be one of the countless groups here that only add to the UAE's tarnished reputation as being unpolished or "under developed" because sh*t like this really REALLY doesn't help. Jeez.

TL;DR: Great venue horrible management of queues and arguably not worth buying tickets until they fix the issue of security. Not worth it it all.

Other info:

Parking: available at Yas Mall. There's also an empty sandy lot which Google Maps will lead you to. Ignore it and just park at Yas Mall. Follow the official instructions they send in an email (probably in the Junk folder) when you buy tickets.

Food/drinks: Food and beverages available and unsurprisingly expensive. A beer costs 45-ish DHS. Just don't forget to get the 21+ bands to be able to buy alcohol. You get them as soon as you enter the venue right after the security machines (good luck getting in though!). There are also a bunch of food trucks and stalls after the entrance labeled The Village. Nice spot to lounge in before the show starts. There's everything from food to...