GP Traveller Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Travel Guide

GRAND PRIX TRAVEL GUIDES FOR F1 FANS

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Travel Guide

GP TRAVELLER

Introducing Abu Dhabi & the Yas Marina Circuit Where is Yas Marina Circuit?

Yas Marina Circuit is located on Yas Island. The Circuit is only a twenty minute drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Infact, flights will often approach the airport directly over Yas Marina giving you an amazing birdseye view of the circuit.

Most hotels in the area and no more than twenty to forty minutes drive from the circuit and this makes the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix one of the most convenient for travelling F1 fans.

Do I need a visa?

Visa information can be found on the Visit Abu Dhabi website and on the Abu Dhabi Government website. Many nationalities can get a free-ofcharge entry visa upon arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Government and airline websites including Etihad and Emirates will also have useful information for travellers.

How do you get there?

Etihad Airways who are the national airline of Abu Dhabi and most national carriers fly directly to Abu Dhabi from cities across the globe.

Dubai is only a 60 to 90 minute transfer from Abu Dhabi making it a good alternative if there are no direct flights to Abu Dhabi from your local airport or if airfares to Abu Dhabi are unusually high.

Emirates, who are the national airline of Dubai, and most national carriers fly directly to Dubai from cities across the globe.

Top tip: If you plan to attend the Thursday after pit lane walk you will need to book a flight that arrives early on Thursday morning.

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Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri

Andaz Capital Gate

Fairmont Bab Al Bahr

Where should you stay over the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix™ weekend?

The majority of visitors to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix™ will choose to stay in either Abu Dhabi or on Yas Island. For many the deciding factor will be price but you’ll also have a greater choice of hotels if you stay downtown.

Downtown Abu Dhabi has the largest concentration of hotels ranging from mid range chain hotels like Rotana, Mercure and Crowne Plaza to top end properties like the opulent Emirates Palace.

About twenty minutes drive from Yas Island, in the area around the Grand Mosque, you’ll also find a good selection of hotels including the Aloft, Andaz Capital Gate, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Ritz Carlton and Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri which are often favored by F1 teams.

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If you’ve seen the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix™ on TV, you’ve seen one of the iconic F1™ landmarks.

The stunning Yas Hotel features a sparkling grid shell structure and glass bridge, which crosses directly over the circuit. Here guests have the enviable opportunity to stay at the circuit complex, where they can soak up the race atmosphere for the duration of Grand Prix™ weekend.

However, it should be noted that the Yas Hotel can be incredibly noisy at night due to the yacht parties in the Marina.

You may want to consider staying just over the road on Yas Plaza.

Here you’ll find a selection of three and four star hotels only a few minutes walk from the Yas Marina Circuit.

Very few Grand Prix™ circuits have so many hotel rooms in such close proximity. Staying on Yas Island, you can leave your hotel and be seated in the West and Marina Grandstands in under ten minutes and in the North, South and Main Grandstands in under thirty minutes. Taxis and transfers are simply not necessary.

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North Grandstand

Which Yas Marina Circuit grandstand is the grandest?

Main Grandstand The Main Grandstand at Yas Marina is positioned along the start / finish straight facing the pit building. If you’d like a vantage point that allows you to see into the team garages and into the pit lane then the Main Grandstand is the grandstand for you.

Premium seating to the right of the grandstand is positioned opposite the podium and the grid so you’ll have views of the pre race build-up and the podium celebrations too.

From the Main Grandstand you may see some overtaking as the cars take advantage of any slip streams as they pass by at over 200 miles per hour.

North Grandstand Yas Marina Circuit’s North Grandstand hugs the hairpin at turn 5. This is a slow part of the circuit so expect to see drivers jostling for position or evening losing some body work as they break and concertina up at the hairpin.

In 2021 spectators in the North Grandstand witnessed the overtake that clinched the World Championship for Max Verstapen in one of the most controversial season finale’.

The horseshoe shaped covered grandstand creates an amphitheater like atmosphere which is quite spectacular under the Yas Marina lights.

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Marina Grandstand

West Grandstand

South Grandstand

West Grandstand The West Grandstand at Yas Marina Circuit is perfectly positioned for some outbreaking moves on the approach to turns 6 & 7.

t is also possible to see the cars in the distance as they pass by the yachts in the marina between turns 10 & 11 but these views are limited.

You’ll also have views of the cars in the distance as they reappear into sight between turns 15 & 16 before completing the lap.

Marina Grandstand The Marina Grandstand is positioned between turns 8 & 9. The views from the Marina Grandstand extend down towards the turn 9 braking zone and also over to the high-speed turns 10 and 11 where the cars pass in front of the Yas Hotel.

Premium seating to the left of the Grandstand also has views down the start / finish straight making the West Grandstand one of the most popular grandstands with race fans.

South Grandstand The South Grandstand is a popular choice and deservedly so. Cars come into sight after turn 8 as they pass the Marina Grandstand on a high speed approach into turn 9.

You’re unlikely to see much wheel to wheel action but this is a good grandstand for seeing the cars at high speed.

The Marina grandstand arguably has the best backdrop of any grandstand, with the illuminated Yas Hotel and the luxury super yachts in full view.

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Evening concerts at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix The concerts in Abu Dhabi take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings with local artists often taking to the stage on Thursday as well.

If you’d like to take advantage of the free concerts you’ll need to have a valid ticket for the Yas Marina circuit on the day of the concert.

The easiest way to reach the arena is on foot. Just head towards Ferrari World which is directly behind the North Grandstand. If you look at an aerial photo of Yas Marina Circuit you’ll see just how close the two are. The arena is where the red canopy roof of Ferrari World is cut away just below the bottom tip of the Ferrari badge.​

Ticket-holders must have their tickets scanned and collect a wristband at Yas Marina Circuit on the day of the concert to gain access. Entry is "First Come – First Served" so arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Concerts take place at the arena located under the unmistakable red canopy roof of Ferrari World.

The arena is outdoor with grass underfoot and standing only similar to an outdoor festival.

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Thursday Pit Lane visit Yas Marina Circuit was one of the first circuits to introduce a complimentary pit lane visit for grandstand ticket holders. For many F1 fans this is the highlight of their trip and opportunity to get up close to an F1 car during the race weekend.

You’ll see the teams preparing the garages ready for the weekend ahead and F1 cars are often on display for photo opportunities as well.

The pit lane visit is typically open to three-day ticket-holders and takes place on Thursday afternoon.

Check the YasHUB app for the latest timings and arrive within plenty of time.

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Race Weekend Travel Taxis fares in Abu Dhabi are cheap and meter.

Taxis can be flagged down at the roadside, booked by phone, app or by your hotel front desk.

It’s a good idea to give the name of a hotel as the drop-off or pick-up location to give the driver a specific destination. The Yas Island Rotana is a good one as it has a big pick-up and drop-off area and you can walk from here to the circuit. There is also a bar outside the hotel where you can grab a drink while you wait.

Uber and Careem both have rideshare apps so you can book a car for immediate pick-up or schedule for a specific time. The Careem website has a fare estimator so you’ll know how much you’re likely to pay but prices will increase at busy times including immediately after the Grand Prix and the evening concerts.

Many five-star hotels have their own fleet of chauffeur driven vehicles for guests to use on a first come, first served basis. Vehicles can be booked in advance via the hotels concierge.

Yas Express is a complimentary shuttle bus service that can get you to any of the major Yas Island attractions.

There can be a lot of walking involved in a trip to an F1 track. The Circuit Circular shuttle buses pickup and drop-off at each grandstand around the circuit, which you are welcome to board if you would prefer not to walk as much.

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What next?

Planning your perfect Grand Prix™ travel experience takes work - the beauty of our bespoke service is that we give you access to a dedicated Formula One™ travel guru. Someone who will breathe life into your plans and bring all the elements together.

We'd love to help you with your Formula One™ travel plans so please call us on +44 (0)114 345 1977 or visit gptraveller.co.uk

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