There is something fascinating about man-made infrastructure projects. From the tallest buildings to the longest bridges and now artificial islands, modern construction seems to know no bounds. There are many parts of the world where serious development is taking place, but no region is arguably transforming faster than the Middle East.
Cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi now dazzle with jaw-dropping skylines, and that momentum shows no signs of slowing down. But one of the less talked about projects in that region is Yas Island, a huge leisure hub built from scratch in the United Arab Emirates. According to the World Construction Network, Yas Island is one of the largest man-made islands in Abu Dhabi, covering 2,500 hectares with around 32km (19 miles) of beachfront.
It’s home to four theme parks, dozens of hotels, malls, and residential areas, and the total project cost reached around £30 billion ($40bn).
The island is located just 20 minutes from the centre of Abu Dhabi and under an hour from Dubai.
It’s connected to the mainland by a tunnel and roads, with the airport only 10 minutes away.
The first phase opened in 2009 to host the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the newly-built Yas Marina Circuit.
Since then, the island has grown rapidly and now includes Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World, and SeaWorld Yas Island – the region’s first marine life theme park.
Ferrari World is the world’s largest indoor theme park, with a 50-metre-high red roof built from over 12,000 tonnes of steel.
Yas Waterworld has more than 40 rides, including the tallest slide in the UAE and one of the tallest in the world.
Warner Bros. World opened in 2018 and features themed lands based on DC Comics and classic cartoons, while SeaWorld Yas Island, which opened in 2023, has five indoor levels and focuses on conservation and education.
Alongside the theme parks, Yas Island also has the Yas Mall – the largest shopping centre in Abu Dhabi – with more than 400 shops and 12,000 parking spaces.
The island’s futuristic Yas Marina Hotel even straddles the F1 track with a glass-panelled bridge and LED-lit canopy.
Other attractions include CLYMB Abu Dhabi, an indoor climbing and skydiving centre, the Etihad Arena for concerts and sports events, and the newly developed Sustainable City Yas Island, which is a car-free residential project using solar energy and green technologies.