Ultimate Guide to Attending the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has become an iconic race on the Formula One calendar since it was added to the F1 season in 2009.

Being the last race of the season means you can witness some incredible moments (Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton's dramatic final lap in 2022 anyone!?) and even if the title is already decided, it's still a sporting event well worth attending.

I've attended the event numerous times and loved it on every single occasion, so with that in mind, here is your guide to attending the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

About the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Yas Marina Circuit is the home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, located minutes from Abu Dhabi's international airport and around 40 minutes from Downtown Abu Dhabi. The circuit is one of a huge number of attractions on Yas Island from theme parks, golf courses, shopping malls and entertainment districts to hotels, restaurants and bars.

In many ways, Abu Dhabi's F1 weekend brings together the best of other races around the world throughout the season. Yas Marina Circuit resembles that of Monaco's harbour on race weekend with multi-million dollar yachts lining the circuit, the fanzones and activations have a sense of the Silverstone atmosphere with passionate race fans celebrating another season's climax whilst its track has brought us iconic moments in a similar way other circuits have served up some of F1's most historic moments.

With every visit to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix I've been in ore of the buzz the race creates around the island. There's something very special about the race beginning at dusk and transitioning into a night race under the lights. The pre-race flyover by the Etihad Airways A380 aircraft flanked by the UAE's air display team sets up the sporting occasion with a bang and the after-race concerts, which are free to attend for ticket-holders are a great way to conclude each day's racing.

For us sports travel fans, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is well worth attending. Even with the cheapest ticket you still feel in the thick of the action instead of being an outsider.

If you are looking to attend the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix here are some resources that will help you plan and get the best experience.

Best Ticket Options for 2024

Tickets for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are on sale and currently still available. For future reference, it's worth pointing out that tickets for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tend to go on-sale early in the year and in the early stages of being on sale often come with discounts. But don't worry if you have missed out on early bird tickets for 2024, the main thing is you can still be there.

Currently the best avenues to buy tickets are via yasmarinacircuit.com or motorsporttickets.com. You'll find varying price ranges, packages and deals and for budget friendly options, you'll find 3-day tickets for under £500.

Motorsport Tickets are a good option for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tickets and they are currently selling 3-day Grandstand tickets from £447. These tickets are located in the Marina Grandstand meaning you'll have a great view of the second DRS zone, a reserved seat, the iconic W Hotel that straddles the circuit in view as well as the marina.

This stand is often packed full of Dutch fans complete with their orange t-shirts. For this ticket you'll also get access to the Oasis fanzone behind the grandstand where you'll find bars, food stalls, activations and merchandise as well as entry to each day's after-race concerts and complimentary access to one of Yas Island's theme parks or museums with your ticket.

Yas Marina Circuit is also a good option for ticket packages and they always has a wide variety of tickets available for race weekend. The way the event puts its ticket packages together means you can enjoy so much of what Yas Island has to offer. One of the best deals available for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the Abu Dhabi Hill Family Fun Pass across the 3-day race weekend, priced at AED999.

That is incredible value for 2 adults and 2 kids (aged 12 and under) for 3 days, especially considering it also includes access to the F1 fanzones, after-race concerts, a one-day Yas Island theme park access and a Pit Lane walk on Thursday. Abu Dhabi Hill is an open-air viewing area in the middle of the circuit with views of the track as well as big screens in view to follow the action. This is where I watched that dramatic race in 2021 unfold as Lewis Hamilton's 8th World Title was snatched away from him on the final lap.

The atmosphere on Abu Dhabi Hill is brilliant. It's like F1's version of Henman Hill. A picnic vibe but in the heart of the action. There's always plenty of room to move around and you have the luxury of seeing different parts of the track depending on where you place yourself on the hill, it's a really good option to get a flavour of the whole event.

If you are located on Abu Dhabi Hill, you'll also get access to the start/finish straight at the end of the race for the podium presentation.

If you're not looking to take the whole family, Yas Marina Circuit's Horizon 360 ticket option is also good value for a 3-day ticket. Located opposite Abu Dhabi Hill, you'll get great views of the opening stages of each lap, get access to Thursday's Pit Lane walk and all after-race concerts. You'll also receive a 1-day complimentary access for one of Yas Island's theme parks. A 3-day pass is priced at AED1,650. Please note that Horizon 360 tickets are not suitable for fans who need accessible access.

*A note on F1 tickets. You'll often find the most expensive tickets are through the official F1 website and that is because when you search for tickets via the F1 website, you'll be re-directed to a third-party ticket seller which is branded as F1. You are always best to go through the race venue's website, official race promotor or official experienced F1 ticket sellers such as motorsportstickets.com.

Where to stay

Do the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in luxury

W Hotel, Yas Island:

Good news! There are still rooms available at the W Hotel, the hotel that straddle the Yas Marina Circuit. Bad news, it'll set you back at least £11,000 for a 3-night stay over the F1 weekend. It is of course an unbelievable hotel to stay in, and on an F1 weekend you'll probably have a driver in the next room to you. If you are booking at this price, make sure you at least have a room with a view of the circuit!

Hilton Yas Island:

The Hilton Yas Island is up there with one of my favourite hotels on Yas Island. It has a stunning coastline location and a boulevard right outside the back of the hotel full of restaurants, bars and walks and would be a perfect retreat after a day at the track. The circuit is within walking distance of the hotel.

The WB Abu Dhabi:

If having breakfast with Tom & Jerry floats your boat, then you should stay at the WB. It's the Warner Bros. themed hotel where you'll find memorabilia from Warner Bros. blockbuster movies such as props, artwork and characters. Located on Yas Island with Yas Marina Circuit within walking distance it's a very good option for F1 fans and is within very easy reach of Yas Marina Circuit on foot as well as Yas Island's theme parks.

Affordable hotels for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi and the Novotel Abu Dhabi:

Both of these options are further into the city of Abu Dhabi and offer a more cost-effective option for accommodation but still within easy reach of Yas Marina Circuit by taxi.

The budget hotel option for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

As you can imagine, hotel prices in Abu Dhabi on the weekend of the Grand Prix are higher than normal. But another option you have is staying in Dubai and commuting to each race-day at Yas Marina Circuit. Given the circuit's location on Yas Island, it's actually not that far to Dubai. Around a 45 minute drive in a taxi. If you're looking at Dubai, make sure you are at the Dubai Marina end of the city which is the closest to Abu Dhabi, and the reward you get for being a little further away from the circuit is hotel prices for around half the price.

Local Transport

Whilst Abu Dhabi is a modern metropolis one thing it perhaps lacks a little in is public transport options. There's no metro or tram system and bus services are difficult to get to grip with. Local taxi's and ride-hailing cabs are really your only options in getting around but they are reliable and plenty of. Getting a taxi to the circuit each day is never difficult and there are always plenty of drivers around the circuit after the race ready to whisk you off to your destination.

Once you are on Yas Island there are free shuttle busses making it easy for fans to get around the different areas of Yas Island.

International Travel

Abu Dhabi is served by most of the main airlines in the world as well as some of the low cost carriers from Europe and Asia meaning there are plenty of options when it comes to flights. As always with a big sporting event which is the centre of attention in that particular city it's best to book as early as possible, but there are still deals you can find.

When arriving into Abu Dhabi for 2024's Grand Prix, you'll also be welcomed by Abu Dhabi's brand new airport terminal.