The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is one of the most exciting and highly anticipated races on the calendar... because it's the SEASON FINALE! People travel from all over the world to attend the final race of the Formula 1 season. With proximity to world famous marinas and some of the most luxurious locales in the world - such as Dubai - going to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is absolutely a bucket list item for many Formula 1 fans.
The Yas Marina Circuit is located on Yas Island with transportation to the island from Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It is important to note that the circuit arranges special travel for those attending the grand prix from city locales to the island itself, specifically for this race. Both airport options in Abu Dhabi and Dubai service flights from all over the world and are well known international hubs.
The Abu Dhabi International airport is located extremely close to the Abu Dhabi city center and even closer to Yas Marina making it the most popular location for racegoers to fly into. This airport is also the home of popular Middle Eastern airline carriers such as Etihad Airways (which, fun fact, is the official airline of the UAE and title sponsor of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix). You can find direct flights to this airport from North America and Australia. It is located a 26 minute drive or 19 miles (30 km) from Abu Dhabi city center and a 13 minute drive or 6 miles (10km) from Yas Island.
Although the Dubai Airport is much farther from Abu Dhabi and Yas Marina as the local airport, this is still a valuable option to consider if you want to be able to explore the world famous city of Dubai before or after the grand prix. The Dubai Airport is also home to one of the most luxurious airlines in the world, Emirates and the airport is the 4th largest in the world. The trip may take a bit longer, but it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes or 78 miles (125 km) to drive to Yas Island and 1 hour and 30 minutes or 112 miles (126 km) to the Abu Dhabi city center.
Taxis and ride share such as Uber is extremely popular in Abu Dhabi and neighboring Dubai to get anywhere that you need to go throughout the weekend. Fares are also extremely inexpensive starting at well under $1 USD for fares. Note that the official taxis in Abu Dhabi are SILVER taxis.
The bus system in Abu Dhabi is extremely plentiful and well coordinated. The hub Abu Dhabi bus terminal is located in the Abu Dhabi city center as well as very popular Hazaa Bin Zayed Roud. The busses in the city are also extremely inexpensive - only costing 2 AED or $0.50 USD for a single inner- city trip or 4 AED ($1 USD) for a regional bus that will get you to locations such as Dubai.
Yas Island and Abu Dhabi have many different taxi and ride sharing services available during the race weekend. Generally a trip should only cost you about $16 USD (€15) and unlike many circuits they can take you directly to the entrance gate. However, to leave the circuit it is best to grab a taxi or rideshare outside of Ferrari World or the Yas mall - which is a short 5 - 10 minute walk.
There are specific busses that run from the city center of Abu Dhabi to Yas Island and back including busses that run around the length of the track (as it is very long to walk from one end to the other).
Many hotels in Abu Dhabi as well as certain ticket experience packages will operate their own shuttles throughout the weekend. If you do choose to rent a car in Abu Dhabi, you may be able to park at your hotel, but note that parking at Yas Island Marina is extremely limited.
If you're attending the Abu Dhabi GP now or in the future, we highly recommend starting with our Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Track Guide for all the insider tips and tricks you need to maximize your experience, along with our other guides:
When you're finished, join the lively Grand Prix Travel community on FanAmp and Reddit to interact with fellow motorsports enthusiasts, ask questions, and gather valuable insights. There are even meetups at races around the world so you can spend time with new and old friends over food and drink.
And be sure to visit our trusted partner, F1 Destinations, for help with tickets and all things travel. They write excellent, in-depth guides on all aspects of each race.
