.png)
TrainYAS Abu Dhabi: How to Cycle, Run or Walk Yas Marina Circuit for Free
- Sports Travel Tom
- Apr 9
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 11
A complete guide to TrainYAS Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit - a free chance to cycle, run or walk one of Formula 1’s most recognisable tracks.
There are not many sporting venues in the world that open their gates twice a week and let the public exercise for free.
Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi is one of them.
Through something called TrainYAS, you can cycle, run or walk the same track that hosts the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
You will not be travelling at the speeds of Lewis Hamilton, obviously, but as places to exercise go, this is about as unique as it gets.
At a Glance
Location: Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Type: Free fitness session on a Formula 1 circuit
When: Sunday and Tuesday evenings during the cooler months
Cost: Free, but registration is required
Why go: Exercise on one of the world’s most famous motorsport venues
Key tip: Register in advance and bring your barcode on arrival
Watch the full journey on YouTube below.
What TrainYAS actually is
TrainYAS is a free community fitness event held at Yas Marina Circuit, where the track opens for the public to cycle, run or walk around the full circuit.
It is a wonderfully simple idea.
A world-famous Formula 1 venue, floodlights on, smooth tarmac under your feet or tyres, and hundreds of people out exercising at their own pace.
All you need to do is register in advance, receive your barcode, and present it when you arrive.
What it is like to exercise on the track
This is where TrainYAS stands out.
There are few better places to exercise than a Formula 1 circuit with perfect tarmac, grandstands pumping out music, and floodlights all around the track.
At first, it feels slightly surreal.
You are moving around a place built for elite motorsport, but at a very human pace. Some people are jogging, some are walking, others are taking the chance to put in lap after lap on a bike.
And that is what makes it so good. It is iconic, but not intimidating.
TrainYAS highlights
Passing underneath the W Hotel
One of the standout moments is travelling underneath the famous W Abu Dhabi hotel, which stretches across the circuit and instantly makes the whole experience feel unmistakably Yas Marina.
Rolling down the start-finish straight
Cycling or running along the start-finish straight, with the pit lane on one side and the grandstand on the other, is about as close as most of us will ever get to living out an F1 fantasy.
Chasing your own lap time
Whether you are cycling, running or walking, there is something about being on a circuit that makes you want to do one more lap and see if you can go a little quicker.
No bike? No problem
If you do not own a bike, you can rent one at the circuit.
That removes one of the biggest barriers straight away.
You do not need to be a serious cyclist or show up with your own gear to enjoy TrainYAS.
You can simply turn up, get sorted, and head out onto the track.
A quick note on Yas Marina Circuit
Yas Marina Circuit is 5.5km long and has 21 turns. It is also one of the few Formula 1 circuits run in an anti-clockwise direction.
It has hosted plenty of memorable moments since joining the Formula 1 calendar in 2009, from Jenson Button sealing his world title to title deciders involving Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.
If you are a motorsport fan, there is an added layer to TrainYAS. You are not just exercising on any track. You are moving around a place with genuine sporting history.
Why TrainYAS is worth doing
For people in the UAE, TrainYAS may already feel familiar.
But if you have never done it, or if you are visiting Abu Dhabi and want something slightly different, it is an excellent experience.
It is free.
It is easy to access.
And it lets you experience an iconic sporting venue in a way that very few places in the world allow.
Even if Formula 1 is not your sport, there is something special about exercising somewhere built for speed, spectacle and elite competition.
Practical tips before you go
Register in advance and keep your barcode ready
Arrive early so you can get onto the track smoothly
Bring water
If cycling, check whether you want to bring your own bike or rent one there
Go during the cooler months for the best experience
Sunset into evening is when the track feels at its best
How to get there
Yas Marina Circuit is located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and is easy to find on Google Maps.
It is around a one-hour drive from Dubai.
Parking is available on site.
Final Thoughts
There are not many sporting venues in the world that let you step inside and become part of the place so easily.
TrainYAS does exactly that.
You are not sitting in a grandstand watching from a distance. You are out on the track, moving through a venue that usually feels reserved for elite sport and major events.
That alone makes it memorable.
And the fact it is free only makes it better.
If you are in Abu Dhabi, this is one of the most unusual and enjoyable ways to exercise in the UAE.
Comments