Formula One returns to Yas Island for the 2021 Abu Grand Prix, and this time the crowds are back too! Get up to speed for a turbo-charged weekend as the final F1™ Grand Prix of 2021 takes place from Thursday 9 December to Sunday 12 December in the capital.
Now in its thirteenth year, the Formula One™ Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a season finale to remember under the Yas Island lights. This season-ending showdown is a festive affair, with celebrities, musicians, and sports personalities all flocking to Abu Dhabi to take in the vibrant atmosphere.
If you’re not rubbing shoulders with rich and famous, but want to experience the thrill of the race on a tighter budget, we’ve got the best tips from staying at budget hotels in Abu Dhabi to making the most of off-track events.
Getting In
You’ll need to purchase a ticket to get near the track. Depending on where you want to sit, tickets start at 660AED for 1-Day entry, or soak up the atmosphere with a full weekend ticket from 2,080AED.
Ok, this may not sound very budget friendly, but there’s more to Formula One than the racing!
Got kids? They’re in for a treat! 4 children under 12 can go free to Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, per paying adult. As long as you have a Friday ticket, take the kids too! Even better, kids can get free access to Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld and Warner Brothers World on Friday too – when accompanied by a 3-day Parks Pass ticket holder.
Your ticket also gets you in to the Yasalam After-Race Concerts. That’s up to four international superstar performances over one weekend! This year, you can catch Khalid, Stormzy, Lewis Capaldi and the Foo Fighters on Yas Island.
And to top it off, every ticket includes a 1-year My Yas Membership with exciting discounts to save money and use all year round on Yas Marina experiences.
Stay Safe
Whilst Covid-19 remains among us for another winter, it’s important to check the precautionary measures in place over the Formula 1 weekend in Abu Dhabi.
- All visitors must have a negative PCR test within 96 hours of entry, and present it on the Al Hosn app.
- All visitors must be fully vaccinated at least 28 days prior to the event with two doses of a UAE-government approved Covid-19 vaccine.
- Face masks must be worn by all visitors throughout the weekend.
The Venue
Situated on Yas Island and designed by famed circuit architect Hermann Tilke, the Yas Marina Circuit is a 5.5-km track that guarantees close competitive racing. Its scenic waterfront setting and diverse elements rival other lauded racetracks like Monaco and Singapore.
Yas Marina Circuit has promised new moves for the 2021 Formula 1 event. A modified track will most definitely spice up the weekend’s racing, with more side-by-side battles for the best position.
Around the racing, there’s family-friendly Oasis areas to retreat from the heat of the racing, or pop in to the F1 Fanzone where you can put yourself in the shoes of an F1 driver!
New for 2021, Cinema on the Hill is a great addition for movie buffs. There’ll also be some changes to the food on offer, from picnic hampers on Abu Dhabi Hill to tasty combo meals.
Getting around
Yas Island is well served by numerous modes of transport. Ride-sharing programs like Uber and Careem also make your commute to and from Yas Island easy and affordable.
Taxis throughout Abu Dhabi are plentiful and reasonably priced. A taxi ride from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Yas Island will take approximately 10 minutes. From the city centre, expect a 25-minute journey. You can book a taxi service through the Abu Dhabi Taxi app or by phone through the TransAD hotline 600 535353.
There is free general car parking available at Yas Mall, or check your ticket for parking passes.
There’s also a free shuttle service to get you around Yas Island itself, getting you to where you need to be.
Where to stay
There are many options of hotels near Yas Island that get you as close to the action as possible. But if it’s a budget hotel in Abu Dhabi you need, look no further than Premier Inn hotels in Abu Dhabi.
Just 10 minutes from Yas Island, you can rest easy at Premier Inn Abu Dhabi International Airport – very convenient if you’re arriving to the event by air, as the hotel is connected to the airport via the SkyPark Plaza. Set yourself up for a day trackside by tucking in to our legendary all you can eat breakfast at Nuevo restaurant, and chill out with post-race drinks at Lounge One in the evening.
If you want to explore more of Abu Dhabi, Premier Inn Abu Dhabi Capital Centre is great to base yourself for the weekend. As well as being within easy reach of Yas Island, top attractions like Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Zayed Sports City and Abu Dhabi Mangroves are within minutes of the budget hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Both our hotels near the Formula 1 Grand Prix have swimming pools and gyms, great for taking a break from the adrenaline of the track. There’s free parking – great if you’re arriving from nearby Emirates and free WiFi - so you can upload all your race day photos and videos without racking up a huge data bill!
Book your stay in Abu Dhabi at premierinn.ae and you can save up to 20% on your stay with our Member Rates. You can also request early check-in from 9.00am and late check-out until 4.00pm (subject to hotel availability).