EXAMINING THE ROLE OF FORMULA 1 IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES THROUGH THE LENS OF GEOPOLITICAL ECONOMY OF SPORT

Formula 1 is the world’s biggest racing tournament with hundreds of million fans across the globe. Originally a European-centric sport, Formula 1 has begun a global expansion to other regions such as the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates currently owns the legal right to host the final race of annual Formula 1 World Championship until 2030 which means that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will remain one of the most crucial and most anticipated races for several years. It demonstrates a fervent drive of the UAE towards achieving dominance in the sport despite the high annual hosting fee. This research aims to examine the role of Formula 1 in the UAE using geopolitical economy of sport perspective. The qualitative research method is used with library research data collection technique to access relevant secondary data as this research relies on in-depth study of existing literatures. The findings highlight the role of Formula 1 in the UAE as a platform for the UAE to earn global exposure and elevate its image as global business and tourism destination. This is the UAE’s effort to diversify its oil-dependent economy and gain status as world-class sustainable country. The UAE strategically leverages Formula 1 by securing rights to hold the final race of the annual world championship, sponsoring the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Formula 1 teams, building a state-of-the-art circuit, and developing off-track amenities, all of which contributes to its image as an attractive global business and tourism destination.