Yas Marina Circuit
Yas Marina Circuit at a glance
- Location
- Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 5.281 km (3.281 mi)
- Turns
- 16
- Direction
- counter-clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Elevation change
- 35 ft
- Opened
- 2009
- Owner
- Government of Abu Dhabi (operated by Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management)
- Capacity
- 60,000
- Address
- Yas Island
- Phone
- +971 2 497 9000
- Website
- yasmarinacircuit.com
Track map and layout
Yas Marina is a purpose-built Hermann Tilke design threaded around the Yas Island marina, with the pit building and paddock sitting beneath the W Abu Dhabi hotel, whose bridge spans the track just before the final corners. The lap mixes a long back straight for overtaking with tighter, technical marina-side sections where the walls sit close to the racing line. A major 2021 resurfacing and reprofiling removed the old low-speed chicane complexes: the old Turns 5-6-7 hairpin sequence and Turns 11-14 infield were smoothed into faster, more flowing corners, shortening lap times and encouraging more wheel-to-wheel racing than the circuit's original stop-start character allowed.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix circuit (post-2021) | 5.28 km | current F1 layout, reprofiled from the original 2009-2020 configuration |
Events and race weekends
Yas Marina's headline event is the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, held every December as the traditional season finale and host to several championship-deciding races since 2009, including the controversial 2021 title decider between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The circuit also runs Asian Le Mans Series endurance rounds, FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 support races during the F1 weekend, and a busy year-round calendar of regional GT, drifting and karting events.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Formula 1 | December | traditional F1 season finale since 2009 |
| Asian Le Mans Series Abu Dhabi round | Asian Le Mans Series | varies | endurance racing |
| FIA Formula 2 & Formula 3 | F2 / F3 | December | support races for the Abu Dhabi GP weekend |
Getting there and parking
Abu Dhabi International Airport is the closest major gateway, roughly a 20-minute drive from Yas Island, with Dubai International also a viable option for fans combining a wider UAE trip, about 45-60 minutes away by road depending on traffic. There is no metro line on Yas Island; taxis, ride-hailing and dedicated event shuttle buses from Abu Dhabi and Dubai hotels are the standard way to reach the circuit, and roads and park-and-ride car parks get heavily congested on Grand Prix weekend.
- Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) · about 20 min drive
- Dubai International Airport (DXB) · about 60 min drive
Parking
On-site and park-and-ride car parks are available for ticket holders on event days; advance booking is recommended for Grand Prix weekend as they fill early and access roads are congested.
Book official event shuttle buses from Abu Dhabi and Dubai hotels in advance for the Grand Prix weekend, since taxi and ride-hailing demand spikes sharply around the circuit.
Hotels and camping near Yas Marina Circuit
The W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island sits directly over the circuit, with rooms overlooking the track, and is the standout choice for fans wanting to stay trackside, but it and other Yas Island hotels sell out quickly once Grand Prix tickets go on sale. Many visitors instead base themselves in central Abu Dhabi, about 20-30 minutes away, or combine the trip with a Dubai stay.
Where to look
Yas Island (W Abu Dhabi, Yas Viceroy and other on-island hotels, walkable to the circuit but sell out fast on GP weekend); central Abu Dhabi (Corniche and downtown areas, 20-30 minutes by taxi); Dubai (for visitors combining trips, roughly an hour away).
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Yas Marina Circuit runs public track day experiences for cars and motorcycles, alongside drag racing and drift sessions, karting at its on-site YAS Kartzone facility, and simulator experiences, making it one of the more publicly accessible F1 circuits outside race weekends. Sessions are bookable through the circuit's own website and YAS Hub app rather than requiring a race licence for entry-level options.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 race lap record (post-2021 Grand Prix circuit) | 1:25.637 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas VF-24 | 2024 |
Spectator guide
Grandstands line much of the marina side of the lap and the main straight, with the North and West grandstands giving views across multiple corners, and the W Abu Dhabi hotel forming a distinctive backdrop behind the final sector. Evening sessions and the twilight-into-night finish of the Grand Prix are a signature feature of a visit, with cooler temperatures than a daytime desert race.
Seating
Numbered grandstands run along the main straight, marina promenade and final corners; general admission areas are also available around parts of the circuit.
Best places to watch
Marina-side grandstands and the area near the final corners under the W hotel give strong views of both the track and the venue's waterfront setting.
Weather
- December (F1 GP): warm days and mild evenings, typically around 25-30°C, with the race starting in daylight and finishing under lights
History of Yas Marina Circuit
A purpose-built island circuit
Yas Marina Circuit was built from scratch on Yas Island as part of Abu Dhabi's broader push to establish itself as a global sporting and tourism destination. Designed by Hermann Tilke and constructed at a cost of over a billion US dollars, the circuit broke ground in 2007 and opened in October 2009, immediately hosting its first Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that November. Its standout architectural feature, the W Abu Dhabi hotel bridging the track near the final corners, made it one of the most visually distinctive venues on the F1 calendar from day one.
A late-season fixture
Since its debut, Yas Marina has almost always held the final race of the Formula 1 season, giving it a recurring role as the stage for championship deciders. The most talked-about of these came in 2021, when a late safety car restart controversially decided the title battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, a race that prompted lasting changes to F1's safety car regulations. The circuit's twilight start time, with the race beginning in daylight and finishing under floodlights, has become one of its trademarks.
Reshaping the lap
For much of its first decade, Yas Marina was known as a technically demanding but processional circuit, with tight, low-speed sections that made overtaking difficult. Ahead of the 2021 season, the circuit underwent a significant resurfacing and reprofiling project: the old Turns 5-6-7 hairpin complex was replaced with a single sweeping corner, and the tight Turns 11-14 infield section was opened into faster, banked curves. The changes were designed specifically to improve racing and overtaking opportunities, and lap times dropped noticeably as a result. Today the circuit continues to host the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix each December alongside a full year-round program of public track days, karting and other motorsport and entertainment events.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Yas Marina Circuit?+
The current Grand Prix circuit is 5.281 km (3.281 miles) long with 16 turns, run counter-clockwise.
Why does Yas Marina Circuit have a hotel over the track?+
The W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island hotel was built as part of the original circuit development, with a bridge structure spanning the track near the final corners, making it one of the circuit's signature features.
What changed at Yas Marina Circuit in 2021?+
The circuit was resurfaced and reprofiled ahead of the 2021 season: the old Turns 5-6-7 hairpin complex was replaced with a single sweeping corner and the tight Turns 11-14 infield section was opened up, both aimed at improving overtaking.
Can the public drive Yas Marina Circuit?+
Yes. The circuit runs public track day experiences for cars and motorcycles, drag and drift sessions, karting and simulator experiences, bookable through its website and app.
Where do F1 fans stay for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?+
The W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island sits directly over the circuit and is the closest option, but it sells out quickly on race weekend; many fans instead stay in central Abu Dhabi, about 20-30 minutes away.
What is the F1 lap record at Yas Marina Circuit?+
Kevin Magnussen set the current race lap record of 1:25.637 for Haas at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, on the post-2021 layout.
Other tracks nearby
- Dubai Autodrome · 91 km · road course
- Lusail International Circuit · 337 km · road course
- Bahrain International Circuit · 447 km · road course
- Kuwait Motor Town · 811 km · road course
- Riyadh Street Circuit, Diriyah · 811 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Reem International Circuit · 873 km · road course
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.