Judging by most media reports, the recently concluded Formula One grand prix at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi was a huge success. The stadiums were packed, and the crowds were well entertained.

“When we made Yas Marine Circuit we didn’t look at the direct impact from an economic perspective,” Mohammed Omar Abdullah, Undersecretary of the Department of Economic Development (DED) told Khaleej Times last week. “It was a positioning exercise and I am confident that we succeeded. With a stadium in full capacity, hotels in full occupancy, airlines in full operation, and a city so vibrant, the UAE proved to the world that people are still willing to enjoy themselves.”

“Today, everybody from the 600 million persons who watched the formula one, all over the world, is fascinated with what he or she saw, and is definitely planning to visit that man- made wonder, which was achieved by determination and good planning. Even those who were very close to us didn’t believe that we are able to succeed in the race against the clock,” he added.