Yas Island

View of Yas Island

Yas Island (Arabic: جزيرة ياس‎‎) is a man-made island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Yas Island can be reached by car, plane or boat.^[1]

The island’s development project was initiated in 2006 by Abu Dhabi-based Aldar Properties (master developer), with the aim of turning the island into a multi-purpose leisure, shopping and entertainment center at an estimated total cost of over $40 billion. This investment was planned as a multi-staged project to unfold in phases until 2018, with project stakeholders foreseeing the possibility of extending development by adding new venues and upgrading existing facilities.^[2]

It occupies a total land area of 2,500 ha (25 km2), of which 1,700 ha will be claimed for development. Yas Island holds the Yas Marina Circuit, which has hosted the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009.^[3]

Both business and leisure travelers visit Yas Island. Yas Island was named the world's leading tourism project at the World Travel Awards in November 2009.^[4]

Attractions

Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi

The Park’s foundation stone was laid on 3 November 2007. The development was completed in a little under three years, opening to the public for the first time on 27 October 2010.^[5]

Formula Rossa, one of the park's most famous attractions, is the world’s fastest rollercoaster reaching a speed of 240 kph (149mph).^[6]

Restaurants and cafes

• Rosticceria Modena – Italian Restaurant ^[7]
• Il Podio – International Restaurant ^[8]
• Espresso Rosso – Café ^[9]
• Ristorante Cavallino – Italian Restaurant^[10]
• Mamma Rossella – Italian Restaurant^[11]

Yas Waterworld

Yas Waterworld Surf’s up! Bubbles' Barrel slide has the largest surf-able sheet wave surf in the world.

Yas Waterworld Awards and Nominations

• Named the “second best waterpark in the world” by the Los Angeles Times - Global Ranking of the World’s Top 20 Waterparks feature in May 2013.^[12]
• Listed by CNN as one of the top 12 water parks in the world in July 2013.^[13]
• Won the World Travel Awards award for the Middle East’s Leading Tourist Attraction of the year 2013.^[14]
• Won the Leading Edge Award at the World Waterpark Association's Annual Show, in Las Vegas, USA in October 2012.^[15]
• The Bandit Bomber is the first rollercoaster to be incorporated into a waterpark and was ranked amongst the world’s newest, biggest and baddest roller coasters for the summer of 2013, by CNN.^[16]

Yas Marina Circuit

The full circuit length is 5.554 km and can be configured in five different ways to accommodate a variety of motorsport events. Yas Marina Circuit is the only motorsports venue in the world that offers covered and shaded grandstands throughout the facility, coupled with unique pit lanes that run partially beneath the track.^[17]

Other restaurants

Two charter boat companies operate from Yas Marina namely Captain Tony's and Azure Marine. Seawings operates flights to and from Dubai to Yas Marina and 20 minute Abu Dhabi tours from Yas Marina. ^[18]

Yas Links

Yas Links is an award-winning golf course designed by Kyle Philips, ranked 24th World’s best Golf courses outside the USA (Golf Digest USA, 2012). 1.8 million cubic metres of material were dredged to form the 18 Hole Championship Golf Course, Golf Club & Golf Shop, pool Area, air-conditioned swing studio and meeting and conference rooms for corporate events.^[19]

Yas Beach

Mangrove Tours launch daily from Yas Beach also courtesy of Noukhada Adventure Company. ^[20]

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will bring together stories and characters from the studio's unparalleled portfolio of DC Comics super heroes universe including Batman, Superman and Wonder Women as well as Warner Bros. cartoons such as Bugs Bunny, Scooby-Doo and Tom and Jerry. Guests of all ages will be able to step inside Gotham City and Metropolis, and experience the cartoon worlds of Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera and more, all under one roof. The park is expected to be open in 2018, making it the world's third Warner Bros. theme park.^[21]

Hotels

Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi

Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi is a five star hotel located on the Yas Marina and is the first hotel in world to be built over an F1 race circuit.

Yas Plaza Hotels

The six Yas Plaza hotels includes:

• Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island
• Staybridge Suites Abu Dhabi Yas Island
• Radisson Blu Abu Dhabi Yas Island
• Park Inn Abu Dhabi Yas Island
• Rotana Yas Island
• Centro Yas Island

Transportation

Yas Express

Yas express Saadiyat route shuttle service is the latest route (launched July 1) which interlinks St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort and Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi with Yas Island’s attractions. Operating daily with 3 pickups in the morning and 3 drop offs in the afternoon, the shuttle service transports guests to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld, Yas Island. The afternoon service offers three pickups from Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, dropping visitors back to each of the respective resorts on Saadiyat.^[22]

Retail

Yas Mall

Yas Mall is one it Abu Dhabi's largest malls, located close to IKEA.

IKEA

IKEA Yas Island is the flagship store and first retail outlet to open on Yas Island. The 33,000sqm store with a total sales area of 19,150sqm is the largest IKEA store in the MENA region and includes a play area for kids.^[23] Previously located within the Marina Mall complex, the store was moved to Yas Island primarily due to limited room for expansion.

ACE Hardware

The ACE Hardware Yas Island is the UAE’s second largest ACE Hardware store, with 5,200 square meters of retail space.^[24]

References

1. "Yas island maps and directions". yasisland.ae. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
2. "Yas Island leisure destination in Abu Dhabi". dubaifaqs.com. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
3. "Yas Island leisure destination in Abu Dhabi". dubaifaqs.com. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
4. "Yas Island named World's Leading Tourism Project". arabianbusiness.com. 2009-11-11. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
5. "Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Fun Facts". ferrariworldabudhabi.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
6. "World's Fastest roller coaster". ferrariworldabudhabi.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
7. "Modena Meets Arabia". ferrariworldabudhabi.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
8. "A Culinary Performance". ferrariworldabudhabi.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
9. "Where espresso is a way of life". ferrariworldabudhabi.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
10. "Every bite tells a story". ferrariworldabudhabi.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
11. "At Home in Maranallo". ferrariworldabudhabi.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
12. "Photos: 20 best water parks in the world". latimes.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
13. "12 of the world's best water parks". http://edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17. External link in |publisher= (help)
14. "Middle East's Leading Tourist Attraction 2013". worldtravelawards.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
15. "Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi takes home World Waterpark Association's inaugural Leading Edge Award - Yas Waterworld". yaswaterworld.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
16. "Newest, biggest, baddest roller coasters for summer". http://edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17. External link in |publisher= (help)
17. "ABOUT YAS MARINA CIRCUIT". yasmarinacircuit.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
18. "Welcome to Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi". cnmarinas.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
19. "Yas Links". yaslinks.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
20. "Yas Beach". yasbeach.ae. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
21. http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201604/5038/
22. "Yas Express". yasisland.ae. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
23. "IKEA Yas Island". ikea.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
24. "Ace Hardware". aceuae.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.

External links

• Yas Island Official Website