During the 2025 Gran Turismo World Series Finals in Japan last week, Polyphony Digital announced that for the first time in its history, the World Series is heading to Abu Dhabi.
GTPlanet had the opportunity to sit down with series creator Kazunori Yamauchi and His Excellency Saeed Al-Fazari, executive director of strategic affairs at the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi, to discuss why the timing is finally right for the series’ debut in the Middle East.
While the location was briefly leaked all the way back in 2024, the official announcement for the March 28, 2026 event is more than just an interesting venue — it’s a significant cultural expansion for the franchise.
A Different Kind of Car Culture
One of the most striking takeaways from the interview was Yamauchi-san’s observation of the local demographic. While sim racing and car culture are often viewed as male-dominated in the West and Japan, Yamauchi noted a distinct difference in the UAE.
“When you go to Japan, Europe, or the Americas, cars seem to be mainly a boys’ hobby,” Yamauchi explained. “But when you go to the UAE, that’s not the case. Men and women are both very much interested in cars, which was a great surprise.”
This observation is backed by the region’s history with the franchise; GTPlanet readers may recall that the Middle East produced the first-ever female GT Academy regional finalist, Faieza Al Kendi (known on our forums as “Hollow”), during the 2013 competition.
For Yamauchi-san, this inclusive enthusiasm is a primary motivator. “The biggest stimulation I get [from these events] is meeting new people… it’s always great to work with people of different cultures towards the same target.”
Yas Marina Circuit
For many, the Yas Marina Circuit is synonymous with Formula 1. But for Yamauchi-san, seeing the track through the lens of Gran Turismo 7’s physics engine changed his perspective entirely.
During our round-table interview, Yamauchi-san was eager to discuss the technical demands of the circuit which was officially added to the game as part of the Spec III update earlier this month.
“When it was completed in Gran Turismo, I drove it in a GT3 car,” Yamauchi explained. “Up until that point, I had only really seen the Yas Marina circuit with F1 cars driving on it. But having driven a GT3 car on the track, I realized that it’s very technical.”
Yamauchi noted that his time with the in-game Data Logger revealed just how much the track’s character changes depending on the car. “It requires you to drop a couple of gears lower [in the turns] than I had initially imagined. Some cars are going all the way down to 1st gear, some are just going to 3rd. It’s a big change in driving style, and it’s very different between car classes, which is very interesting.”
Gateway to the MENA Region
For His Excellency Saeed Al-Fazari, bringing the World Series to his home is a cornerstone of the “Abu Dhabi Gaming” initiative, designed to transform the city into a global center for digital competition. He described the partnership with Polyphony Digital as “essential” to setting a “new standard in event excellence.”
“Abu Dhabi is located within an eight-hour [flight] of 80% of the world’s population,” His Excellency noted during our interview. “For every dreamer, Abu Dhabi finds the right home for this ambition. We are a place where you could live, work, create, and play.”
By acting as a geographic bridge between the established Gran Turismo strongholds of Europe and Asia, Abu Dhabi aims to set a “new standard in event excellence.” Al-Fazari emphasized that the infrastructure is “future-ready,” meaning the city can host anything from 500 to 60,000 fans without needing to build new stadiums.
The Space42 Arena in Abu Dhabi will play host to Round 1 of the new season. Located in the trendy Al Raha Beach area, the 2,500-square-meter multi-purpose arena is indeed perfectly suited to host the Gran Turismo World Series.
If you’re planning to make the trip, ticket sales are already open.
- Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
- Doors Open: 14:45 local time (1045 UTC)
- Standard Tickets: 130 AED (~$35) Adult/80 AED (~$22) U18
- Premium Tickets (Best Seating Area): 150 AED (~$41) Adult/100 AED (~$27) U18
Over a Decade in the Making
While this marks the first official World Series live event in the region, Gran Turismo has a long history with the UAE. The Dubai 24 Hours was frequently the first international assignment for GT Academy champions, and the Yas Marina Circuit hosted the GT Academy European Race Camp in 2015.
Returning in 2026 now feels like a full-circle moment. Instead of a small group of players hoping for a real-world racing seat, Gran Turismo’s top players are now heading to Abu Dhabi to prove they are the best in the virtual world itself.
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