How to get to the circuit?

The Abu Dhabi GP Shuttle Bus is the fastest and cheapest option — buses run from Abu Dhabi city centre (Al Wahda Mall hub) and from Dubai for AED 100–150 return, with 30-minute frequency on race days. Taxis and Careem (the regional Uber) drop directly at Yas Island Gate 1; budget AED 60–80 from central Abu Dhabi and AED 120–160 from Dubai. Driving is viable but parking on Yas Island fills by 14:00 on race day — factor an extra 45 minutes for the walk from outer lots. The Etihad Arena water taxi (AED 30) connects the marina hotels to the circuit in 8 minutes and is the most scenic option for guests staying on the island.

When to arrive at the track?

Arrive 90 minutes before each session's start time. For Friday's FP2 at 17:00, gates open at 14:00 — entering at 15:30 clears security with time to reach grandstands. Saturday Qualifying at 18:00 is the highest-demand session; the 16:00–16:30 window avoids peak queues. Race day Sunday is the busiest: the 17:00 race start means arriving by 14:30 is strongly advised, especially for main grandstand ticket holders. Security at Yas Marina is efficient with bag-size enforcement — hard-shell bags over 30x20x15 cm are turned away at the gate, so travel light or use the free bag drop at Gate 1.

Book grandstand tickets 6–8 months out — Yas Marina's Main Grandstand and Turn 1 sections sell out first, and resale prices double by October. The Zone D Grandstand opposite the pit lane offers the best value, with full pit lane and team garage views from AED 750–900 for the full weekend. Hotel rooms on Yas Island during race week carry a 3–4x price premium — W Hotel, Yas Viceroy, and Rotana all fill by August. Abu Dhabi city centre hotels (a 25-minute bus ride away) cost 40–50% less and still have race-week atmosphere. GYG circuit tours and Yas Island experience packages sell out in the final 3 weeks — secure any experiences you want before race week begins. The F1 Experiences Pit Lane Walk (book through the official GP site) opens for 45 minutes after Qualifying and sells 400 slots — these go in under 10 minutes of release.

Getting to Abu Dhabi for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Yas Marina Circuit sits on Yas Island, 30km from central Abu Dhabi and 130km from Dubai — making transport planning essential for race weekend. Abu Dhabi has no metro system, so fans rely on official race shuttles, taxis, rideshares, and a seasonal ferry service that runs exclusively during Grand Prix week. Book shuttles and ferry tickets before you land — they sell out by Thursday.

Transport Options

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Ferry (Race Week Only)

The Yas Marina Ferry runs exclusively during Grand Prix week, departing from Marina Mall (Abu Dhabi mainland) and docking at Yas Marina Circuit's waterfront in approximately 30 minutes. Tickets cost AED 50–75 each way and must be pre-booked via the Yas Marina Circuit website. The ferry is the most scenic and stress-free option — it bypasses all road traffic and deposits you steps from the circuit gates.

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Official Race Shuttle

Etihad's official race shuttles depart from Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and multiple Dubai pick-up points including Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and Dubai Mall. Abu Dhabi shuttles run every 20 minutes from 3 hours before each session and cost AED 30–40 return. Dubai shuttles cost AED 120–150 return and take 90 minutes each way — book via the F1 Abu Dhabi ticketing portal and carry your confirmation QR code.

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Taxi / Rideshare

Careem and Uber both operate on Yas Island, with drop-off at Gate 1 (North) or Gate 4 (South) depending on your grandstand. Expect AED 80–120 from central Abu Dhabi and AED 300–400 from Dubai on normal race days — surge pricing kicks in within 2 hours of the main race, sometimes doubling fares. For pick-up after the race, walk 10–15 minutes away from the circuit gates before requesting a ride to reduce wait time from 45+ minutes to under 15.

Getting to Abu Dhabi

Transport Options

FAQ