Attraction
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Abu Dhabi's great white mosque, inaugurated in 2007, with 82 domes, four minarets, a vast hand-knotted carpet and free guided cultural tours for visitors.
The world's first Ferrari-themed park, opened on Yas Island in 2010, home to the Formula Rossa launched coaster and the Flying Aces wing coaster.
Good to know
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi opened on Yas Island on 4 November 2010 as the world's first Ferrari-themed park, and it remains one of the main reasons visitors head out to the island. It is operated by Miral under licence from Ferrari, and most of the park sits indoors under one vast roof, which makes it a practical choice for much of the year.
The headline ride is Formula Rossa, a launched coaster built by Intamin that held the title of the world's fastest roller coaster from 2010 until Falcons Flight opened and took the title, and its launch is the main reason many thrill-seekers visit. Flying Aces, a wing coaster added in 2016, is known for the tallest non-inverting loop in the world, and Turbo Track, a launched shuttle coaster, followed in 2017. Mission Ferrari, which opened in January 2023, is the newest coaster.
There is plenty for families and for people who would rather not ride the big coasters. Formula Rossa Junior, opened in 2020, is a family version of the signature ride, Fiorano GT Challenge pits two coaster trains against each other, and Viaggio in Italia is a flying theatre, and gentler rides such as Flying Wings round out the line-up. For something different, the Roof Walk is a guided 90-minute walk of about 600 metres across the top of the park, an unusual way to see the park from above.
Plan a full day if you want to try the main rides. Check opening hours on the official website before you go, as theme park schedules change through the year, and book tickets in advance. With younger children, check height requirements for each ride before you set your heart on the big coasters. Weekday visits outside school holidays are usually the least crowded.
The park stands next to Yas Marina Circuit, home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and shares Yas Island with Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, so it is easy to build a longer stay around the island's parks. Taxis are the simplest way to get there from the city, and staying in one of the Yas Island hotels puts you within easy reach.
It opened to the public on 4 November 2010.
Mostly. The majority of the park is under one large roof.
An Intamin launched roller coaster that held the record for the world's fastest roller coaster from 2010 until Falcons Flight took the title.
Yes. Rides such as Formula Rossa Junior, opened in 2020, are aimed at families.
A guided walk of about 600 metres across the park's roof, lasting around 90 minutes.
A full day if you want to ride the main attractions.
Yas Marina Circuit, and the other Yas Island parks are close by.
Thing to do
An 8-kilometre waterfront promenade along the Abu Dhabi island waterfront, with separate walking and cycling paths, parks, cafés and a public beach.
Café
A popular family-owned Middle Eastern bakery restaurant in Al Khalidiyah, known for manaqeesh and fresh bread from the oven and listed in the Michelin Guide.
Tour operator
Open-top hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses linking 14 stops from Abu Dhabi Mall to Qasr Al Hosn, with a separate shuttle to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Hotel
Abu Dhabi's grandest hotel, opened in 2005 and run by Mandarin Oriental since 2020, with 114 domes, a 1.3-kilometre private beach and a dozen restaurants.