Etihad hosts 'Kimi Day' in Abu Dhabi

The 'flying Finn' was the special guest of Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates and sponsor of the famous Ferrari F1 team for whom Raikkonen drives.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline is also the three-year title sponsor of next year's inaugural 'Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix', which will be staged in the UAE capital in November.

As well as hosting an F1 question and answer session with children at the iconic Emirates Palace hotel, Raikkonen enjoyed a helicopter flight over Abu Dhabi's new Yas Marina grand prix circuit. Later in the day, Kimi was given a more unusual aerial view of the track from the flight deck of an Etihad Airways flight simulator, piloted by Emirati Captain Fahmi Mohamed.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad's Executive Vice President Marketing and Product, said:

"The excitement generated by 'Kimi Day' has been enormous and the reigning World Champion's visit is sure to generate momentum as we move towards the inaugural Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in just over a year's time."

"The growing association we are building with Ferrari and F1 is an integral part of our international sports sponsorship strategy, to help Etihad reach a global audience and bring Abu Dhabi to the world," he added.

Ferrari is already developing a close association with Abu Dhabi, through a new $600m, 2,500 acre theme park being built in the Emirate, also on the Yas Marina circuit and due to open in 2009. The team is also sponsored by Mubadala Development Company, the investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government. The company purchased in 2005 a 5% stake in Ferrari.

It has been provisionally announced that the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place on November 15, 2009, the last race in the 19-race F1 season.

Mr Baumgartner added: "Hosting the final race of the F1 season at our home base of Abu Dhabi is a great honour and tremendously exciting for Etihad as the race's title sponsor. The race will provide a wonderful opportunity to showcase our airline and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to the rest of the world. Hopefully 2009 will be as exciting as last year, when the final race of the season proved to be the successful title decider for Kimi and the Ferrari team."

'Kimi Day' also included a visit to Abu Dhabi's Marina Mall where the Ferrari driver officially opened the latest Etihad Holidays Shop, before taking on members of the public in a special simulated F1 driving challenge laid on by Mubadala.

Etihad's involvement with the Ferrari F1 team is one of a growing number of high-profile sports sponsorships for the airline, and complements existing partnerships with Chelsea Football Club, Harlequins Rugby Football Club, the All Ireland Hurling Championships and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.