Yas Island in United Arab Emirates
Introduction about Yas Island
Yas island acts
as a representative of the strategies of the government’s tourism whose fruits
have already been witnessed. There has been an increased capacity to the
tourism infrastructure of Abu Dhabi. This increase in capacity is due to the
formula one circuit, the surrounding hotel complex; Yas water world, Yas mall
and Ferrari world theme park. The inauguration of Abu Dhabi Grand Pix took
place in November 2009 and was attended by 50000 people. This was number
seventeen and the final race of the 2009 season. The Yas marina and circuit
were also chosen to host season 2010 which took place in November from date 12
to date 14. Yas Island acts as one of an indicator of the markets which made
the authorities in Abu Dhabi intend to create in the emirate. (Oxford business
group).This report will discuss the tourism development in Yas Island and its
recreational places. It will also look into the mall, centers and hotels in the
Island.
Tourism development in
YAS Island
According to
Thomas (2010), the island was used by Sheikh Zayed, the founder of the United
Arab Emirates. He used it as a new archaeological site. The excavation stopped
up to 2009 However, Al Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed (the crown Prince of Abu
Dhabi) put an order to continue the excavation work. The chairman of the
Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) was also pleased with the
opening of the ancient site. The chairman of the Tourism Development and
Investment Company (TDIC) was also pleased with the opening of the ancient
site. He said that there was a focus on creating a multi-experience tourism
destination. The TDIC and archaeologists begin working together to preserve the
location and make modern developments on it. (Thomas 2010).
The achievement
of great and large project requires several years and many workers. Yas Island
project considered as one of the most ambitious construction projects in the
20th and 21st centuries. There are nearly 200 islands around Abu Dhabi, and Yas
island one of them (Abu Dhabi – Leading the way, 2014). The
two islands are separated by a narrow water way and bridge, and a ten-lane
highway joins every end of Yas Island to Abu Dhabi. In 2006, it was decided to
upgrade the master-planned motor sports racetrack on Yas Island into a
permanent track designed to formula one specification. Grand prix circuit was
held on the Island on the 1st of November 2009.The design of the
racetrack was to encircle part of the marina, and the vision was referred to as
Yas Marina circuit. The race track would then become the most advanced in terms
of technology formula (Burton 2012).
According to
Oxford Business Group, the Abu Dhabi tourism sector has undergone a huge
transformation, of which the biggest part is by government investment. The
government that deals with tourism is the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA).TDIC
deals with developing the physical infrastructure for the transformations of
the sectors. The two bodies’ implemented plans for the sector that they
expected raise the percentage of visitors to 2.3 million and hotel rooms to
24000 by 2012.They also focused on the creation of important leisure tourism
based on cultural, sporting and ecological events.
TDIC also put up an air terminal to be used in
transporting local and international passengers to the island. They also came
up with a fleet of buses with no emissions. There was also a development of
conference facilities which has contributed to sustained business growth in the
tourism sector in Abu Dhabi. The Island has first- class institutions. These
institutions include; Guggenheim Abu Dhabi by Frank Gehry, the maritime museum
by Tadeo Ando and the performing arts center by Zaha Hadid. Each institution
has its significance, but Louvre, and the Guggenheim are the main ones (Oxford
Business Group).There are also several five- star hotels in the island. They
include; Rotana Resort, Shangri La Hotel, Park Hyatt Resort, Mandarin Oriental
and St. Regis Hotel and Residences. The Yas Hotel and the 428-room Crowne plaza
are also part of the
five- star hotels established in the island. In addition, the Island has a Yas
mall which too contributed to the increase in the number of hotels to 20 hotels,
1500 yacht berths, 300,000 square meters of retail space and many apartments
and villas.
The main Recreational Areas and Shopping
Centers in Yas Island
Many people in the country like to visit YAS Island even
tourists when they come to UAE. The first place they want visit is yas Island, because
that Island has biggest recreational areas and
shopping
centers. Likewise, there are four popular places that most people come to Yas
Island for visiting one of these places.
Firstly, IKEA that
provides a wide range of goods and services to everybody, from kids to grown-ups
.It has many products to furnish homes, a restaurant, a food market and a
playground for kids (Oxford Business Group).
There is also a
Ferrari World theme park that has increased the significance of Abu Dhabi’s
tourism infrastructure. It is recreational places which include fastest
rollercoaster and largest indoor theme park in the world. Ferrari World has a
wonderful design from outside which attract tourists. It covers by a big giant
sleek red roof and in the middle of the roof there are Ferrari sign. Tourists
can play different kinds of games which relate in the cars world. Besides the
excitement, there are other events such as education elements that woven with
the fun. In addition, it has a wide variety of Italian restaurants, unique
shopping experiences and dedicated entertainment (Ferrari World Abu Dhabi,
2012).
Moreover, Yas mall
considered one of the biggest malls in Abu Dhabi and biggest enclosed gathering
space of any shopping center in the Middle East, located at the center of Yas Island and mall far about 10 min from Abu
Dhabi airport also about 20 min from downtown Abu Dhabi. It has over 15 screen cinemas
on 2D, 3D and 4DX operated by VOX Cinemas. Also housed more than 250 world-class
shopping and there over 60 Best international restaurants. Moreover, Yas Mall includes
family entertainment area by Funworks, which can kids and family have fan day
out in that place.
Finally, Yas Water
Worlds is the first mega water park in Abu Dhabi, and is one of the best water parks
in UAE also this park is unforgettable water adventure for people. Yas Water
world got a second place over 20 waterparks in the world by the los Angeles times-global ranking of the
world top (Yas Island. (n.d.).Moreover, Yas water world have more rides, slides
and attractions than any other park in the middle east . Furthermore, this Water
Park have more than 40 different types of water games. There are many activities
like unique pearl diving experience. This activity shows the visitors about our
traditional Emirati pearl diving culture also give them more information about
diving experiment and people can create their own perals jewelers at Yas water
world pearl dive. Yas Water Words provide flow club for people who want know
how to use a surf board with a 3 meter high wave and 1250 horse power
pumps pushing around 6000 liters of water per second. The club has professional
trainers
that who have many years of experience in this sport.
References
1- Burton .S (2012). Staying Afloat: Three years in Abu Dhabi.USA.
2- Thomas (December 12, 2010).Ancient Secrets of Sir Bani Island
unveiled. Retrieved from http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/ancient-secrets-of-sir-bani-yas-island-unveiled#page2
3- Yas Island. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2014, from
http://www.yaslinks.com/Yas_Island.aspx
4- Oxford Business Group. The report: Abu Dhabi 2010
5- Emirate Guides - Abu-Dhabi.
(n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2014, from
http://www.yellowpages.ae/abu-dhabi.html
6- Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.
(2012, January 9). Retrieved from
http://www.yasisland.ae/en/visiting/discover-yas-island/attractions/ferrari-world-abu-dhabi/
7- Edgell, H.S (2006).Arabian deserts: Nature, origin and
evolution.Netherlands.Springer.
8- Oxford Business Group. The report: Abu Dhabi 2013
