The UFC is heading back to Abu Dhabi this fall.
On Friday, promotion officials announced via social media that UFC 281 would be hosted at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The event is set to take place on October 22, 2022.
No fights have been announced for the card.
We have our sights set on 𝐀𝐁𝐔 𝐃𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐈 this October ✈️
Visit here for details 🔗 https://t.co/qxqMNvVjkW
[ #UFC281 | @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/RJusAhNipT
— UFC (@ufc) March 18, 2022
Etihad Arena is located on Yas Island, which throughout the coronavirus pandemic has been marketed as “Fight Island” by the UFC. The October date will be the promotion’s first trip to Abu Dhabi in 2022, after multiple dates in both 2020 and 2021. It comes a year after their last visit, which came at UFC 267 in October 2021.
With more and more cities opening up in areas where the coronavirus pandemic is subsiding, the UFC has begun venture out with a frequency not seen since the virus first hit western shores. Starting with Saturday’s UFC London card, the promotion will have three straight dates outside of Las Vegas, with London, Columbus, and Jacksonville making up a short road trip.
Shows is Anaheim, California and Houston, Texas have already taken place this year, and in May, the octagon returns to Phoenix, Arizona for UFC 274. Additional international dates are also possible — during this week’s UFC London media day, Paul Craig let slip that venues in the UK had been reserved for potential summer dates.
