Abu Dhabi has some of the best man-made attractions in the world. Theme parks, museums, and even entire islands can be found here, built for the sole purpose of delivering world-class leisure and entertainment to a global audience that is constantly looking for something new and different.
One of Abu Dhabi’s most significant feats (and one of the top places to visit in Abu Dhabi) is Yas Island Abu Dhabi. This recreational hub is where people from all over the world come out to play.
Yas Island Abu Dhabi: Something for Everybody
What is it about Yas Island Abu Dhabi that makes it so special? It is an island created around one core concept: leisure and recreation. As such, it has everything someone on vacation could want in a place.
- Theme Parks
If you’re a rollercoaster enthusiast, particularly someone who must ride every rollercoaster there is in the world, you cannot miss Yas Island. It is home to Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, which is home to Formula Rossa, officially the fastest rollercoaster in the world.
Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is a theme park of exhilarating rollercoasters. Aside from Formula Rossa, you should try:
- Flying Aces (biplane-themed rollercoaster)
- Mission Ferrari (a virtual rollercoaster)
- Turbo Track (a vertical roller coaster)
- Fiorano GT Challenge (a parallel-track rollercoaster)
Ferrari World is not the only theme park on Yas Island. There’s also:
- SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi: A marine life theme park, the largest in the world, with an enormous aquarium that is home to more than 68,000 species of marine animals and also one of the most thrilling rollercoasters in the world, the Manta Coaster.
- Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi: A mega water park designed to look like an Emirati fortress, with a mountain-like structure in the center, reminiscent of the rugged Hajar mountains, which serves as a platform for launching spectacular, 10-story body slides.
- Warner Bros. World™ Yas Island, Abu Dhabi: An all-indoor theme park with a projection sky and themed lands with rides, shops, restaurants, and characters inspired by Warner Bros. film, television, and comic characters.
- Adventure
Yas Island also has adventure hubs for motorsports, watersports, karting, indoor skydiving, and indoor climbing.
For indoor skydiving and climbing, visit CLYMB™ Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. It has the world’s largest indoor flight chamber, and children as young as three can fly. Climbing enthusiasts will love it for its five walls of varying heights, including The SUMMYT™, which stands 42 meters (138 feet) tall and is the region’s tallest indoor climbing wall.
If you like motorsports, you can head to Yas Marina Circuit. It’s home to the race weekend every December (i.e., the Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix). The rest of the year, you can rent a supercar or a racecar and put it through its paces on the track, or you can call shotgun in one, with a professional racecar driver at the helm.
Other experiences include karting, drifting, and drag racing. The Circuit even has a full-motion racing simulator you can use to experience what it’s like to race on the Yas Marina Circuit without ever stepping onto the track.
If you love watersports, head to Yas Marina or Yas Bay. From there, you can rent motorboats, sailboats, jet skis, kayaks, and other water vessels. You can also go on a yacht cruise.
- Beaches and Relaxation
You can relax on the white sands of Yas Beach. Lounge around the beach or the pool the whole day. There’s a restaurant on site that serves snacks.
Yas Bay East Beach, located next to Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island on Yas Bay Waterfront, is a 290-meter swimming and lounging beach. Experiences available include:
- Snorkeling
- Volleyball
- Badminton
- Table tennis
- Community wellness and workout sessions
If you like golf, get in a round at Yas Links Abu Dhabi. A true links course, the sandy course offers golfers breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf.
- Shopping and Dining
Of course, shopping and dining are exceptional on Yas Island.
Yas Mall is the largest shopping mall in Abu Dhabi. Flanked by Ferrari World and CLYMB, it is centrally located and highly accessible. It features more than 300 stores and over 50 restaurants and cafés.
Yas Bay Waterfront is the undisputed dining destination on the island. It has more than 20 restaurants, some of which are from world-celebrated brands like Buddha-Bar and Café Del Mar.
Yas Marina offers lovely waterfront dining near Yas Marina Circuit. Have a leisurely meal on a terrace while watching superyachts go past.
Finally, find a place to dine around The Fountains, located between Yas Mall, CLYMB, and Ferrari World. As the sun sets, you can watch the water and light show as you enjoy your dinner.
- Nightlife and Live Events
During Ramadan, the Yas Bay Waterfront becomes the site of a pop-up market (i.e., Waterfront Nights). Explore for eats, treats, and trinkets.
You should also definitely schedule a night at Etihad Arena, the largest multi-purpose indoor entertainment venue in the Middle East. Come to Etihad Arena for concerts, musicals, and sporting events.
Yas Island Abu Dhabi: It’s a Yas for Everyone
Yas Island is a true tourism hub that covers everything from thrills and adventure to shopping, dining, leisure, and recreation. It’s a perfect destination, especially since it is home to some of the best hotels in Abu Dhabi. Staying on the island keeps you conveniently close to everything it has to offer.
