Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island has been the capital’s home of leisure and entertainment for over a decade and is one of the most exciting destinations you need on your UAE itinerary.
Bringing together an exciting mix of family theme park entertainment, adrenaline sports and a vibrant dining and nightlife scene, we’re going to share with you everything there is to know about Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island.
Situated immediately adjacent to Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and less than an hour from Dubai, it’s no wonder it’s a favourite stopping point for international stopover passengers, theme park fans, and adrenaline junkies – even if you’ve only got 1-day to explore Abu Dhabi.
Let’s take a look at exactly what you can experience on Yas Island
The Yas Island Theme Parks
The major focal attractions for visitors to Yas Island are the lineup of four award-winning theme parks.
- Yas Waterworld
- Ferrari World
- Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
- SeaWorld Yas Island
- Disney Abu Dhabi Coming Soon!
Here’s a high-level overview of what you can expect to find at each:
Yas Waterworld
Voted as the Middle East’s leading water park for the past four years(1), this Emirati-themed water park includes a sensational 40+ rides and attractions. We love that it caters to all age groups, from tots with covered play areas and slides to some serious adrenaline-pumping rides.
There are water park favourites to be found, from the wave pool to the lazy river with several slides and rides unique to Yas Waterworld. Thrill-seekers will love the Slithers Slides, the Sebag racing lanes, Jebel Drop, and a straight drop down in the Liwa Loop.
There are family and group rides, too, like the Falcons Falaj and Dawamma, the world’s largest tornado water coaster! Don’t miss the 5D Cinesplash show to top off your water-based experience – ideal whatever the season, even in the peak of Abu Dhabi summer, it’s bearable in the water!
NB do expect Yas Waterworld to close temporarily for 2-4 weeks for annual maintenance in January/February.
- Yas Waterworld has announced expansion plans in 2025; 18 more rides and attractions will be added to the award-winning Abu Dhabi water park—you’ll see the construction is moving along at lightning speed and should be open before year end!
Ferrari World
Home to some of the most thrilling rides in the world – including the World’s Fastest Roller Coaster, Formula Rossa and the highest rollercoaster loop on Flying Aces – this is where the adrenaline junkies are headed.
It’s a great place to enjoy endless hours of rollercoaster fun and simulator experiences, as well as live shows and plenty of themed dining options.
Since opening in 2010, the lineup has included additional adrenaline activities, including a rooftop walk and a zipline experience (additional costs apply).
The park was extended in 2020 to include a Family Zone, making Ferrari World accessible to a much wider age group. Several replica rides are made just for children under 1.2 metres tall, so they are no longer left out on thrills (but we’d still argue this park is better suited to your tweens/teens+).
Everything is, of course, Ferrari-themed in this entirely indoor action theme park, attached to the Yas Mall complex in the centre of the island.
You can read a full review of what to expect at the Ferrari World Family Zone here, plus to help allay fears about height limits, we have created this detailed guide to ride restrictions at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
Boasting 29 rides, attractions, and entertaining shows, this entirely indoor theme park is the largest in the Middle East region, but no longer the largest in the World! It is an absolute family crowd-pleaser.
You will find cartoon favourites from your childhood, from the Jetsons to the Flintstones and Scooby-Doo to DC comic book heroes wandering the streets of Metropolis and Gotham City.
Throughout the day, you can grab autographs and photo ops with your favourite characters, see live performances, and enjoy endless rides as the park remains largely crowd—and queue-free.
Warner Bros will best suit kids 4 years or older or over 1.1 metres tall, though there are a handful of attractions little ones can enjoy.
SeaWorld Yas Island
The region’s first marine life theme park (oddly not built next to the Gulf or any waterway surrounding the city) opened its doors to the public in Spring 2023.
Explore eight exciting realms from the Arctic to the tropics in this immersive theme park experience telling the story of “One Ocean” that connects us all. You’ll find over 100 animal experiences, presentations, up-close animal encounters, and expeditions.
The centrepiece is the world’s largest aquarium tank, which towers over five floors and holds an incredible 58 million litres of water.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is home to over 15 interactive experiences and rides, more than 20 live characters and performances, 17 dining options, 13 retail outlets, and roaming entertainment across all realms.
Open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, this fabulous new theme park has something for all ages to enjoy, from the tiniest tots to thrill-seekers (though note that the emphasis is not on the rides). If you’re travelling to Abu Dhabi with toddlers, this should be your first choice.
Disney Abu Dhabi
Hot off the press is the news that Disney has partnered with local developer Miral to bring its seventh International Disney resort to Yas Island.
The when and what is still at the ‘imagineering’ stage, but you can expect it to be at least 2030 when doors open. Which themed lands and what the resort will look like is still a distant dream in 2025, but it is well worth getting on your UAE bucket list in the future!
- We are updating this guide to Abu Dhabi Disney as we receive local press releases.
Looking for more Theme Parks in the UAE?
The theme park fun in the UAE doesn’t stop at Yas Island. You are only about 45 minutes away from Yas Island, at the border with the Dubai Emirate, where you will find the extensive Dubai Parks & Resorts theme park complex. Home to a further four exciting adventure parks for families and thrill-seekers:
- LEGOLAND Dubai
- LEGOLAND Dubai Water Park
- Motiongate Dubai
- Real Madrid World
You could easily tackle the Dubai theme parks on a day trip from Yas Island. Check out pricing for a 2-park pass here. (NB Bollywood closed in spring 2024; it has recently been replaced by Real Madrid World in a rather strange rehash of the existing rides and attractions).
Further afield in Dubai, a bit over an hour’s drive away, you may also be interested in
These are all reviewed in much more detail on our partner Dubai Travel Planner website, where you’ll find a detailed comparison guide to the best water parks in Dubai.
Motor Sports on Yas Island
The first integral part of Yas Island that opened was the Yas Marina Circuit (YMC).
Abu Dhabi’s YMC has been hosting the season-closing Grand Prix since 2009. It’s always a spectacular event for the city with a huge party atmosphere; it’s the biggest annual event hosted on Yas Island and in the Abu Dhabi Emirate.
Attracting tens of thousands of international visitors each year in December, it’s truly an event no motorsports fan will want to miss.
- You can learn more about 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket packages here (Official Site).
- Learn more about all the exciting Grand Prix Brunches, after-parties and events around town (we’ll update this later in 2025 as events are announced but last year’s guide is a great reference starting point to make your GP plans!).
Other Experiences at Yas Marina Circuit
Outside of Grand Prix season, plenty still takes place at the track year-round and ways you can get involved, even test your motoring skills. For just a taster, we suggest:
- Our favourite way to simply experience the Grand Prix track is to take part in TrainYas. Entry to the track is free every Monday and Wednesday evening from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. You can cycle, jog or walk, with some free bikes being provided, first-come-first-served. Bring your own or pay a little more for a better-quality hire bike.
- Test your own driving skills; you can do a lap of the track with Formula 3000 Driving Experiences (over 18s and need to be between 160cm and 188cm).
- If you’re after something for the slightly younger ones or not quite ready for the full track experience, try the Yas Marina KartZone at Yas Central? Not quite GP level but definitely enough to get your heart pumping.
- Even more sedate? Then try a behind-the-scenes tour of Yas Marina Circuit will certainly pique your interest if you’re travelling out of season.
What Other Attractions Are on Yas Island?
Now, let’s look beyond the race track and theme park to see why it’s worth staying on Yas Island for far more leisure and entertainment.
Yas Bay
The new kid on the block opened in December 2021 and has brought a whole new array of dining and nightlife options to Abu Dhabi. Yas Bay waterfront offers over a dozen dining venues, including Café Del Mar Beach Club and the state-of-the-art multi-purpose venue Etihad Arena – see the lineup of events here.
They’ve also begun construction on two new beachfront parks designed for families and adults. This will undoubtedly be a great addition to this top city attraction (this does mean at present there’s some fairly unsightly hoarding erected along the waterfront, significantly impacting the area’s aesthetic).
Yas Bay is still absolutely worth a stop on your itinerary, especially if your trip aligns with a show at the arena. Families should check out Central for some of the city’s best family dining, and plentiful other venues offering casual to fine dining. EL&N London is popular with the Instagram crowd, while Paradiso is known for its casual weekend brunches.
Yas Marina
Nestled amongst the race track, you will find the exclusive Yas Marina. Not only berths for luxury yachts, but plenty of dining and nightlife options can also be found here.
A popular launch spot for cruises and private charter yachts, it’s a real hub of activity on evenings and weekends with al fresco dining options as far into the summer as they can manage!
The main event of the winter is, of course, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will take place from 4-7 December this winter.
Check out our guide to brunches and events on Yas Island where you can catch all the racing action and the incredible after parties the city has become famous for as the finale event of the GP season.
Yas Links
This 18-hole links golf course can be found between the hotel plaza and the theme parks. With a spectacular waterfront setting, Yas Links is the new home to the European Tour HSBC Golf Championships, which are now held in November.
Villa Sélène restaurant (replacing Hickory’s) brings a touch of the Mediterranean to Abu Dhabi, and with access to the rolling lawn area, it makes for a great family day out. This is accompanied by the relatively new Crafty Fox Tapas & Sports Bar (adults only), and a 9-hole par three-course if you’re short on time.
Yas Acres Golf & Country Club
The latest entertainment addition to Yas Island, the Yas Acres Golf and Country Club offers visitors sporting opportunities and fabulous new leisure facilities, including padel courts and a lap pool, alongside several new restaurants joining the Abu Dhabi dining scene.
Yas Beach
Often rated as one of the best beaches in Abu Dhabi for its extensive facilities, the inland beachfront provides the perfect spot to relax in the sun.
Free to guests staying at any Yas hotel, it can easily be accessed by shuttle bus from key locations around the island. Day guests can also pay for using the facilities of Yas Beach, or even book private cabanas.
CLYMB Abu Dhabi
Proudly holding the title of the largest indoor sky diving chamber in the world and home to the world’s tallest indoor climbing wall, SUMMYT, CYLMB Abu Dhabi is a real treat for adrenaline junkies and visitors who like to stay active even over the summer months.
Parks and Recreation on Yas Island
In addition to the open night at the track, several spots around the park have been designed for recreation.
- Yas Gateway Parks (North & South) are set aside for Grand Prix parking just once a year. For the remaining 51 weeks, they’re open park venues with play park facilities, BBQs and sports tracks.
- You’ll find The Waves and The Sands recreation areas close to Yas Bay, including a skatepark, sports courts, grassed areas and a waterfront promenade.
- West Yas Community Park is another beautiful community playground, including a skate park.
Shopping, Dining & Entertainment at Yas Mall
Last but not least, Yas Mall is located at the very centre of the island. Abu Dhabi and the UAE certainly know how to do shopping malls and indoor entertainment, and Yas Mall is no exception.
With 370 stores, from hypermarkets to high-end luxury boutiques, shopping abounds. There’s also plenty of indoor entertainment here, particularly for families, with a vast VOX cinema, Fun Works, Kidzania Abu Dhabi, AirManiax, and a Pop in & Play LEGO centre.
Some newer attractions for your older kids include Man City Challenge and NIGMA Galaxy for your e-gamers in the freshly opened Sporting Boulevard. As we mentioned earlier, Ferrari World and CLYMB Abu Dhabi are also attached to this end of the mall, making it a brilliant indoor venue in Abu Dhabi.
Dining is a big deal here, too; it is home to Black Tap, Cheesecake Factory, Rainforest Cafe, Al Fanar, and P.F. Chang’s, to name but a few. In addition to your traditional fast food court, the Yas Food Hall is packed with international cuisines and unique dining concepts, a must for foodies seeking something new.
(NB, Restaurants in Yas Mall are not licensed to serve alcohol, but Yas Marina and Yas Bay are, as well as all the hotels)
How to Get to Yas Island and the Yas Theme Parks
There are a few ways to get to Yas Island, depending on where you’re setting out from:
Dubai to Yas Island
Yas Island is around a 50 to 90-minute journey from Dubai, depending on your starting point.
Free Yas Express shuttle
If you hold theme park tickets to any Yas theme parks, you can take your place on board a free daily shuttle service from Dubai.
The two daily services depart at 11:00 AM from
- Y6 Route Deira City Centre (entrance beside Aloft Hotel) – Journey time approximately 2 hours
- Y7 Route Ibn Battuta Mall (entrance beside Aloft Hotel) – Journey time approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes
The return buses leave from Ferrari World, then make a pick-up at WB World/Yas Waterworld 10 minutes later:
- Y6 Route back to Deira City Centre 8:00 PM
- Y7 Route back to Ibn Battuta Mall 7:30 PM
Public Bus from Dubai to Yas Island
If you are solely dependent on public transport, you can take a combination of Metro and buses from Dubai to Yas Island.
- First, get yourself to Ibn Battuta on the red line metro.
- The intercity bus Route 101 from Ibn Battuta Bus Station to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station (Al Wadha) leaves every 30 minutes and takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes. This costs 25 AED per person, payable on Nol.
- From Al Wadha, take the Abu Dhabi Bus Route 190 to Yas Island, which departs hourly. This costs 6 AED per person; you will need a local Abu Dhabi transport card, Hafilat, not Nol.
You can see our full guide on getting between Dubai to Abu Dhabi here.
Taxies and Transfer Services to Yas Island
If Dubai’s public and shared transport options don’t work with your schedule, consider taking a taxi or hiring a driving service—some can even include your theme park tickets!
- Depending on where you set out from, a metered taxi from Dubai to Yas Island can cost around AED 250.
- This private driver option from Dubai includes your entry tickets to your choice of theme park
- This transfer service includes a full-day tour of Abu Dhabi before visiting Ferrari World
Self Drive & Park on Yas Island
Do you have your own wheels, or are you happy to hire a car? Driving is the easiest way to get to Yas Island. Free parking is available at all the theme parks and venues we’ve listed here.
- WB World has a multi-deck car park, but it’s a bit of a hike to the entrance. If you are also visiting Yas Waterworld, we suggest following the parking signs for Yas Waterworld, and you can easily zip between the two theme parks on foot.
- For Ferrari World and CLYMB, you can park in any of the Yas Mall car parks, like for signs to the dedicated Ferrari World parking for the closest spots.
- If you visit other parts of Yas Island, you will have no problems self-parking at Yas Bay. There are plenty of free public parking spots available at The Waterfront, undercover car parks 1 and 2, and the new multi-deck Yas Bay P2 Parking. (Do be mindful if there are any large events at Etihad Arena; they may put you in overflow parking much further away to ease traffic congestion. Undercover parking will be restricted to VIP ticket holders only.)
- Likewise, for the Grand Prix, you can only self-park near the venue if you have arranged parking with your Grand Prix tickets. Most patrons park in Yas Gateway parks North and South and then take a shuttle into the venue.
Getting Around Yas Island
Getting around Yas Island is easy for guests without their own vehicles with complimentary shuttle services. Five Abu Dhabi routes run between key locations, including the hotels, Yas Bay, Yas Marina, Yas Mall, and the theme parks.
Click here to see the latest published timetable for the Yas Express service.
How to get to Yas Island by bus from Abu Dhabi
Just as above, from Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, you can catch the 190, which will loop around Saadiyat Island and drop you to the front of Ferrari World.
If you are coming from the Airport, local bus service A19 leaves once an hour and stops at Ferrari World/Yas Mall and Yas Waterworld.
Alternatively, a taxi is an easy way to get a group there. You are looking at AED 45 coming straight from the AUH airport (as there is an AED 25 airport taxi flag fall) or approximately AED 60-80 coming from the Corniche. We recommend you book your AD taxi using the Yango App.
Al Raha Beach to Yas Island – Yas Bay Water Taxi
A water taxi service has been launched for visitors to Yas Island from the nearby Al Raha Beach neighbourhoods.
In the spring of 2022, Yellow Boats ran the initial pilot stage, which was later replaced in late 2022 by a water taxi operated by Abu Dhabi Maritime.
This new water taxi service now has stops at Al Bandar, Al Muneera, and Al Zeina (every hour), with a separate service connecting Yas Marina and Waters Edge (every 2 hours). Services run from 4:00 PM on weekdays and 3:30 PM on weekends.
You can now check timetables and advance book online, or use the AMDT Al Nalia App (AED 10 for a one-way trip, Kids AED 5, or AED 20 for a return trip.
Where to Stay on Yas Island
Yas Island offers visitors a great range of hotels to suit budgets across several key locations. These are all connected by the Yas Express shuttle bus service, free to guests on the island.
There is a main hotel plaza within walking distance of the Grand Prix track, then three standalone hotels at key locations; these are:
- The WB Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton – this hotel is ideal for theme park fans visiting Yas Island. It is situated immediately between Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld. Offering a pool and themed Sidekicks restaurant as well as suite rooms for larger families, you’re in for a real treat. (If you’re staying on a weekend, check out the awesome family-friendly Sidekicks Brunch)
- Hilton Abu Dhabi, Yas Island – with a commanding view over Yas Bay, this 5-star offering will put you right in the centre of the action for Yas with a great pool and plenty of dining and entertainment options right on your doorstep.
- W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island – (previously known as the Yas Viceroy and then Yas Hotel) is a unique hotel for the city, sitting straddled over the Grand Prix track. It offers sensational race track and marina views with a swanky rooftop pool, one of the city’s coolest hotel offerings.
Yas Plaza Hotels
The original Yas Plaza hotels were built alongside the Yas Marina Circuit construction, so they’re a little older than the shiny new offerings. Nonetheless, they offer excellent accommodation with several budget choices that allow access to the other hotels’ great facilities.
- Yas Island Rotana
- Centro Yas Island – by Rotana
- Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi Yas Island
- Park Inn by Radisson Abu Dhabi Yas Island
- Crowne Plaza Yas Island
- Staybridge Suites Yas Island Abu Dhabi
Find all nearby accommodation choices here:
All Yas Hotels come with complimentary access to Yas Beach Club.
When considering where to stay in Abu Dhabi, keep in mind that frequent theme park deals are often available with your hotel booking. The WB Hotel automatically includes your theme park tickets; at other Yas hotels, it would be an optional extra to consider, giving you reduced-priced tickets.
Touring Abu Dhabi Beyond Yas Island
Abu Dhabi is a very spread-out city over a series of islands. You’ll find Zayed International Airport on the “mainland”, and then bridges seamlessly connect the main Abu Dhabi Island and outlying islands.
Yas Island may not be considered “central”, but it is still a great place to base yourself for exploring more of Abu Dhabi. You can use the Visit Abu Dhabi shuttle bus from Yas to explore further attractions around the city, such as:
Or use taxis/Careem to self-explore across town. We have a much more detailed guide to all of Abu Dhabi’s top attractions and places to visit over here.
More Frequently Asked Questions About Yas Island
There are four world-class amusement parks on Yas Island
– Yas Waterworld
– Ferrari World
– Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
– SeaWorld Yas Island
Yas Island is Abu Dhabi’s home to leisure and entertainment. It is home to four theme parks, a Grand Prix race track, a marina, two golf courses, several leisure and entertainment venues, and a giant shopping mall, hotels and residential complexes.
Still under development but with so much to offer, it is a go-to destination for tourists close to Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Ferrari World is one of the flagship theme parks on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. Its iconic red roof can be found attached to Yas Mall.
This is less than 10 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport, around 30 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and an hour away from the outskirts of Dubai.
Yes and no. The land mass that makes up Yas Island was once attached to the mainland. Dredging has created a canal between the mainland and what is now the island, and the land has been reshaped. A 1.1km tunnel connects Yas Island to Al Raha Beach.
Yes, there is a beach on Yas Island, but don’t go thinking oceanfront and giant waves. Yas Beach faces into the mangroves surrounding Abu Dhabi, calming the waters here. It is a man-made beach as part of the development of Yas Island.
Yas Island is about 25 square kilometres (9.7sq miles) in size.
We hope this detailed guide to exploring Yas Island helps you plan your trip to Abu Dhabi. It is undoubtedly the number one spot we’d recommend for most tourists visiting Abu Dhabi—especially with kids—to base themselves on an active holiday in the capital.
If your sole purpose of heading to the UAE is to enjoy some time in the sun, check out our next detailed area guide, the best resorts on Saadiyat Island.
Before you go… Important things to consider when planning a trip to Abu Dhabi
- Pop into our essential planning information page; it includes everything you need to know about getting around Abu Dhabi, a handy guide on what to pack and top tips for first-timers on the dos and don’ts, laws, and customs in the UAE.
- Start planning your itinerary around the 60+ top places to visit in Abu Dhabi.
- Don’t forget to pack your travel insurance!
- Discover the best places to stay in Abu Dhabi.
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