In the latest episode of Showtime, CNN goes behind the scenes at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, as they prepare for the Arenacross World Championship and a Jennifer Lopez concert.

The Etihad Arena is the UAE’s largest indoor venue. CNN speaks to the General Manager, the Head of Security, the Director of Operations, and the Food and Beverage Manager to see firsthand how events make it to the stage.

Manjula Withanage, Director of Operations, says, "Without us, without the people behind the scenes, there won’t be any shows. I mean, none of the artists can go on to a stage and set up everything and perform by themselves."

The Etihad Arena team works with dozens of service providers, each hired for a specific job. Withanage explains, "As the Etihad Arena, we are responsible for how they execute that setup. We look at the rigging capacities, in terms of the motors being used, in terms of any aerial lags or the pyro being used within the venue. What equipment’s coming in, what are the risk to the audience plus the artist."

2025 is the arena’s busiest year yet with the world’s biggest acts adding Abu Dhabi to their line-ups. This includes the Arenacross World Championship. Arenacross owner and promoter Matt Bates tells CNN about the logistics of putting on such a big event, "How you make a team of people work together for one night, who almost have never worked together before. That’s the art of it. So, you’ve got professional riders, to production crews that are used to doing big concerts and events, through to my team that are very motocross. So, to put together the smoothest show possible, that’s sometimes tough to do."

Arenacross has been running for over a decade in the UK, but this is the very first time Bates is bringing the show anywhere abroad. He says, "When those fans show up in the arena, what I strive for is for them to walk in and be stunned with what they see. You immediately have them at that point and they’re yours to entertain or disappoint."

Later, CNN sees how the arena prepares for a concert, with superstar Jennifer Lopez taking to the stage. Ahmed Rashwan, Director of Security talks about the risk management, "Jennifer Lopez, everyone loves her. People dream about it, to see her once in their life. But I think it will be an issue, because you know the people is crazy to be near to the stage, trying to sneak in between the seats, to jump on the floor. All these challenges are different than Arenacross."

Finally, Withanage sums up the experience of working behind the scenes, "In this world, there’s so much things go around the world that does not bring happiness to a lot of people. This is the hour or two that they can come, forget all their problems in the world, in their lives and just be in that moment and enjoy that show. And to be part of a team that helps to create those memories is a special thing for us."