Arenacross 2025: Where Engineering Meets Adrenaline

On April 26, 2025, the world watched as the Arenacross World Tour Finals roared into Etihad Arena, Yas Island. It wasn’t just the first indoor motocross finale in the GCC;  it was a dynamic fusion of sport, showmanship, and serious engineering. While riders thrilled the crowd with aerial acrobatics and head-to-head sprints, the real foundation of the event was built—literally—by Al Marwan Machinery.

This historic event brought together elite motocross athletes, cutting-edge entertainment, and a custom-designed dirt track, all under one roof. Behind the scenes, it was Al Marwan’s heavy equipment that shaped every berm, ramp, and rhythm section that made the race possible.

Arenacross Goes Global and Abu Dhabi Makes History

As Arenacross CEO Matt Bates said in the lead-up to the event:
“I’m proud to announce that our decade of hard work is being rewarded with international expansion aim is to create the ultimate season-ending ‘must-visit’ World Tour Final event in an incredible location – Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, where this amazing destination has something for every family and motorsport fan on the planet.”

In 2025, Arenacross introduced two major titles: the British Championship and the World Tour Championship (AXWT), the latter concluding in Abu Dhabi. The Etihad Arena hosted the spectacular final, setting a new benchmark for Arenacross on an international level.

Etihad Arena: A Multi-Purpose Marvel

Set along the picturesque Yas Bay, Etihad Arena is the Middle East’s largest indoor entertainment venue, with seating for up to 18,000 guests. Known for headline events like UFC 257: Poirier vs McGregor 2 and Disney on Ice, the arena has consistently pushed the boundaries of what a venue can host.

In April 2025, it raised the bar again, transforming into a motocross battleground. The engineering challenge? Convert a sleek, polished arena floor into a rugged, high-performance off-road course… without compromising safety, performance, or spectator experience.

That’s where Al Marwan Machinery came in.

How Al Marwan Created the Arenacross Arena

Transforming Etihad Arena into a dirt-fueled race zone took precision planning, heavy equipment expertise, and 24/7 coordination.

Here’s how it was done:

1. Material Sourcing & Logistics

Thousands of cubic meters of specialty dirt were sourced, cleaned, and transported to Yas Island. The material had to meet strict standards—compact enough for traction, soft enough for landing, and consistent for safety.

2. Rough Shaping with Kobelco SK220 Excavators

The powerful Kobelco SK220 machines were the first to move in. Their long reach and accuracy allowed them to carve deep trenches, build elevation, and sculpt the foundation for berms and jumps. Operators used GPS markers and Arenacross-approved layout maps to follow exact geometries.

3. Mass Movement by CAT 950 Loaders

Once the shape began to emerge, CAT 950 wheel loaders transported and redistributed large quantities of material to balance heights, compact corners, and create seamless transitions between obstacles. Their speed and power kept the build moving efficiently on a tight schedule.

4. Fine Sculpting with Skid Steers

To perfect the ramps, lips, and jump faces, skid steer loaders came in. These agile machines could navigate tight angles and micro-adjust the surfaces with laser precision, creating smoother takeoffs, safer landings, and tighter turns.

5. Elevated Installations with Sinoboom 1012N Boom Lifts

While the track was being formed on the ground, vertical work was happening above. Using Sinoboom 1012N electric boom lifts, crews installed lighting rigs, speaker arrays, safety netting, branding, and camera mounts. The lifts ensured clean, quiet operation inside the enclosed venue.

6. Final Touches & Compliance

Once the physical track was sculpted, it underwent inspection by Arenacross technical officials. Al Marwan teams worked alongside event organizers to apply finishing touches, dust suppression, corner markers, signage, and emergency access points.
The result: a fully certified, international-caliber indoor motocross arena, completed within days and dismantled just as efficiently.

Watch the build come to life:

The Main Event: A Full-Throttle Experience

The event kicked off with a Pit Party and Pre-Show Track Walk, giving fans an up-close look at the dirt structures before the competition began. Then came the action:

• 18 tightly contested races
• Freestyle motocross stunts with aerial tricks
• Live music and a synchronized pyrotechnics show
• A crowd giveaway for a Husqvarna 85TC bike valued at  25,000AED

Fans from across the region gathered, and social media lit up with images of riders flipping mid-air and tearing through the dirt. Yalla Abu Dhabi captured it best: “The Arenacross World Tour Finals turned Yas Island into a racing battlefield.”

Engineering Meets Entertainment

Arenacross 2025 at Yas Island wasn’t just a race;  it was a regional milestone. It was about building something bold, thrilling, and technically flawless. Thanks to Al Marwan’s commitment, fleet power, and on-site execution, a global sporting spectacle rose from bare concrete into a rugged arena that thrilled thousands.

As the dust settles on the Etihad Arena floor, one thing is certain: this won’t be the last time the roar of motocross fills the air over Yas Island. And the next time it does, Al Marwan’s machines will be ready, keys in the ignition, engines humming, dirt flying.