Abu Dhabi is to make its debut on the 2009 Formula 1 calendar, with the Gulf venue scheduled to host the season's final Grand Prix, the World Motor Sport Council announced on Wednesday.

A total of 19 races are provisionally scheduled to take place next year, with Abu Dhabi due to host its event on 15 November.

The capital of the United Arab Emirates is the first new city in 22 years to be chosen to round off the F1 season, taking over from Brazil which now becomes the penultimate event.

Other significant changes in the calendar see the British Grand Prix switched to June, and now takes place before the French Grand Prix.

Turkey reverts to August after it was staged in May this year, which is thought to have had a bearing on its poor attendance.

It had widely been expected that the Formula 1 circus would return to the United States, but no dates have been set there.

The calendar dates are expected to be ratified later in the year.

The provisional dates are:
March 29: Australia
April 5: Malaysia
April 19: Bahrain
May 10: Spain
May 24: Monaco
June 7: Canada
June 21: 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

AFP