10 reasons why Yas Island should be your next travel destination

Thrill-seeker? Beach bunny? Peeps with kids? Culture vulture? Yas Island is a place that has something for all types of holiday makers.

Dubbed as the UAE’s entertainment destination, the Island, which experiences idyllic weather year-round, is home to state-of-the art attractions and is only a 30-minute drive to downtown Abu Dhabi. The Island is a short drive from two of Abu Dhabi's must-see attractions: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Here are 10 reasons to explore the UAE’s up and coming leisure capital.

1. Warner Bros World

This is the UAE’s answer to Disneyland. This billion-dollar development is a climate-controlled theme park divided into six expertly designed immersive lands to explore, each cooler than the last, including DC’s Metropolis and Gotham City, Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch and Cartoon Junction.

The 1.65-million-square-foot indoor theme park has 30 rides including Batman: Knight Flight, which allows visitors to experience flying in the Batwing.

2. Ferrari World

Home to the world’s fastest roller coaster - Formula Rossa, this Ferrari-branded theme park offers fast and furious fun for all ages whether you crave intense G-force, want to go-kart race with your family or challenge the best lap times in a state-of-the-art simulator. The park tells the Ferrari story through more than 20 rides and attractions and Italian dining experiences.

3. Yas Marina Circuit

Host to the annual F1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit offers once-in-a-lifetime opportunities where guests can be at the driver’s seat for a moment of glory in some of the world’s most impressive race cars. Visitors also have the chance to buckle up in the passenger seat for a heart-stopping ride; learn how to drive like the pros and step behind the scenes with access usually reserved for F1™ teams and drivers.

At the circuit’s centrepiece is Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, a five star, iconic hotel – the only one in the world to straddle an F1 race track being breathtakingly built half on land and half over water.

4. Yas Marina

Attracting Super Yachts from as far away as Australia for the annual F1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina is central to Abu Dhabi’s ambitions of becoming a strong rival to traditional yachting grounds such as the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

Overlooking the stunning Yas Marina F1™ Circuit, Cipriani features signature dishes from Harry’s Bar in Venice and classic Italian favourites.

5. Yas Waterworld

With “The Lost Pearl” as its theme, this waterpark spans an area of around 15 football pitches, with 43 rides, slides and attractions – five of which are one-of-a-kind. Visitors are able to try the 238-metre long, world’s first, and largest hydromagnetic-powered, six-person tornado waterslide.

For adrenaline junkies, there are three-metre high waves on Bubble’s Barrel, which has the world’s largest surfable sheet wave for flowboards and bodyboards. The Bandit Bomber, a 550–metre coaster, is the first with onboard water and laser effects.

6. Yas Links

Located on the west shores of Yas Island, this award-winning golf course, designed by one of the leading golf architects Kyle Phillips is in line with the traditional links golf commonly associated with the coastal towns of Scotland and Ireland. Yas Links features a 7,450 yard par 72 course, utilising five teeing grounds per hole, with all 18 benefiting from ocean views.

7. Yas Beach

This is the island’s only stretch of beach. Open daily from 10am – 7pm, it is a great spot to relax and enjoy sun, sea, sand, food and drinks. Guests staying at Yas Plaza hotels have complimentary beach access on presentation of their room card or hotel voucher.

8. Yas Mall

Literally connected to Ferrari World, Yas Mall is located at the heart of the Island and sat along the Yas Express route, which provides a good point of connection for all the attractions on the island.

The mall is home to Abu Dhabi’s biggest and the UAE’s second largest shopping centre. It has 400 of the world’s top fashion and food brands, a 20-screen cinema and the region’s largest family entertainment zone, guests can easily spend a day exploring this place.

9. Vast range of accommodation

From affordable three-star comfort through to sophisticated five-star luxury, Yas Island has a wide range of well-known hotels in the Island catering for all kinds of travellers and locals. The hotels in the Island also have award-winning restaurant and bars serving a multitude of cuisines including authentic Emirati food.

10. It’s easier than ever

Visiting Abu Dhabi is now easier than ever before thanks to direct daily flights from London and Manchester, operated by Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE. British Airways also offer daily direct flights. There is a flight time of approximately seven hours.

Mars was a guest of Blacklane, a luxury global airport chaffeur service.