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Ferrari World and the Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, seen from the air
The glass gridshell of the W Abu Dhabi hotel over the Yas Marina Circuit

Home›Destinations›United Arab Emirates›Yas Island

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Yas Island Hotels, Theme Parks and Formula 1

Yas Island is Abu Dhabi's playground, where hotels sit beside world-famous theme parks and the Formula 1 circuit. For a family luxury vacation or a Grand Prix weekend, it is one of the easiest bases in the Gulf.

Updated

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At a glance

Yas Island at a glance

Best months
October to April; F1 season finale usually late November or early December
Getting there
About 10 minutes from Zayed International Airport
From New York
About 12h 45m nonstop to Abu Dhabi on Etihad
Visa for US passports
Free visa on arrival, usually 30 days; passport valid six months
Time difference
8 hours ahead of US Eastern in summer, 9 in winter (no daylight saving)
Weekend
Saturday and Sunday
Currency
UAE dirham (AED), pegged at about AED 3.67 to US$1

From the United States

Yas Island for travelers from the US

The essentials for American travelers, at a glance.

Entry for US passports
Visa on arrival; 30 days, extendable; no fee. Visa details
Getting there
Nonstop to Dubai from New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Orlando, Miami and more on Emirates (about 12 hr 30 min from New York); Abu Dhabi from New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Charlotte and Atlanta on Etihad (about 12 hr 45 min from New York). All nonstops
Time difference
8 hours ahead of New York (9 in the US winter)
Money
UAE dirham, pegged to the dollar: US$1 = about AED 3.67. Cards and Apple Pay almost everywhere.
Power plugs
Type G (the British three-pin), 230 V: bring an adapter (most phone and laptop chargers are dual voltage)
Weekend
Saturday and Sunday (Friday afternoon is quiet)

Checked October 18, 2026. Rules and schedules change, so confirm on the official portal before you book. Connecting on a Gulf or Turkish carrier? See stopover programs, and plan with your first trip.

Why go

Why go to Yas Island

Yas sits between Abu Dhabi city and Dubai, ten minutes from the airport. In a compact area it gathers Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, CLYMB, the Etihad Arena, the Yas Marina Circuit, a links golf course and Yas Mall. Hotels are linked by free shuttles, so families can move easily between parks and pools.

It is also where the future is being built: Disney and Sphere projects have been announced for the island. See Disneyland Abu Dhabi and Sphere Abu Dhabi, and for the city itself our Abu Dhabi guide.

Formula One cars racing under the floodlights of the Yas Marina Circuit at night, Abu Dhabi.
Photo: JiteshJagadish · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

When to go and how to arrive

October to April is ideal for outdoor time. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, traditionally the Formula 1 season finale, fills the island in late November or early December, with concerts at Etihad Park after racing; see Formula 1 and motorsport. Summer is hot, but most attractions are indoors.

Etihad flies nonstop to Abu Dhabi from six US cities. Yas is about an hour from Dubai by car. Superyachts can berth at Yas Marina, a front-row spot on race weekend; see marinas.

The Yas Island waterfront under a bright sky, with a yacht off Yas Marina, the W Abu Dhabi and Ferrari World's red roof on the skyline
Photo: Kevin Villaruz · Pexels

Best Yas Island hotels

The best Yas Island hotels

W Abu Dhabi, Yas Island

★★★★★ Yas Marina

Built over the circuit under a glowing gridshell, with track-view rooms and a rooftop pool. The race-weekend address.

Official site ↗

Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island

★★★★★ Yas Beach

A beach resort beside Yas Links, with a quieter, relaxed feel.

Official site ↗

Yas Island Rotana

★★★★ Yas Plaza

A comfortable, well-run hotel near the marina and parks.

Official site ↗

Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island

★★★★ Yas Plaza

Practical modern rooms close to the golf course and the circuit.

Official site ↗

Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi Yas Island

★★★★ Yas Plaza

A friendly option within the hotel cluster, popular with families.

A vintage Ferrari 250 California Spyder on the Bell'Italia ride at Ferrari World, set against a miniature Italian coastline
Photo: Jeremy Thompson from Los Angeles, · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Theme parks and things

Theme parks and things to do on Yas

Our theme parks guide compares the parks across the region.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

Yas Island

Under a vast red roof, home to Formula Rossa, one of the fastest roller coasters in the world.

Official site ↗

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

Yas Island

An indoor park with themed lands for DC heroes and Looney Tunes characters.

Official site ↗

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi

Yas Island

A marine-life park with realms from the Arctic to the tropics and a research and rescue center.

Official site ↗

Yas Waterworld

Yas Island

A water park with dozens of slides and rides themed on Emirati pearling legends.

Official site ↗

Yas Marina Circuit

Yas Island

Drive or ride a race car on the Grand Prix circuit on non-race days.

Official site ↗

Yas Links

Yas Island

A seaside links course with mangrove views, ranked among the best in the region. See golf.

Where to dine on Yas

Yas Bay Waterfront

Yas Bay

A buzzing promenade of restaurants, lounges and rooftop bars beside Etihad Arena, best at sunset.

W Abu Dhabi restaurants

Yas Marina

Asian, Mediterranean and grill dining with circuit and marina views.

Yas Marina

Yas Marina

Casual waterfront dining among superyachts, especially lively on race weekend.

Planning a family trip to Yas

Most families find three to four days on Yas ideal: one day each for Ferrari World and Warner Bros. World, a day at Yas Waterworld or SeaWorld, and time for the beach or pool. Parks are busiest on weekends and public holidays, so aim for weekdays where you can. Hotels sell packages that bundle park passes and shuttle access. For more ideas, see our family travel guide.

Grand Prix weekend is a different experience altogether: grandstands, paddock hospitality and after-race concerts. Book hotels and hospitality packages many months ahead; the W Abu Dhabi and yachts in Yas Marina offer the closest views. Visitors can combine Yas with the beaches and museums of Saadiyat Island, 20 minutes away.

Nearby

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is about 20 minutes away and the city center 30. Dubai's Al Maktoum airport district and the Expo City area lie about 45 minutes up the coast. The Etihad Arena on Yas Bay hosts major concerts and sports events year-round; see music venues and concerts.

Nonstop flights

Nonstop flights from the US to Abu Dhabi

FromAirlineApproximate flight time
New York JFKEtihad AirwaysAbout 12h 45m
BostonEtihad AirwaysAbout 12h 30m
Washington DullesEtihad AirwaysAbout 13h
Chicago O'HareEtihad AirwaysAbout 13h 30m
CharlotteEtihad AirwaysAbout 13h 30m
AtlantaEtihad AirwaysAbout 13h 45m
A red sports car on the Yas Marina Circuit, with yacht berths and the race-control tower of Yas Marina beyond
Photo: Xiaotong Gao · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Property near the attractions

Living on Yas Island: property near the attractions

Yas is a freehold investment zone with waterfront villas, golf homes and apartments from Aldar and others, and demand tends to grow alongside new attractions. A qualifying purchase can support a UAE golden visa, subject to current rules. See our Abu Dhabi Luxury Real Estate guide and investing in property near landmarks.

Questions

Questions about Yas Island

Is there a multi-park ticket?

Yes. Yas Island offers combination passes for the theme parks; check the official Yas Island site for current options.

How far is Yas Island from Dubai?

About an hour by car from Dubai Marina, a little more from Downtown.

When is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

Usually late November or early December as the Formula 1 season finale. Confirm dates on the Yas Marina Circuit site.

Travel TodayBefore you travel, check the US State Department's current advice for the United Arab Emirates. See the advice ↗

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Weather

Yas Island weather by month

Average day highs, night lows, sea temperature and rainy days for each month, in Fahrenheit and Celsius side by side. The months in gold are the most comfortable for visiting.

Yas Island weather by month, in Fahrenheit and Celsius
MonthDay highNight lowSeaRainy days
°F°C°F°C°F°C
Jan75°24°60°16°72°22°3
Feb78°26°63°17°70°21°1
Mar85°30°67°19°74°23°1
Apr92°34°72°22°78°26°1
May100°38°79°26°85°29°0
Jun105°41°85°29°91°33°0
Jul107°42°89°31°94°35°1
Aug108°42°88°31°95°35°0
Sep104°40°83°28°94°34°0
Oct97°36°78°25°90°32°0
Nov88°31°71°22°84°29°1
Dec80°27°64°18°76°25°1

Averages for 2020–2024, Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5). Sea temperatures: 2023–2024. Rainy days: days with at least 1 mm (0.04 in) of rain. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.

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This page is general information to help you start your research. It is not financial, legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules, prices and thresholds change; confirm every detail with a licensed adviser and the official authority before you act.

Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.