Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is an artificial island, which is the ultimate destination for fun and entertainment. Spanning across 2500 hectares of area, you’ll find luxury shopping stores, restaurants, villas, amusement parks, and much more. You’ll come across several attractions unique to the world here, which will turn this holiday of yours into a lifetime experience. Don’t miss out on the fun things to do at Yas Island because your vacation in Dubai requires a twist of thrill and excitement. So, are you ready?
Best Things to Do at Yas Island: An Adrenaline-filled Vacation
Get ready for all your senses to turn hyper-aware by the delicious aroma of the food and its mouth-watering taste, the sound of the rollercoasters, and the gorgeous sights around you. Regardless of what you plan on doing at Yas Island, your day will be an action-packed one because you’ll want to try everything that this place offers you. So, let’s plan your day to the ‘T’ with all the things to do in Yas Island Abu Dhabi.
- Indulge in Shopping at Yas Mall
- Feel the Wind at Ferrari World
- Splash Around at Yas Waterworld
- Step into the World of Cartoons at Warner Bros. World
- Enjoy Live Entertainment at Etihad Arena
- Scale New Heights at CLYMB
- Get Behind the Wheels at Yas Marina Circuit
- Spend Leisure Time at Yas Marina
- Get Suntanned at Yas Beach
- Stay at Yas Viceroy Hotel
1. Indulge in Shopping at Yas Mall: Find Global Brands Under One Roof
Shopping at Abu Dhabi’s largest and UAE’s second-largest mall is reason enough to get your excitement going. This three-level mall includes around 370 international brands like H&M, Victoria’s Secret Pink, Zara, approximately 60 restaurants and cafes such as Black Tap, Al Fanar, and P.F Chang’s, 20-screen cinema, and much more to keep you entertained for hours. If you’re traveling with children, then the Family Entertainment Zone or KidZania are available, where your children can learn while having the time of their life. The highlight is that this mall is directly linked to Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi, making it among the best places for shopping in Abu Dhabi.
Timings: 10 A.M to 10 P.M (Sunday to Thursday) and 10 A.M to 12 A.M (Friday to Saturday)
Services:
- ADNOC services
- Electric car charging points
- Free Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair service
- The Quiet Room for visitors with autism
2. Feel the Wind at Ferrari World: Buckle Up and Experience the Thrill
All the adrenaline-seekers who are looking for something new to ignite their excitement must visit the first Ferrari-themed Park at Yas Island Ferrari World. It’s one of the most sought-after places to visit in Dubai for adventurers and car enthusiasts. With around 37 rides to experience the thrill, the Formula Rossa rollercoaster is the fastest one in the world, which goes from zero to 240 km per hour in just 4.9 seconds. Apart from this, there are approximately 20 record-breaking rides here, which will fulfill your desire for thrill and make you feel exhilarated by the fast-paced environment here.
Timings: 11 A.M to 8 P.M
Restaurants: Espresso Rosso, Officers Food Quarters Restaurant, El Podio Restaurant
Entertainment: Turbo racing, Flight of heroes, RC Challenge
Shopping: Ferrari Mall
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3. Splash Around at Yas Waterworld: Dive into Fun Times
A hot summer’s day calls for a dip in the pool and Yas Waterworld is the perfect place for that. With over 40 water rides to choose from, you’re in for an amazing time. One of the things to do in Dubai when visiting Yas Waterworld is to ride on the Jebel Drop, which is a near-vertical slide, and will drop you in the water in the blink of an eye. The Bandit Bomber is another high-speed rollercoaster, suspended above the pools, which is perfect for the brave at heart. What makes Yas Waterworld special, you might ask. Well, it offers the region’s only 5D water adventure and the world’s only Pearl Diving Experience.
Timings: 10 A.M to 6 P.M
Restaurants: Dana's Diner, Salma's Snack Shack, Skinnys Frozen Treats
Rides: Falcons Falaj, Liwa Loop, Dawwama
Shopping: Qaryat Al Jewana, Sultan & Sons, Jewana Photo
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4. Step into the World of Cartoons at Warner Bros. World: A Time-warp of Sorts
After spending a fun and entertaining time at Yas Waterworld, it’s time to take a nostalgic ride through Warner Bros. World, where your favorite cartoon characters are waiting. This park, which is the world’s first Warner Bros. Branded theme park, is divided into six sections with all of them themed on cartoons like Looney Toons, Batman, Scooby Doo, Flintstones and so on. Ride on the Fast and Furry-ous, an inverted rollercoaster to escape Wile E. Coyote or embark on a mystery solving journey with Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby. You can even stay at the first Warner Bros. Themed hotel in the world.
Timings: 11 A.M to 9 P.M (Wednesday to Saturday) and 11 A.M to 8 P.M (Sunday to Tuesday)
Restaurants: The Starlight, Big Belly Burger, Hollywood Trattoria
Rides: The Flintstones Bedrock River Adventure, Tom and Jerry: Swiss Cheese Spin, Scooby-Doo: The Museum of Mysteries
Shopping: Warner Bros. Studio Store, Superstar Souvenirs, DC Super Heroes Store
5. Enjoy Live Entertainment at Etihad Arena: Get Aboard the Entertainment Wagon
One of the leisurely Yas Island activities is to enjoy the live entertainment at Etihad Arena, where live concerts, events, and celebrations are organized. Located in the gorgeous waterfront of Yas Bay, this is the Middle East’s largest state-of-the-art indoor entertainment venue. It can accommodate around 18,000 people. Etihad Arena will also give you a glimpse of Arabic culture and architecture with its warm hospitality and world-class structure. Check out the upcoming shows in this venue and plan your trip accordingly. If you’re lucky, you might just come across Robbie Williams, Trevor Noah, and other such famous celebrities performing for you.
Travel tips:
- Don’t carry food and beverages inside
- Professional cameras or equipment is prohibited
- Selfie sticks, laptops, and tablets aren’t allowed
- Don’t carry bags larger than 30 x 30 x 15cm
- Bringing flags to the venue is restricted
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6. Scale New Heights at CLYMB: Conquer the Challenge
As the name suggests, this is one of the best Yas Island attractions for rock climbers, novice skydivers, and other adventurers at heart. With an indoor skydiving and climbing arena, along with pre-flight courses for amateur flyers, this location is a must-visit. If you want to check your physical strength or wish to show off your skills to your friends, then it’s time to climb up the 43m Summyt, which is the highest indoor wall in the world. This place also holds the Guinness World of Book Records for the world’s largest indoor skydiving wind tunnel. This is one of the things to do in Abu Dhabi that will truly test you physically but will also be the most fulfilling at the end of the day.
Timings: 1 P.M to 9 P.M (Wednesday to Thursday) | 12 P.M to 9 P.M (Saturday and Sunday) | Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Travel tips:
- Listen to the safety instructions carefully
- Wear comfortable and good fitting shoes
- Dress up in flexible clothes
- Stay hydrated after the activities
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7. Get Behind the Wheels at Yas Marina Circuit: Feel the Rush of Adrenaline
You must have heard of the world-famous Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which takes place every year in November at the longest F1 circuit, the Yas Marina Circuit. How will it feel to watch an F1 race live, to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari 458 GT4, an Aston Martin GT4 or a Formula YAS 3000 or to sit in the passenger seat as you zoom past everything? Sounds like a dream come true, right? Well, you can experience this surreal moment at Yas Island on their six excellent track configurations. The highlight is that Yas Marina Circuit is among the most technologically advanced tracks on Earth. There’s even a Yas Kartzone, which is suitable for all age groups, and includes three track configurations.
Experiences: Yas Drag Night, Car Track Day, Yas Drift Night
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8. Spend Leisure Time at Yas Marina: Spend Time on the Water
When it comes to places to visit in Abu Dhabi, the first place that comes to mind is the Yas Marina. Famous for being the hub of famous restaurants and cafes, this place offers some of the most beautiful sights for your eyes to feast on. It’s the perfect destination to relax and unwind with your family, friends, or partner. Apart from dining on delicious food, you can also indulge in some leisure watersports, like kayaking. Simply watching the glorious sunset from the marina can become one of the many highlights of your trip; after all, this place has been accredited as one of the most remarkable marinas in the world by The Yacht Harbour Association.
Restaurants: Boroughs, Cipriani, Diablito Food and Music, Iris
Water activities: Boating, cruise trips, wakeboarding, fishing
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9. Get Suntanned at Yas Beach: Embrace the Tropical Vibes
There’s no doubt about the fact that the beaches in Abu Dhabi are a must-visit, but Yas Beach at Yas Island is one of the hidden gems. The turquoise blue water and pristine white sand make this place an excellent location for some relaxing time under the sun. You can indulge in various watersports, like snorkeling, kayaking, etc. or enjoy playing volleyball and so on. After getting suntanned, you can simply walk to the restaurants and cafes lining the shore for a good meal or take a walk along the sandy stretch with your loved ones. There are beachside cabanas and chalets as well to rest for a while.
Timings: 10 A.M to 7:30 P.M (Sunday to Thursday) | 10 A.M to 9 P.M (Friday and Saturday)
Watersports: Kayaking, snorkeling, jetski, jetcar, electric surfboard
Restaurants: Stills Restaurant and Bar, Barouk, Jing Asia
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10. Stay at W Abu Dhabi Hotel: A Luxurious Getaway
To enjoy the complete experience of visiting Yas Island, one of the most important things to do at Yas Island is to stay at the W Abu Dhabi hotel, formerly known as the Yas Viceroy Hotel. This 5-star hotel, with 499 guest rooms and suites, offers world-class hospitality and facilities that’ll make your visit memorable, plus it’s pet friendly. Spending just a day at Yas Island is never enough, so the best option is to book a room here and make the most of this opportunity. All the attractions of this artificial island will be within walking distance and the comfort you’ll feel here is a bonus point.
Restaurants: Garage Restaurant, W Lounge, Roastery, Sun Deck
Services and facilities:
- Spa
- Kids’ zone
- Event space
A visit to Yas Island is nothing short of amazing, with a plethora of things to do at Yas Island, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Regardless of who your traveling partner is, this destination should be on your itinerary without a second thought. The adventurers, peace-seekers, and beach bums will all find a place on this huge island that will make their holiday here worth reminiscing. So, without wasting any more time, book our Abu Dhabi tour packages and let the fun begin.
Things to Do at Yas Island FAQs
There are several attractions on Yas Island that make it special, including the F1 racetrack, the world’s first Ferrari-branded theme park, one of the most splendid marinas globally, and much more.
Yes, you can enter the Yas Marina Circuit the entire year and even get to drive exceptional cars like Ferrari 458 GT4, an Aston Martin GT4 or a Formula YAS 3000 or you could simply watch an F1 race.
Answer Yas Marina Circuit is one of the world’s most technologically advanced tracks and offers the experience of a lifetime.
Seaworld Abu Dhabi opened its gate to the world in May 2023, which is a marine-themed park in Yas Island. It’s the perfect addition to the entertainment quotient of the island.
There are approximately 40 rides in Yas Waterworld that are perfect for people of all age groups. You must check the eligibility for each ride before riding on it, though.
If you wish to explore Ferrari World Dubai, then it’s ideal to visit on weekdays when the place will be less crowded. However, you might have to wait in queues, so it might take 4 to 5 hours at least.
The majority of the rides in Ferrari World are included in the admission ticket, but there might be a few rides that require additional fees.
The entrance fee for Yas Waterworld is AED 325 for a single day, which will give you access to all the rides and experiences in the park.
