Etihad Airways has been announced as the Official Airline Partner for the 2026 Open Masters Games in Abu Dhabi, a landmark multi sport festival that will bring tens of thousands of athletes and supporters to the United Arab Emirates from February 6 to 15, 2026. The agreement strengthens Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for major sporting events and places the national carrier at the heart of one of the world’s largest community focused competitions, built around the philosophy of “sport for all” and healthy living across every generation.
A Strategic Partnership Anchored in Abu Dhabi’s Sporting Vision
The Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026 will be the first Masters Games event staged in the Middle East and is set to welcome more than 25,000 to 30,000 participants from over 100 nationalities. Competitions will unfold across more than 20 venues in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, from Zayed Sports City and Yas Island to coastal venues in Al Marfa and heritage sites in the desert. The Games are organised under the umbrella of the International Masters Games Association and reflect the UAE leadership’s drive to promote active lifestyles, community wellbeing and inclusive participation in sport.
Within this framework, the decision to appoint Etihad Airways as Official Airline Partner carries clear strategic weight. The carrier is not only the national airline of the UAE, it is also one of the most visible symbols of Abu Dhabi on the global stage. The partnership aligns closely with the emirate’s long term ambition to harness sport as a platform for soft power, tourism growth and international engagement, building on a calendar that already includes the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, elite tennis tournaments, world championship combat sports and major endurance events.
As the Games prepare to transform Abu Dhabi into a ten day festival of competition, culture and community from early to mid February 2026, Etihad’s role will extend beyond simple transport. The airline will be an active partner in how the event is promoted globally, how athletes experience the city from the moment they check in, and how Abu Dhabi’s story is told to a worldwide audience of sports fans, families and first time visitors.
Details of the Deal and Who Signed It
The agreement naming Etihad Airways as Official Airline Partner was formalised in Abu Dhabi on February 5, 2026 during an official signing ceremony held just one day before the opening of the Games. Representatives from the International Masters Games Association, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Etihad Airways attended the event, highlighting the collaboration between international sport, local organisers and the national carrier.
On behalf of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the higher organising committee of the Open Masters Games, Secretary General Aref Al Awani underscored that the partnership is designed to leverage Etihad’s “international legacy and experience” in logistics and hospitality for major events. From the airline’s perspective, the agreement was signed by senior leadership including Chief People, Government and Corporate Affairs Officer Dr Nadia Bastaki, who described the collaboration as an opportunity to “connect people, cultures and ideas” by transporting participants and fans from the UAE and around the world to Etihad’s home base in Abu Dhabi.
The deal confirms Etihad as the official airline for all aspects of the Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026, including support for participating delegations, promotional campaigns, and preferred travel options for athletes, officials, volunteers and spectators. It follows a well established model in which Etihad has taken on prominent sports partnerships across football, tennis, badminton, motorsport and equestrian events, positioning the airline as one of the region’s most active supporters of global sport.
What the Partnership Means for Athletes, Fans and the City
With athletes travelling from more than 140 countries for competitions across 38 different sports, air connectivity is central to the success of the Open Masters Games. As Official Airline Partner, Etihad will help anchor the travel experience, using its global network to funnel participants and supporters through Abu Dhabi International Airport on direct or one stop routes from North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.
The airline is expected to coordinate closely with the Games’ organising committee, tour operators and national sports federations to offer tailored travel solutions, including group bookings for teams and supporters, streamlined connections and coordinated arrival timings that sync with competition schedules and accreditation windows. For many participants, particularly amateur or first time international competitors, this will be their main gateway to both the event and the city.
Beyond logistics, the partnership will also shape how visitors experience Abu Dhabi in between events. Etihad’s positioning as a premium carrier rooted in Emirati hospitality dovetails with the Games’ emphasis on welcoming athletes of all ages and abilities into an inclusive, community oriented atmosphere. From in flight messaging to airport branding and citywide promotions, the airline will serve as an ambassador for Abu Dhabi’s culture, heritage and growing reputation as a destination for sports tourism.
A Global Stage for Masters Sport in the Middle East
The Open Masters Games concept evolved from the World Masters Games, long regarded as the largest international multi sport event for older athletes. Unlike elite world championships, the focus here is participation and personal achievement rather than medals alone. The Abu Dhabi edition will stay true to that spirit, opening competition primarily to adults aged 30 and over, with some sports such as swimming and endurance horse racing welcoming participants from age 25.
From February 6 to 15, the Games will host events in more than 30 official sports and a portfolio of traditional Emirati disciplines. Programmes include athletics, cycling, football, basketball, golf, tennis, triathlon, swimming, weightlifting, martial arts and beach sports, alongside heritage activities such as camel racing, falconry, dhow sailing, heritage diving and endurance horse racing. Venues range from Zayed Sports City and Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub to Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, coastal arenas in Al Marfa and equestrian facilities at Al Wathba.
Organisers expect the Games to draw over 30,000 participants and hundreds of thousands of spectators over ten days, generating more than 140,000 hotel nights and a significant boost to local tourism and services. With Etihad at the centre of travel arrangements, the airline is likely to see a surge in inbound demand around the competition window, reinforced by dedicated marketing and fare initiatives tied specifically to the event.
Etihad’s Expanding Sports Sponsorship Portfolio
The Open Masters Games partnership reinforces a pattern that has become central to Etihad Airways’ brand over the past decade: the strategic use of sports sponsorships to project Abu Dhabi’s image abroad and engage fans across multiple continents. The airline is already well known as the title partner of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and has built a strong presence in football, tennis, cricket, esports and badminton through collaborations with clubs, leagues and international federations.
Recent deals include a global airline partnership with the Badminton World Federation, official airline sponsorship of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open tennis tournament, continued backing of the Chennai Super Kings franchise in cricket, and long term support for regional esports powerhouse Nigma Galaxy. Each of these relationships is designed to connect Etihad with different fan communities while showcasing Abu Dhabi as a modern, multicultural city with a year round calendar of top level sport.
In this context, the Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026 brings something distinct to the airline’s portfolio. Rather than focusing on professional athletes alone, the Games invite everyday competitors, retired professionals, club players and fitness enthusiasts to travel, compete and share experiences on a world stage. For Etihad, that means access to a broad demographic of travellers who are motivated by wellness, community and lifelong activity, a profile that aligns closely with the airline’s emphasis on quality of life, sustainability and memorable journeys.
Boosting Tourism, Legacy and Community Impact
Abu Dhabi’s authorities view the Open Masters Games as more than a ten day event. It is intended to leave a legacy of increased sports participation, improved community health and global recognition for the emirate’s infrastructure, hospitality and organisational capabilities. The partnership with Etihad supports all three dimensions.
From a tourism standpoint, the airline’s marketing channels will broadcast the Games to key source markets, encouraging participants to extend their stays and explore Abu Dhabi’s cultural and natural attractions, from museums and desert landscapes to mangrove reserves and waterfront promenades. For many visiting families, the Masters competition doubles as a holiday, with athletes competing in morning sessions before discovering the city in the afternoon and evening.
On the community side, the Games are supported by a series of year round initiatives including complimentary training programmes, walking challenges and open access fitness sessions across Abu Dhabi. Etihad’s involvement is expected to amplify these messages, particularly around themes of healthy ageing, active lifestyles and intergenerational connection. As the official carrier, the airline becomes a prominent advocate for sport as a lifelong habit, not just a spectacle to be watched.
What Participants and Visitors Can Expect in 2026
As preparations accelerate in the run up to February 2026, the combined efforts of the organising committee, Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Etihad Airways are shaping an event that is as much about experience as competition. Athletes arriving in Abu Dhabi will encounter a streamlined journey from aircraft to accreditation centre, with multilingual volunteers, clear signage and transport links connecting the airport to major hotels and venues across the emirate.
Within the city, visitors can expect a festival atmosphere anchored by sport but enriched by cultural performances, community events and opportunities to experience local traditions. Heritage disciplines like camel racing and falconry will be presented alongside modern sports in a way that allows international guests to engage with Emirati culture in an authentic and accessible environment. Official fan zones, training hubs and social spaces will give athletes and spectators the chance to meet, exchange stories and form connections that extend beyond the Games.
For Etihad, the Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026 represent a showcase moment. As the Official Airline Partner, the carrier will not only transport thousands of competitors and fans to its home base, it will also help frame their first impressions of the country. Through this partnership, the airline and the organising committee are aligning on a shared narrative: Abu Dhabi as a place where sport, community, hospitality and ambition come together, and where the journey is as important as the destination.