Abu Dhabi is a paradise for racing lovers. Besides the incredible Ferrari World amusement park with the world's fastest coasters and a racing school for car enthusiasts, there's the professional Yas Marina Circuit — an equivalent of the world-famous tracks in Monaco. It has hosted the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix every year since 2009, usually as the season finale.
Tickets and prices
About the track
The track is 5,554 metres long. It was originally meant to be 5,555 metres, since the number 5 is considered lucky in Arabic culture, but one metre went missing along the way. The track has 21 turns (9 right and 12 left), and part of it runs through the hotel. The longest straight is 1,173 metres.
The circuit hosts professional car and cycle races, plus plenty of amateur events you can join as a spectator or a rider.
What to do
Yas Marina Circuit offers a huge range of activities: speed karting, racing driving lessons at the Yas Racing School, and fitness classes for racers at the StartYAS, TrainYas and GoYas sports centres. Try the Formula Yas 3000 Driving Experience, where you drive a 3000cc V6 race car around the track, or the Radical SST Passenger Ride, where an expert racing driver takes you through the hairpins and straights aboard this "extreme" vehicle. The most memorable experience of all is an Aston Martin GT4 test drive at over 200 km/h on a professional Formula 1 circuit.
How to get there
The circuit is on Yas Island. Yas Marina is a whole island of entertainment: also here are Ferrari World Amusement Park, Yas Waterworld, Yas Mall, a spacious Yas Beach, and luxury hotels with first-class service.
Tips before you go
Book specific activities (karting, driving experiences, passenger rides) in advance on the official site or with partners — schedules and prices depend on track availability and the racing calendar.
Yas Island, Abu Dhabi · 24.471202, 54.604694
