Etihad Arena is proud to lead by example when it comes to sustainable operations in the region’s live entertainment space. As the Middle East’s largest indoor arena and a key venue on Yas Island, we’ve embedded environmentally responsible practices into our day-to-day operations – with measurable results.
• 2025 has already recycled 25,960 kg by September – 73% more than all of 2024 (14,999 kg).
Fun fact: That’s about 5 parking spaces worth of landfill footprint kept free!
• 2025 added batteries, cans, and e-waste.
Fun fact: Recycling 282 kg of batteries prevents enough toxic heavy metals to contaminate the water for 1,000+ people for a year.
• Electronics: 76 kg → 564 kg.
• Batteries: 0 → 282 kg.
Fun fact: Recycling electronics avoids mining of precious metals – 1 ton of e-waste can yield more gold than 17 tons of ore!
• 3,571 reusable cups collected.
• Prevented ~64 kg of plastic waste.
Fun fact: That’s like removing the plastic equivalent of 4,000 water bottles from circulation.
• General Waste Reduced by 24% Year-on-Year (YOY) through improved processes and fan-facing recycling efforts.
• 15,057 kg of Waste Recycled (plastic, cardboard, and glass) in the past year — a 29% increase YOY.
• Mega Pint Return Program: Fans are incentivized to reuse their branded cups across events, reducing single-use plastics in the venue.
• Fan-Facing Recycling Stations: Strategically placed throughout the arena with playful signage under the “Cheering for Sustainability” campaign.
• Increase of all waste streams recycling process by dedicated cleaners to pick up plastic waste and waste segregation at recycling room
○ 2024 (full year): 14,923 kg
○ 2025 : 24,920 kg
○ Already 67% more recycling than all of 2024, and the year isn’t finished yet.
• Air2Water Machine Installed in the production office — capable of producing clean drinking water from air humidity. Over time, this could eliminate the need for up to 22,000 single-use plastic bottles annually.
• 100% Digital Ticketing Transition has helped eliminate paper tickets, reduce waste, and streamline event entry.
• Beaconless Entry System via the Yas Island app reduces infrastructure needs and lowers power consumption.
• Diversion nearly doubled:
○ 2024: 8.4%
○ 2025 (Jan–Sep): 15.6%
Fun fact: That’s like turning almost 1 in every 6 bags of trash into something useful instead of dumping it.
• Plastics recycled: 5,770 kg vs 3,118 kg in 2024.
• Glass recovery: 3,590 kg vs 600 kg in 2024.
Fun fact: Recycling that much glass is like saving enough energy to power 40 homes for a month.
• Eliminated 113,000 plastic cups (~1,356 kg of plastic) from 2024 usage.
Fun fact: That’s about 3.66 metric tons CO₂e saved.
• Started in End of May and rolled out for certain events, collected about 3,571 cup
○ Plastic avoided: 64–71 kg
○ CO₂ saved: 386–429 kg CO₂
• 3% Reduction in Carbon Emissions Per Head, calculated from overall utility consumption and waste generated.
• LED & Motion-Sensor Lighting in back-of-house areas help reduce unnecessary electricity use.
• Optimized HVAC & Water-Saving Fixtures across all restrooms and backstage areas.
• 10. Installation of new meters, sensors along with a new energy management system to monitor and optimise building energy use (Installation work on going)
○ Total meters – 402 units
○ Total sensors – 60 nos
• ESTIDAMA Pearl Rating: Etihad Arena was designed and built to meet the 2 Pearl Estidama sustainability standard – the UAE’s benchmark for green building performance.
• In-venue signage and digital messaging drive behavioral change among fans, encouraging better recycling habits in a fun and accessible way.
• Sustainable operations are supported in collaboration with artists, promoters, and F&B partners who are aligned with our environmental goals.
