Abu Dhabi's debut on the Formula One calendar will see the venue host the season-ending grand prix for 2009.
A total of 19 races are due to provisionally take place next year after a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris today.
Abu Dhabi is due to host their race on November 15, which would be the latest conclusion to a F1 season for 22 years, taking over from Brazil which now becomes the penultimate event.
It had been expected the circus would return to the United States, with talk of Indianapolis Motor Speedway boss Tony George possibly attracting enough sponsorship for the grand prix to be included.
But that has apparently not been the case, and with no date open should the matter be resolved prior to the calendar being ratified later this year.
Other significant changes see the British Grand Prix switched to June, and taking place prior to France, with the two races again back to back.
Turkey also reverts to August after it was staged in May this year, which clearly had an effect as it was poorly attended.
Provisional 2009 calendar:
- March 29 Australia
- April 5 Malaysia
- April 19 Bahrain
- May 10 Spain
- May 24 Monaco
- June 7 Canada
- June 21 Great Britain
- June 28 France
- July 12 Germany
- July 26 Hungary
- August 9 Turkey
- August 23 Europe (Valencia)
- September 6 Italy
- September 13 Belgium
- September 27 Singapore
- October 11 Japan
- October 18 China
- November 1 Brazil
- November 15 Abu Dhabi
- September 27 Singapore
- October 11 Japan
- October 18 China
- November 1 Brazil
- November 15 Abu Dhabi
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