Yas Island is definitely one of the most exciting parts of visiting Abu Dhabi for families – as well as thrill-seeking junkies and general theme park lovers – we know there are plenty of big kids out there too!
And for good reason, Yas Island truly is developing to be one of the best entertainment destinations in the world. Most come for the “Big 4” theme parks; these are:
- Yas Waterworld
- Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
- Ferrari World
- SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
And let’s not forget the newly announced Disneyland Abu Dhabi!
We are going to walk you through what to expect at each of these mega-theme parks; Most importantly, how you get there, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, how to get tickets, and what else you will find on Yas Island, from meals to accommodation and other entertainment.
Let’s dive into Yas Island!
How to get to Yas Island and the Theme Parks
- Self-drive & park
- Buses from Dubai & Abu Dhabi
- Private transfer services & taxi
- Yas Express shuttle on Yas Island
Self Drive & Park
The easiest way is always with your own car, if available. There is ample car parking at all the theme parks – you are NOT facing a Disney World-type parking scenario at all!
Are they all next to each other? Not quite. The entrances to Yas Waterworld and Warner Bros World are adjacent—but not their car park entrances. WB World has a multi-deck covered car park, but it’s a bit of a hike to the entrance in the hotter months. The Yas Waterworld car pack is actually best if you want to switch between the two.
For Ferrari World, you can park in any of the Yas Mall car parks, but there is one dedicated to theme park parking. You can walk from Ferrari World/Yas Mall to the other two, but on a hot day with kids, it’s a long walk. We recommend you take the free Yas Express shuttle in between—more below!
SeaWorld sits a little further away on Yas Island with its own rather convoluted and poorly sign-posted car park, depending on what angle you’re coming from. Look for the Yas Express shuttle without your own car, as it’s not really walking distance from the other three, or call a Careem/taxi – you may get one of the new autonomous vehicles that operate on Yas!
Dubai to Yas Island
Public Bus from Dubai to Yas Island
There are three Intercity public buses from Dubai. The 101 leaves from Ibn Battuta Station (Red Line Metro), while the 100 departs from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station (in Deira).
Both arrive at Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station (Al Wadha). This bus costs 25 AED per person. You must then connect with local bus service 190, which takes you to Yas Island (NB you can’t use Nol for Abu Dhabi bus services, you’ll need to get a Hafilat card at the Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station).
One other option is the Intercity 102, which drops passengers at the new AUH airport, from where you can connect to local services to Yas Island, though connection times don’t always neatly align.
Yas Express complimentary shuttle bus service from Dubai
These buses depart in the morning from Dubai at 11:00 AM and return to Dubai in the evening from two pick-up points at Ferrari World and Yas Waterworld/WB World Abu Dhabi :
- Route Y6 – Deira City Center (next to Aloft Hotel)
- Route Y7 – Ibn Battuta Station (China Court entrance)
The buses return from Yas Island at 7:30 PM (Route Y7) and 8:00 PM (Route Y6)
Arrange a private transfer from Dubai to Yas Island
The easiest way with a larger group is to arrange your transfers door-to-door, using a same-day service. You can try these providers from our affiliate partners:
- Private Group with Chauffeur (Hire for up to a group of 7 for 10 hours with GYG)
- Private transfer service from Dubai to Abu Dhabi attractions (transport only with Klook)
- Private Transfers from Dubai (including Park Tickets with Viator)
For comparison, a taxi from Dubai to Yas Island will cost you around AED 300-400 each way, with Careem or Uber slightly more. Some Dubai taxis may be reluctant to drive the whole way and ask you to change taxis just over the border at a petrol station.
How to get to the Yas Island Theme Parks by bus from Abu Dhabi
As mentioned above, from Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, you can catch the 190, which loops around Saadiyat Island and drops you off at the front of Ferrari World. You can see the full route map here.
If you are coming from the Airport, local bus service A19 leaves once an hour and stops at Ferrari World/Yas Mall and Yas Waterworld.
From other major tourist attractions in Abu Dhabi, look for the Visit Abu Dhabi shuttle service Route B, which takes a circular loop including the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Central Bus Station, the Louvre, and Jubail Island Mangroves.
On Yas Island, there are free Yas Express shuttle buses with pickups at the major hotels.
- Y1 runs from Yas Plaza Hotels & W Hotel to the theme parks
- Y2 runs from Hilton (Yas Bay) to the theme parks
Yas Express buses also run from Masdar City and Yas Marina.
Alternatively, a taxi is an easy way to get a group there. You are looking at 45AED coming straight from the airport AUH (as there is a 25AED flagfall), or approximately 60-80AED coming from “on island”.
Transport once you are on Yas Island
Once you are on Yas Island, all shuttle services are FREE on the Yas Express.
What to Expect at the Yas Theme Parks
These are the basic facts you need to know about each of the Yas Theme Parks:
Yas Waterworld
Regularly voted as the region – and the world’s – Best Water Park, it’s not hard to see why. This Emirati-themed water park features over 60 rides and attractions, with the latest extension opening on July 1, 2025.
It’s a great place to take even your under-3s, as several of the splash areas are designed explicitly with tots in mind. The junior slides are followed by the Marah Fortress for your older kids. Of course, the waterpark favourites, the Crazy River and the Amwaj Wave Pool, are available for all the family to enjoy together.
Thrill-seekers can then graduate on to the Slithers Slides, the Sebag racing lanes, and a straight drop down in the Liwa Loop. There are family and group rides, too, like the Falcons Falaj and Dawamma, the world’s largest tornado water coaster!
There is a further extension to Yas Waterworld expected to open later in 2026!
Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
With a spectacular 29 rides, attractions, and entertaining shows, this entirely indoor theme park is an absolute family crowd-pleaser. You will find cartoon favourites from your own childhood, from the Flintstones and the Jetsons, as well as DC Comic heroes wandering the streets of Metropolis and Gotham City.
It is primarily suited to your kids of 4 years+, but some rides and attractions are suitable for those under 1.1m or open to all ages.
You can read a detailed review of what to expect at Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi here
Rumour has it that a ‘Harry Potter World’ will be added to WB World Abu Dhabi, but when and what exact format seems to still remain a mystery! We share our thoughts on this over on our Abu Dhabi site.
Ferrari World
Home to some of the fastest rides in the world – including the World’s Fastest Roller Coaster, Formula Rossa – this is where you want to take your little adrenaline junkies. The recently extended Family Zone makes it accessible to a much wider age group, with many rides now available to kids under 1.2m.
It’s a great place to enjoy endless hours of rollercoaster fun, simulator games, live shows, and dining options. Everything is Ferrari-themed in this one-of-a-kind action theme park – entirely indoors (except for some of the coasters, which need to escape outside the building due to their height!)
You can read a full review of what to expect at the Ferrari World Family Zone here
SeaWorld Yas Island
The region’s first entirely indoor marine life theme park opened its doors to the public in Spring 2023. Consisting of eight ‘realms,’ the park offers various immersive experiences that travel from the polar regions to the tropics.
You’ll find over 100 animal experiences, presentations, up-close animal encounters, and expeditions. The centrepiece is the world’s largest aquarium tank, which towers over five floors and holds an incredible 58 million litres of water.
There are add-on experiences for additional cost, including dolphin encounters, underwater walking tours, and the SeaSub.
This is our top pick of indoor theme parks if you’re travelling to Abu Dhabi with toddlers.
Yas Island Theme Park Tickets
There are many ways you can get your hands on Yas theme park tickets, and you can simply buy them at the door when you get to each venue; generally, there are only queues on holiday weekends.
We always recommend pre-purchasing at least a day in advance and having vouchers on your phone, as this should save you 10% on the door price.
- Tickets to Ferrari World
- Tickets to Yas Waterworld
- Tickets to Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
- Tickets to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi (optional add-on experiences available)
If you are staying at one of the Yas Island hotels (see below), you may also be able to get tickets included in the price of your hotel room and take advantage of very generous ‘Stay and Play’ packages.
Multi-Park Passes for Yas Island
If you plan to visit more than one of the Yas theme parks, you’ll start to see significant savings. Purchasing direct from any of the venues, you can get the following multi-day park passes, which are valid for 6 days from first entry:
- 2 parks from AED 475
- 3 parks from AED 575
- 4 parks from AED 675
Prices are valid as of winter 2026
What other attractions are on Yas Island?
It is definitely worth sticking around Yas Island for more than just the theme parks. Here’s what else you can find:
Motor Sports
- Well, we can’t not mention the Formula One Grand Prix, right? Held at the end of November every year on the island’s centrepiece, the Yas Marina Circuit. Come and party with the rich and famous, and enjoy the concerts and the general party atmosphere around town.
- Visiting off-season? Not to worry, there are plenty of ways you can still enjoy the track. Our favourite is joining in with the open track nights at the Yas Marina Circuit – TrainYas. Entry to the track is free, and you can hire bikes – some are free, or better bikes are paid for. The free ones get snapped up early when the weather is good. There are also AM track mornings for the super-fit bikers!
- You can do a lap of the track with Formula 3000 Driving Experiences (over 18s and need to be between 160cm and 188cm)
- If you’re not quite ready for the big cars, give the karts a go! Yas Marina Kart Zone can be found at Yas Central – in the heart of the GP track, still enough to get your adrenaline pumping!
- Or, for a more sedate option, go with a 2-hour behind the scenes tour of the circuit and race control rooms.
Leisure Attractions on Yas Island
- Further around the island, Yas Marina is a beautiful setting to enjoy dinner and a drink overlooking the marina. There’s also a fountain area and a play park for kids.
- Open since late 2021, Yas Bay Waterfront is the city’s stunning new nightlight destination, with more than a dozen bars and restaurants, and attached to Etihad Arena, the city’s premier entertainment venue.
- Etihad Park is a spectacular open-air events venue between the race track and Ferrari World.
- Yas Links includes an 18-hole golf course with a spectacular waterfront setting, a links course, and dining overlooking the water.
- Yas Acres Golf & Country Club offers an additional sporting option, featuring an 18-hole course, along with extensive leisure facilities and dining.
- CLYMB Abu Dhabi is home to the world’s largest indoor skydiving centre and the world’s tallest indoor climbing wall for the fitness enthusiast.
- Yas Beach provides a luxurious cabana-style setting if sun loungers on the beach is your thing. Normally pretty quiet on weekdays, then weekends, when school is out, it’s family and party time. There are water sports on-site and dining options.
- For those living in Abu Dhabi, you may enjoy picnicking or taking the kids down on their bikes to Yas Gateways parks, north and south. Most of the year, these lie empty as overflow parking for the Grand Prix, but they’ve been made into beautiful parkland to enjoy the rest of the year.
- Oh, and looking for all-around dining and entertainment options? Yas Mall is as big as it gets in Abu Dhabi. Attached to Ferrari World here, you will find not just shopping but cinemas, restaurants, a food court, a giant Toys R Us, a Virgin Megastore, a Pop in & Play Lego childcare, Air Maniax, and KidZania Abu Dhabi – to name a few! It’s a hub of activity, especially evenings and weekends.
As you can see, you need far more than a day to enjoy everything on offer on Yas Island. We recommend at least two full days to enjoy it all, if not more.
Yas Island Hotels: Where to stay on Yas Island
There are several hotels to suit different budget ranges on Yas Island. All come with great facilities, are interconnected by the Yas Express shuttle bus system, and have access to Yas Beach.
- The newest opening is The WB Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton – ideally situated between Yas Waterworld and WB World. Think themed rooms and dining with theme park tickets included with your stay!
- Our next choice for families would be Hilton Abu Dhabi – Yas Island. Situated along the new Yas Bay Waterfront, this hotel is simply bursting with leisure facilities, dining, and theme park ticket packages are possible too.
- The most unique of all the hotels is W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island (previously called Yas Viceroy and Yas Hotel). W Hotel straddles the actual Grand Prix track and has sensational track views and a rooftop pool.
The other choices on Yas Island to try (all located together in the Yas Hotel Plaza) are:
- Yas Island Rotana
- Centro Yas Island – by Rotana
- Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi Yas Island
- Park Inn by Radisson Abu Dhabi Yas Island
- Crowne Plaza Yas Island
- Staybridge Suites Yas Island Abu Dhabi
You really can’t go wrong staying at the nearby hotels if the theme parks are the aim of your trip, and you want the ease of access either back to Abu Dhabi Airport or driving back to Dubai without hitting the centre of Abu Dhabi.
If you do want to add some sightseeing, you are less than 20 minutes away from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in one direction and the Saadiyat Island luxury beach resorts in the other, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
We hope we’ve inspired you to book a trip from Dubai to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi to experience the theme park fun.
You can catch more of our UAE inspirational family travel guides here:
- How to do an Abu Dhabi stopover (under 24 hrs)
- 40+ things to do for Free or Really cheap in Abu Dhabi
- The UAE’s best eco-tourism experiences
- Guide to all-inclusive resorts in Abu Dhabi
- Best indoor activities with kids in Abu Dhabi
- Best indoor activities with kids in Dubai
- Best value Dubai attraction tickets
- Best outdoor winter activities in Abu Dhabi and the UAE
This page is in no way sponsored by any of the businesses mentioned, however, our editorial team has received occasional complimentary media passes to attractions. We are affiliates for the ticketing services mentioned and hotels. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Feature image copyright Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi. You can read our full website terms of use here.
The Family Travel in the Middle East team of travel writers are all parents based in the Middle East, sharing first hand experiences and reviews from across the region to help you plan your next family adventure.
