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Saturday 21 November 2009 (UAE)
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Yas Island leisure destination in Abu Dhabi
Yas Island
Yas Island is a natural island close to Abu Dhabi city being developed as a leisure and entertainment destination in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Aldar Properties, an Abu Dhabi based company, is the master developer of Yas Island. The island is about 10 mins drive from the Abu Dhabi airport, about 30 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi, and about 1 hour from Jebel Ali end of Dubai. The highlight of Yas Island will be the Yas Island grand prix circuit - the race circuit being built to host the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, starting in November 2009.
When Yas Island is complete you could think of the Island as Monte Carlo, Florida, and Las Vegas all in one destination (but without the history, hurricanes, or gambling). The Yas Island project was first announced by Aldar Properties in November 2006, and total value of development is somewhere in the region of AED 150 billion (US$40 billion). That's billion, not million, and 100 times the cost of just the F1 circuit. Total area of Yas Island is 2500 hectares (about 25 sq km, one third of the size of the main Abu Dhabi island), although some reports have a figure of 25,000,000 million square metres (the confusing use of digits and words resulting in a figure that is 50% larger than Russia). Apart from the F1 circuit, Yas Island will include
- Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Theme Park as part of Yas Island Phase I (more details below)
- Warner Bros Theme Park Abu Dhabi - where people in funny suits will say "What's Up Doc" to visitors
- Golf courses - three of them? (Links Golf Course as part of Phase I)
- Yas Island Zabeel Investments Golf Course designed by Kyle Phillips, on the west coast of Yas Island, close to Ferrari World (that should make for tempting targets).
- Equestrian center and 4 polo fields
- Yacht marinas - one as part of the F1 circuit. Another one or two marinas.
- Hotels - 7 with 2000 rooms planned as part of Phase I.
- Retail shopping, golf course, restaurants and cafes, residential property, boutique spas, lagoons, commercial offices
- Yas Mall shopping center with 700 shops, restaurants, and gardens (November 2008 news). Area 300,000 sq m (about 3m sq ft).
- Ikea Abu Dhabi as part of Yas Mall.
- Water Park and other entertainment venues
Yas Island completion date
Realistically, the complete Yas Island project might be finished by 2020. Some dates supplied/published
- 2008 end for Phase I (various sources in 2007)
- 2014 for entire project (Gulf News 19 September 2007)
- 2018 for entre project (7 Days 19 September 2007)
Yas Island construction schedule
When Yas Island was first announced in 2006, reports said completion was scheduled for 2011. Later reports in September 2007 gave scheduled completion dates of 2014 (The Gulf News) and 2018 (7 Days). The entire project is in 4 phases, with phase one originally scheduled to be complete by the end of 2008 (which it wasn't). Phase one includes
- Formula 1 GP race track
- Seven hotels with 2000 rooms
- Links Golf Course
- Ferrari Theme Park
Yas Island Phase I
- Phase I completion date originally scheduled for end 2008, pushed back to end 2009 ... maybe
- Hotels - first seven to be built on Yas Island
- Yas Links Golf Course - open by end of 2009 perhaps
- Yas Marina - open October 2009
- Yas Marina Circuit - ready for first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 01 November 2009
- Yas Yacht Club - open by end of 2009 perhaps
Yas Island Phase II
- Ferrari World Theme Park (was originally part of Phase I?) - opening date in 2010
- Yas Mall shopping center
Yas Island Phase III
Yas Island Phase IV
Warner Bros Abu Dhabi - 27 September 2007
- A Warner Bros Theme Park will be established on Yas Island. Harry Potter and Bugs Bunny are well known WB employees.
- The entertainment venue will be a Joint Venture between Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi Media Company, and Warner Brothers Entertainment.
- The project on Yas Island will also include a hotel, and cinema complexes.
- The WB-AUH deal also includes a film production unit to be established with Abu Dhabi Media Company.
- Start date scheduled for 2009.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Yas Island
- Ferrari World Abu Dhabi on Yas Island is an entertainment theme park based on Ferrari motor cars.
- The largest indoor theme park and the first Ferrari theme park in the world according to Aldar press releases.
- Ferrari World area according to one report about 200,000 sq meters (2.15 million sq ft), which is about the size of a medium to large Abu Dhabi shopping center. Another report says that's just the size of the roof. Actual area is ...
- Original completion date was supposed to be in 2008, then another deadline seen was November 2009, but September 2009 reports had the Marketing Director, Nadine Traboulsi, of Ferrari World AUH saying "It's still on schedule and nothing has been delayed ... It will not open in the first quarter of 2010, but it's going to be 2010", apparently referring to a different schedule than ones which had previously been made public.
- Interior fitout by Mivan Depa, a joint venture with the Dubai based firm Depa (AED 200m contract announced 18 August 2009).
- About 20 theme rides including
- 2 roller coasters that race each other and/or are the fastest roller coaster/s in the world (speeds up to 200 kph)
- Ferrari F1 Grand Prix simulators
- G-Force experience - vertical ride up through the roof of the amusement park and down again, height 62m
- Simulation of aerial travel over Italy following or in a Ferrari.
- Ferrari Driving School (Pilota Ferrari)
- The usual selection of junk food and drinks you'd find an any amusement park. Maybe with a Ferrari toothpick in your hamburger. Press releases mention Italian food.
- Ferrari t-shirts, baseball caps, and other merchandise for sale (of course).
- Unknown if you can buy a real Ferrari car at the Ferrari Park, but perhpas the driving school will have real ones to drive.
Yas Island hotels and resorts
Aldar says (January 2009 press release) that 7 hotels will be open on Yas Island by November 2009 when the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix fires up. There should be four 5-star hotels, one 4-star hotel, and two 3-star hotels with a total of about 2300 rooms, 20 restaurants, and another 10 bars or other eating / drinking outlets.
- Centro by Rotana Yas Island hotel, 3 star, 259 rooms, opening scheduled for 2009
- Crowne Plaza, 5 stars, opening scheduled by November 2009, opening date 01 November 2009, part of the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG). Total 428 rooms, second Abu Dhabi Crowne Plaza hotel, within walking distance of the Yas Marina Circuit and the Yas Links Golf Course. Overlooks the Yas Creek. Facilities include Sundowner Pool Bar, squash courts, 25 meter swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms, business facilities.
- Ibis Yas Island and Novotel Yas Island by Accor Hotels, scheduled for completion in 2010 (October 2007 press release). Constructor Leighton International - Al Habtoor Engineering JV ($130 million contract)?
- Park Inn, 3 star, opening scheduled by November 2009. Operator / owner Rezidor Hotel Group. Facilities include 204 rooms, 2 restaurants (one South African), swimming pool, 2 bars (one in lobby, one with pool).
- Radisson SAS Yas Island, 5 stars, 370 rooms (May 2008 press release), opening sheduled by November 2009.
- Radisson Blu Hotel - owner / operator Rezidor Hotel Group.
- Rotana - see Yas Island Rotana Resort below
- Staybridge Suites Abu Dhabi Yas Island, 4-stars, opening scheduled for September 2009, actual opening date 01 November 2009, 165 suites of 1-3 bedrooms (no studios) with kitchens, location by the Links Championship Golf Course, 5m walk from the Yas Marina Circuit. Hotel is being marketed to workers with the hotel manager hosting an after-work reception 4 days per week, complimentary breakfast available. Facilities include 25m swimming pool, exercise room, guest laundry, grocery shop open 24/7, wireless internet (free). Staybridge is part of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).
- Taj Palace Hotel Resort Yas Island, 5 stars (of course), 500 rooms (May 2008 press release)
- Yas Island Rotana Resort, 5 stars, 308 rooms, scheduled to open July 2009
- Yas Marina Hotel / Yas Hotel, 5 stars, the F1 circuit hotel, 500 rooms (252 deluxe, 247 executive), outside covered in LEDs that change color, inside noisy with F1 cars driving around in circles looking for a car park, opening scheduled before November 2009. Operator is Aldar Hotels and Hospitality (Managing Director Paul Bell). Lead Architects Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture of Asymptote Architecture. Two presidential suites over 400 sq meters each include a terrace, lap pool, and dining room for 16 people. Hotel facilities include 14 bars and restaurants, ballroom and other conference facilites, spa with hamam, gym, and rooftop lounge, cafe, and pools. Website www.theyashotel.com. Information from press release 05 May 2009.
Last update Sunday 08-Nov-2009
Related pages
- Abu Dhabi F1 - information about the motor race
- Hotels in Abu Dhabi (scroll down past the Dubai list)
- Shopping malls Abu Dhabi - a list
- Tourist guide Dubai - something to do in Dubai while you wait for the construction on Yas Island to finish
- Visa Abu Dhabi - entry visas and tourist visas
- Yas Marina Circuit - the race track
Related websites (open in new window)
- www.yasisland.ae - Yas Marina Circuit and Abu Dhabi F1 GP website
- Dubai directory - add your link free