Located on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, in a freshly-shaped environment, next to the brand new Formula One racing course, Etihad Arena features everything a multipurpose complex has to offer today. And even more – it was constructed to be in line with the latest sustainability requirements and serves not only the present but the future generations as well.

The arena has received prestigious recognition already, it was named the Sustainable Building Design of the Year at the MENA Green Buildings Awards 2018. And this is not a PR action: by integrating energy and water-efficient building systems and architectural treatments, Etihad Arena achieves a 22.4% saving in energy and 28% saving in water year by year.

The building can accommodate 18,000 spectators and host many kinds of events including large-scale international concerts, sports events, corporate gatherings, private functions and local community celebrations.

Using the latest technology of FINA Partner Myrtha Pools, the Arena has been transformed into a world-class swimming facility for the upcoming FINA World Swimming Championships (25m). Besides the competition pool, a warm-up pool has also been installed next to the big stage, and all athletes representing 183 countries may enjoy the utmost comfort in the team areas, while the media demands are also fully catered.

Athletes at the opening press conference already hailed the venue, both Italy’s Olympic champion Gregorio Paltrinieri and USA’s sprinting star, Olympic champion relay swimmer Abbey Weitzeil agreed that the venue was extraordinary. “It’s going to be really exciting to swim in such a world-class facility,” said Paltrinieri who owns the short-course world record in the 1500m free.

Compared to the venues of the previous editions, the Etihad Arena stands out – though all the sites used in the past decades offered something special and the racing environment was of the highest level. Still, the dimensions, the space, the level of services all top what we saw in the past.

Though it’s not a competition, the first gold can already go to the Arena and the organisers as they also created a unique combination of venues for the already ongoing aquatic festival.

The competitors of the other disciplines, open water swimmers, divers and high divers can also use the Arena’s facilities for their preparations before they march out to the waterfront venues of their respective sports. With the accommodations being located within a stone-throw, this is perhaps the most athlete-friendly championships FINA ever had – and ultimately this is what counts.

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Flashback – the past decade

The FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) visited a great variety of venues in the past decade.

Dubai 2010

The Hamdan Sport Complex was built for the 2010 championships – held in December for the first time – and served as a venue for several more FINA events, including the 2013 junior Worlds. It is a modern swimming pool, and with a permanent seating of 15,000 spectators, it’s still ranked the largest swimming complex in the world.

Istanbul 2012

Similar to the current edition, the 2012 event was held in a multi-purpose arena, in the Sinan Erdem Dome which can accommodate 16,000 spectators. It was a brilliant venue as well and witnessed some great action, including US superstar Ryan Lochte handing over one of his gold medals to the amazing young Turkish fans.

Doha 2014

World-class swimming action returned among classical swimming settings in the Hamad Aquatic Centre. Located in the truly amazing Aspire Zone, home of several incredible facilities, including the world’s largest indoor sports complex, the Aspire Dome, the centre saw some of the most thrilling races in the history of this event. (Several sites will be in use again for the 2023 FINA World Championships.)

Windsor 2016

There is always a first – and this was a real premier in terms of site-choosing: the event was held in Windsor’s ice-hockey arena. And Canadian winter also offered something several swimmers from specific countries had never seen before: a huge snowfall, during the last days of the event. 

Hangzhou 2018

After the swimming events of the ‘big championships’ had been held in the prestigious Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne in 2007, swimming returned to the ‘tennis courts’ as the venue was set up in the local indoor Tennis Centre. It was part of the city’s Olympic Sports Centre, designed to evoke lotus flowers, the main feature of the nearby West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the rounded hall offered everything the athletes looked for, the special roof design sometimes confused the backstrokers who could not find any straight line to follow.