Meraas, a diversified Dubai-based holding company has signed a 10-year agreement with The Coca-Cola Company for the exclusive naming rights for Dubai’s first and biggest indoor, multipurpose arena. Upon completion, the 17,000-capacity arena will be known as the Coca-Cola Arena.
Located at Meraas’ popular urban retail and residential destination City Walk in Dubai, the hugely-anticipated arena will open to the public in June this year and will become the heartbeat of the entertainment landscape in the region.
Owned by Meraas, the Coca-Cola Arena will have the ability to host large scale live events 365 days a year. While adding another dimension to Meraas’ diverse portfolio of projects, the arena will also bolster Dubai’s status as a year-round global tourist destination and foster the development of Dubai as an all-inclusive modern metropolis for its residents.
Meraas Group Chairman His Excellency Abdulla Al Habbai commented on the momentous announcement: “We are proud to have a company of such worldwide renown as Coca-Cola taking on the naming rights for the arena in the long-term. It is a testament to the unrivalled positioning of Dubai as a global tourism, leisure and entertainment hub.
“This agreement with The Coca-Cola Company is also a clear demonstration that Meraas’ continued efforts to transform the urban landscape of Dubai and move with the emirate into the future as a modern, creative, culturally and economically diverse place to live, work and play are coming to fruition.”
He added: “Given all the strong fundamentals now in place, the Coca-Cola Arena will undoubtedly attract world-class acts and performers from around the world to its stunning stage.”
Murat Ozgel, General Manager of Coca-Cola Middle East and Deputy President of Coca-Cola Middle East and North Africa, added, “We are proud to be a part of this highly anticipated entertainment destination which demonstrates our commitment to the region. The Cola-Cola Arena will build on Dubai’s thriving entertainment industry, positively contributing to the city’s ambitions to become a world-leading metropolis. The arena will create another iconic landmark in the city attracting visitors from across the world.
He added, “In line with Dubai’s vision to create a smart and sustainable city, we are committed to making the Coca-Cola Arena a sustainable venue in line with our 2030 Environmental Goals.”
The state-of-the-art multipurpose Coca-Cola Arena has been designed with Meraas’ unmistakable architectural panache. It will be a fully air-conditioned indoor arena with end-stage, central and half-stage configuration capabilities. It is also, significantly, the biggest multipurpose arena of its kind between Istanbul and Singapore.
As such, it is ideally positioned to host the most diverse productions. Major touring international artists, sporting events, comedy gigs, gala dinners, exhibitions and conferences can all be accommodated in the arena to the taste of the region’s diverse cultural palate.
Day-to-day operations for the venue will be handled by the reputable, international venue management company AEG Ogden, who also operate London’s O2 Arena, STAPLES Centre in Los Angeles, Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai and Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
Guy Ngata, AEG Ogden's CEO of the Coca-Cola Arena said: "We are proud to partner with Meraas and Coca-Cola as we launch the UAE's first world-class, multipurpoe indoor arena. We look forward to working closely together over the next 10 years.
“This naming rights agreement is hugely beneficial for Dubai and Coca-Cola, which are both internationally recognised brands in their own rights. We are excited to grow our partnership over the next decade and further establish Dubai as a major destination for world music tours, sporting competitions, family show and corporate events.
“In addition to major branding and exclusive beverage sales at the arena, the strategic partnership also means the new Coca-Cola Arena will be able to tap into Coca-Cola’s vast network of expertise in the worlds of business and entertainment, while the company will see huge gains from its close, long-term relationship with one of the best live entertainment arenas in the region.”
The Coca-Cola Arena is designed with sustainability in mind with the incorporation of innovative elements such as humidity capture A/C units, light and water sensors, LED lights and an organic composter, the arena promises to be a crowning jewel for Coca-Cola and AEG Ogden.
Meraas has forged a reputation for its out-of-the-box approach to major real estate, retail, leisure and entertainment destinations, partnering with major developers to introduce standout landmark destinations across Dubai. Destinations such as City Walk, The Beach, Boxpark, Last Exit, The Outlet Village, Kite Beach, Al Seef, La Mer and their newest edition Bluewaters have all contributed to the functionality, aesthetic excellence and consumer interaction with the emirate.
Construction work on the indoor arena was announced in 2016 and has been moving ahead with several key targets already achieved. The building’s spectacular active-lit façade has been completed and fully installed, while the 42 hospitality and corporate suites are currently receiving their final touches.
AEG Ogden, which also provided their considerable design and technical expertise during the construction process, for both internal and external infrastructures, is part of the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company.