Yas Island, Artificial island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Yas Island is an artificial island in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi that brings together leisure facilities, hotels, and a Formula 1 circuit across an area of roughly 25 square kilometers (about 10 square miles). The island sits between the mainland and the coast and is connected to the rest of the city by several bridges.
The island took shape from 2006 through land reclamation and opened in 2009 with the race track and first leisure facilities. In the following years, more theme parks and hotel areas were added, turning the site into a center for entertainment and events.
The name Yas comes from a plant that once grew in the coastal waters and still appears in regional stories. Families from the Emirates visit on weekends to spend time in air-conditioned theme parks or walk along the beach.
Buses run regularly between the different areas and take visitors to hotels, theme parks, and the race grounds. The island sits close to the airport and can be reached from the city center via several access roads.
Part of the race track runs underneath a lit hotel roof that glows in changing colors at night. The building is one of the few places in the world where an active Formula 1 circuit passes through.
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