Abu Dhabi says 'Yas' to the world

Leading property developer ALDAR Properties PJSC today announced plans for Yas Island, one of the largest natural islands in Abu Dhabi.

http://www.ameinfo.com/images/news/2/32712-marin.jpg
Marina at night.

Yas Island will be a prestigious world-class leisure destination, with mixed-use tourist attractions including beaches, entertainment, shopping, hotels, residences, golfing, equestrian facilities and motor racing. Yas Island will host the world's first 'Ferrari World'.

Outlining the scale of the project, ALDAR's Chairman Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh commented on its size and ambitions: 'Yas Island will combine the many natural attractions of an island with the world's most popular leisure activities. We have taken mankind's passion for the sea, for racing cars, shopping, golfing, and luxurious living, and designed them all into a single unique setting. Yas Island will be the only destination in the world that combines our desert and maritime traditions with the fascinations of Florida and the elegance of Monte Carlo. It will be the world's most complete leisure destination. "

"At ALDAR Properties, our business model is based on strategically integrated residential and leisure developments, with particular emphasis on infrastructure, planning, and environmental protection. With the launch of Yas Island we are inviting the whole world to our land. We are inviting the world to say 'Yas'," he said.

CEO Ronald Barrott elaborated on Yas Island, and its many attractions: "We have been working to create a unique destination that will present Abu Dhabi to the global tourist market. Our intention is to bring together families, friends and individuals seeking options of entertainment, excitement, nature and peace in one location," he said.

Shopping will be one of the key attractions, with retail areas occupying a staggering 300,000 square metres. Ferrari World will be a major highlight, through ALDAR's rights to a Ferrari-themed park, museum and theatre. These attractions are linked to a top quality motor race track on which visitors can experience the thrill of the exclusive Ferrari Driving School (Pilota Ferrari), kart track and dune buggies. They can also test the limits of their own cars under professional instruction.

More peacefully, located on the island will be two major marinas and yachting facilities; resort hotels, lagoon hotels and hotel apartments; a water park, three golf courses, a polo field and equestrian centre, restaurants and cafes, and mixed type residences. Plans are underway to adapt sensitive and beautiful parts of the island into conservation areas. A number of very select individual homes will be made available on the island, at a later stage.

ALDAR said that more details would be announced in due course, but that Yas Island would feature a range of attractions and activities that will appeal to people of all age groups, and retain the interest of every member of a visiting family. The company also expects most people to stay on Yas Island for a minimum of seven days, and all activities - shopping, sports, leisure, recreation and others - are designed around long-stay visitors.

Yas Island, spread over an impressive area of 2,500 hectares, is roughly one third the size of the island of Abu Dhabi, and features a beach front shoreline of approximately 32 kms. Infrastructure will be developed around the Yas Island project in advance and to the operational benefit of the capital city. A new ten-lane highway will connect Yas Island to the new Abu Dhabi International Airport, the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway, and the city of Abu Dhabi at Mina Port. Yas Island will also connect to ALDAR's signature Al Raha Beach development.

Yas Island is easily accessible by road, air and water. International visitors flying into Abu Dhabi will be able to see the bright glow of the red Ferrari World roof from the air, and can reach Yas Island within minutes of disembarking. Just ten minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport and a similar distance from ALDAR's Al Raha Beach, Yas Island is located at the gateway to Abu Dhabi, and will target the 1.6 billion catchment area located within six hours flying time to the UAE.

From Al Ittihad (http://www.alittihad.ae/details.php?a=1&journal=2006/11/30&id=83772):

http://www.alittihad.ae/assets/images/2006/11/11470/biz_01_b_301106.JPG

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/1332/yaskk0.jpg

تحويل الجزيرة إلى واجهة سياحية عالمية وتطوير أشكال الحياة البرية
خليفة يطلع على مجسمات وتصاميم مشروع جديد لجزيرة صير بني ياس

http://aycu10.webshots.com/image/6129/2004774416649132605_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2004774416649132605)

اطلع صاحب السمو الشيخ خليفة بن زايد آل نهيان رئيس الدولة حفظه الله بقصر سموه في البطين ظهر أمس بحضور الفريق أول سمو الشيخ محمد بن زايد آل نهيان ولي عهد ابوظبي نائب القائد الأعلى للقوات المسلحة على مجسمات وتصاميم لمشروع جزيرة صير بني ياس الذي يهدف إلى تحويل الجزيرة إلى واجهة سياحية بيئية عالمية.

http://aycu10.webshots.com/image/7249/2004778735600487889_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2004778735600487889)

كما اطلع صاحب السمو رئيس الدولة على مجسم آخر لمشروع مجمع المعارض الدولي في أبو ظبي الذي أعلنت عنه مؤخرا شركة أبوظبي الوطنية للمعارض ? أدنيك? بتكلفة تصل 8 مليارات درهم. كما اطلع على مجسمات وتصاميم المشروعين إلى جانب صاحب السمو رئيس الدولة سمو الشيخ طحنون بن زايد آل نهيان رئيس هيئة الطيران الأميري بابوظبي وسمو الشيخ منصور بن زايد آل نهيان وزير شؤون الرئاسة وسمو الشيخ حامد بن زايد آل نهيان رئيس دائرة التخطيط والاقتصاد.


وسمو الشيخ الدكتور سلطان بن خليفة آل نهيان رئيس ديوان سمو ولي العهد وسمو الشيخ محمد بن خليفه آل نهيان رئيس دائرة المالية والشيخ سلطان بن طحنون آل نهيان رئيس هيئة ابوظبي للسياحة وعدد من أصحاب السمو الشيوخ وكبار المسؤولين بالدولة.


واستمع صاحب السمو الشيخ خليفة بن زايد آل نهيان رئيس الدولة حفظه الله من الشيخ سلطان بن طحنون آل نهيان إلى شرح مفصل عن مشروع جزيرة صير بني ياس الجديد .


وما يتضمنه من عمليات تطوير لجميع أشكال الحياة البرية ومن بنى تحتية ومحميات طبيعية تساهم في تفعيل مكانة الجزيرة كوجهة سياحية بيئية عالمية تعمل على جذب المزيد من السياح بمختلف جنسياتهم إلى إمارة ابوظبي ودولة الإمارات بشكل عام.
http://aycu11.webshots.com/image/6890/2003026409491469106_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003026409491469106)
Apart from the Ferrari World theme park, the projected development of Al Yas incorporates a number of hotels, resorts, a race track, as well as a 300,000 square metre shopping mall, the biggest in Abu Dhabi.

كما استمع سموه من الشيخ سلطان بن طحنون إلى شرح كامل عن مراحل تشييد مشروع مجمع المعارض الدولي في أبوظبي الذي سيحقق نقلة نوعية في صناعة المعارض والمؤتمرات بدولة الإمارات وأسواق الشرق الأوسط وبالتالي جذب واستقطاب معظم الشركات العالمية المنظمة للمعارض في العالم إلى ابوظبي.


وأبدى صاحب السمو رئيس الدولة إعجابه واهتمامه الكبيرين بالمشروعين مؤكدا سموه دعمه لمثل هذه المشاريع الناجحة التي من شأنها أن تساهم في تعزيز المكانة الاقتصادية والاستثمارية والسياحية لدولة الإمارات على المستويين الإقليمي والعالمي.


وتبلغ مساحة جزيرة صير بني ياس 87 كيلومترا مربعا وتبعد حوالي 200 كم عن مدينة ابوظبي ويستهدف مشروع الجزيرة السياحي البيئي الجديد استقطاب 170 ألف زائر عام 2016 بنسبة 50 بالمئة من الزوار المحليين و50 بالمئة من دول مجلس التعاون وجميع دول العالم.


ويتضمن المخطط الرئيسي لمشروع الجزيرة عملية تطوير لجميع أشكال الحياة البرية بالإضافة إلى البنى التحتية التي تخدم السياح وزوار الجزيرة كالشاليهات الراقية المميزة بالطابع البيئي واخرى ترفيهية تطل على شواطئ الجزيرة وغيرها لرحلات السفاري بالإضافة إلى فلل ذات تصاميم هندسية خلابة للعائلات والأفواج السياحية الكبيرة.


وحسب مجسمات وتصاميم مشروع جزيرة صير بني ياس فان الجزيرة سيجري تقسيمها حسب نوعية الحيوانات والبيئة المحيطة بها وذلك إلى ثلاث مناطق رئيسية عربية وآسيوية وافريقية بحيث تتضمن نشاطات سياحية بيئية مثيرة كمراقبة الطيور والحيوانات النادرة وغيرها في محمياتها الطبيعية ورحلات السفاري الإفريقية والغوص وغيرها.


وبالنسبة لمشروع مجمع المعارض الدولي في أبو ظبي الذي بدأ العمل في مرحلته الأولى التي يتوقع الانتهاء منها في ديسمبر القادم فيقع على مساحة إجمالية تبلغ 75 ألف متر مربع فيها منطقة لملتقى الزوار بمساحة 21 ألف متر مربع وقاعات متعددة الأغراض بمساحة 7 آلاف و500 متر مربع إلى جانب تسهيلات متقدمة للمؤتمرات تتسع لألف و200 شخص ومرافق الحفلات وأكثر من 30 قاعة للاجتماعات بمواصفات عالية الجودة. (وام).

what's great about this project , is that the island is natural.. i wish them also to have project in Das island which has a lot of beautiful animals , birds and trees :)

Das island which has a lot of beautiful animals , birds and trees :)
... and oil installations

Abu Dhabi will be soon in the limelight !

Congratulations,
:)

keep in touch,

jasmin.

^^ hi jasmine and welcome to the UAE forum ^_^

Nice to see RAK in ur signature ^_^

where is it located???

200 km far from Abu Dhabi

200 km far from Abu Dhabi

wat the....200km...more distance than dubai...:ohno:

200 km far from Abu Dhabi

It's not Sir Bani Yas ... different island call "Yas Island"

Distance to Abu Dhabi City 30-minute drive

Distance to Airport
10-minute drive

Opposite to Al Raha beach

http://www.yasisland.ae/imgs/visuals/abudhabi.jpg

If you wanna have more information, have a look at their website: http://www.yasisland.ae

http://sniper1980.googlepages.com/yas_island.jpg

http://sniper1980.googlepages.com/Race_Track.jpg

http://sniper1980.googlepages.com/hotels.jpg

http://sniper1980.googlepages.com/marina.jpg

http://sniper1980.googlepages.com/Farrari_Theme_Park.jpg

http://sniper1980.googlepages.com/yas_island1.jpg

what's great about this project , is that the island is natural.. i wish them also to have project in Das island which has a lot of beautiful animals , birds and trees :)

And why would you like a project to be built on a natural island that you say is home to many wild animals? Do you not understand that doing that will destroy their environment which is an extremely delicate balance?

Hey.. those renderings posted two posts above are the exact same as the ones for the Formula One Theme Park in Dubai Motor City, DubaiLand!

Check MotorCity.ae (http://www.motorcity.ae)

And why would you like a project to be built on a natural island that you say is home to many wild animals? Do you not understand that doing that will destroy their environment which is an extremely delicate balance?

Fluppet, yours photo gallery is the best :)
Have more pics ?

Abu Dhabi will be soon in the limelight !

Congratulations,
:)

keep in touch,

jasmin.

Jasmin, thanks. nice :) :) :)

sorry for that mistake
and
nobody perfect..!!

amazing proyect

What do people think of the renderings for this project and has anyone watched the animation?

great looking island!

The Design firm behind Yas Island (http://www.benoy.com/html/news.cfm?newsID=42&level2link=&newsName=Yas%20Island%20under%20starter's%20orders)

http://www.benoy.com/html/news.cfm?newsID=42&level2link=&newsName=Yas%20Island%20under%20starter's%20orders

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y267/griftre/0612042Bdubai2B033.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y267/griftre/0612042Bdubai2B034.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y267/griftre/0612042Bdubai2B039.jpg

:cheers:

buthabi coming out soo fast great project ...........

WB will be in Yas Island

^^ I saw the ad for that but I wasn't sure if it's a WB theme park or just a one time even sponsored by Yas Island?

^^ not sure but I guess it will be a theme park

immpressive project :cheers:

^^ not sure but I guess it will be a theme park

It's more then a theme park by WB - multi-billion-dirham deal - between them and Aldar.

It will include a theme park, a luxury hotel, multiplex cinemas, production of feature films and develop and produce video games, as well as the growth of new media in the emirate - all in joint venture - 50 50 - with Aldar.

WB is doing the same in Dubailand.

More info.... http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jYk0Uq1UmOB8Eu2K4irNbpjN0XUA

griftre, is there an exhibition on somewhere where the models of Yas Island are where your pictures are from?

If so, where is this at?

Aldar signs deal to build two hotels for Accor



Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi-based developer Aldar Properties has signed a contract with French hotel operator Accor for the development of two Accor-branded hotels on Yas Island.

"The companies have also signed a strategic agreement, which will see them collaborate on a number of new Accor-banded hotels within Abu Dhabi," Aldar said in a statement.

The two proposed hotels, Ibis Yas Island and the Novotel Yas Island, will provide accommodation close to the attractions on the major tourist development of Yas Island, said Aldar.

"Accor's brands are some of the most recognised and respected in the hotel world and with the company rapidly expanding in the Middle East, we are delighted to have signed this strategic development agreement with them," said Paul Bell, managing director, Aldar Hotels and Hospitality. "Together, we look forward to delivering top-quality, value-for-money accommodation in our developments."

With lagoons, beaches, commercial offices, boutiques and spas, Yas Island is set to become a unique tourist attraction.

The long-term management agreements signed by Aldar and Accor will see the delivery of approximately 650 bedrooms in the two properties, which are set for completion in 2010.

However, Aldar did not disclose the size of its investment in building the two properties.

alot of new info and upates at site
www.yasisland.ae

Aldar & Zabeel plan golf course on Yas Island

Aldar & Zabeel plan golf course on Yas Island: Aldar, the Abu Dhabi-based property developer, on Saturday signed a joint venture agreement with Dubai-based Zabeel Investments to develop a links golf course on Yas Island.

The agreement was signed during the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship by Mohammad Ali Al Hashimi, executive chairman of Zabeel Investments, and Ahmad Ali Al Sayegh, chairman of Aldar.

The course designed by Kyle Phillips, one of the world's leading golf course designers, will be built on the west shore of the island.

Ecological Importance

The area is of immense ecological significance and importance to wild-life and sealife. Birds use the marshlands for their migratory routes and the shoreline contains mature coral reefs housing teeming hoards of marine life, including some species that are unique to the region.

"Aldar's projects reflect our aim to create meaningful developments that not only enhance the community, but also respect and maintain what the land has to offer naturally," said Al Sayegh.

"We take great measure in ensuring that our projects are green, because we are aware of what a vital role it plays to the beauty and health of our land and understand that it is our responsibility to do our part in protecting it," he added.

Land Area

The golf course, expected to break ground in May, will cover a total land area of approximately 910,000 square metres. It will only be a few hundred metres from the Ferrari Theme Park.

The project includes luxurious villas and clubhouse will has an approximate development value of Dh3.5 billion.

"Zabeel Investments is delighted to enter into this agreement with Aldar Properties. The development, in the capital city of the UAE, on Yas Island is an exciting endeavour, one that we look forward to seeing come to fruition," said Al Hashimi.

Exhibition: Showcasing Projects

Aldar will showcase its tourism development projects at the first annual Tourism Development Project and Investment Market (TDIM) being held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from January 20-22.

Targeting leading tourism developers, investors, international brands and industry specialists, TDIM showcases the growing role that the Middle East and North Africa region is playing in the world tourism industry. Exhibit space is poised to exceed 19,000 square metres - a major accomplishment for what is the inaugural edition of the show.

"This exhibition offers Aldar an excellent opportunity to meet and network with high-end global investors and developers," saod Ronald Barrott, chief executive of the company. "It also offers us the chance to explore and enter into new partnerships, facilitate investment, knowledge-sharing and networking with all key stakeholders in the tourism market."

Aldar will showcase its YAS Island project, home to a Warner Bros theme park and a Formula One Race Track for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will be the centre point of a full calendar of motor sport competitions throughout the racing season. At the centre of YAS Island will be the world's first and only Ferrari theme park, which will offer entertainment for all ages.

TEXT-Leighton says wins US$650 mln of work in UAE

(Following is a release by Australian contractor Leighton Holdings Ltd (LEI.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) (HOTG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research))

SYDNEY, Dec 5 - Leighton International, through its 45%-owned associate Al Habtoor Engineering, has been awarded US$650 million (A$740 million) of new work in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

The company has secured the US$520 million contract for the construction of the new JAFZA convention centre in Dubai for the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority, and two hotels for Aldar on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi worth a total US$130 million.

"These new contracts are further evidence of the tremendous opportunities for growth for Leighton International in the Arabian Gulf region, and the UAE in particular," said David Savage, Managing Director of Leighton International.

The JAFZA convention centre complex will comprise twin towers for the convention centre, a food court, a 33-storey office complex and seven-storey hotel.

The project for Aldar comprises the construction of two separate 4-star hotels on adjacent plots on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The first hotel comprises 400 rooms and 30 suites; the second 200 rooms and 10 suites. Also included is a ballroom, numerous function rooms, food and beverage outlets and recreational facilities including pools. Construction will commence immediately and will be completed in September 2009.

Last month Leighton International, through Al Habtoor Engineering, secured the US$290 million (A$330 million) JW Marriott Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The project, for Abu Dhabi National Hotels, represented the first contract won by Al Habtoor Engineering since it merged with Leighton International's operations in the Arabian Gulf in September this year.

R

Five-star Taj resort in Abu Dhabi
4 May, 2008, 1302 hrs IST, PTI

DUBAI: UAE's leading property developer Aldar has signed an exclusive agreement with Indian hotel giant the Taj group to develop a five-star, 500-room luxury resort hotel on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island.

The hotel will be branded as Taj Palace Hotel on the lines of the elegant, original palaces hotels of the Taj and will have facilities and services to match the exceptional location.

The agreement was signed by Paul Bell, managing director, Aldar Hotels and Hospitality, and Raymond N Bickson, managing director and CEO of The Indian Hotels Company Limited, which owns and operates 79 Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces worldwide.

The signing took place on the opening day of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai yesterday, which included a Summit on India highlighting prime Indian investment deals and projects being undertaken in the subcontinent.

"Aligning with leading internationally recognised hospitality brands is part of Aldar's strategy to bring high quality investment opportunities to our developments. This agreement signifies Aldar's commitment to bring world-class players to our market, and to Abu Dhabi," said Ronald Stephen Barrott, CEO of Aldar Properties.

Bickson said the UAE is part of a strategic group of countries in the Gulf region where the leisure and hospitality sector is growing exponentially.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Five-star_Taj_resort_in_Abu_Dhabi/articleshow/3009220.cms

Aldar to build Radisson SAS on Yas Island

http://business24-7.ae/SiteLists/ArticlesTempPhotoGallery/5_7_2008/ArtclDtaPg_b7d6e3b6984f466f9da419bbf76071ef_2.0.jpg

Thursday, May 08, 2008



Aldar Properties yesterday said it has signed an initial agreement with Rezidor Hotel Group to develop a Radisson SAS Hotel in Abu Dhabi on the Yas Island.

The deal between Aldar Hotels and Hospitality Rezidor Group includes a Radisson SAS Hotel with 370 rooms, a wide range of restaurants and state-of-the-art-facilities. The hotel will have facilities and services to match the exceptional location close to all the attraction, including the Ferrari World and the golf course.

Ronald S Barrott, CEO of Aldar Properties said: "Aligning with internationally recognised hospitality brands is part of Aldar's strategy to bring high quality investment opportunities to our developments. This agreement signifies Aldar's commitment to bring world-class players to our market and to the emirate of Abu Dhabi."

ALDAR showcases Yas Island real estate development at Asian exhibitions
http://i30.tinypic.com/2a0i9eo.jpg
12-Jun-2008

ALDAR Properties, the leading Abu Dhabi-based real estate development company, is participating at the 3 international Asian Exhibitions, namely, International Travel Expo (ITE) in Hong Kong and the Asia Luxury Travel Market (ALTM) in Shanghai, China to showcase its Yas Island master development. The focal points of Yas Island mixed-use realty project in UAE capital are the 3 theme parks, namely, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. Theme Park and the Water Park.

Ronald Stephen Barrott, CEO, said, "The trade shows provide an excellent opportunity for ALDAR to open discussion to align with like-minded Asian companies for these entertainment destinations on Yas Island".

The theme parks at Yas Island real estate development in Abu Dhabi, UAE will bring unique and thrilling family entertainment to the Middle East. (ITE) in Hong Kong will take place from June 12-15, 2008 while ALTM in Shanghai, China will be held from June 16-9, 2008.

http://www.gowealthy.com/gowealthy/wcms/en/home/news/events/ALDAR-shows-Yas-Island-at-Asia-1213254887968.html

Aldar awards Dh125 million Yas Island deal to DSI

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Dubai-based DSI will supply MEP services for Aldar's two hotels.

on Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Aldar Properties yesterday awarded Drake & Scull International (DSI) a Dh125 million mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) contract for two hotels to be built on Yas Island in the UAE capital.

The properties, the Yas Island Rotana Resort and Centro by Rotana, are part of a Dh147 billion development project by Aldar.

"We are delighted to partner one of the leading developers in the UAE," said Khaldoun Rashid Tabari, CEO of Dubai-based DSI. "These projects are a great opportunity for us to strengthen our presence in Abu Dhabi and to demonstrate our capabilities and experience in providing fast-tracked MEP solutions that are reliable, efficient and cost-effective."

DSI will supply, install, test and commission the complete fresh and extract air ventilating and air-conditioning works as well as the power distribution, plumbing, drainage and fire-fighting systems for the projects.

It will supply and install the internal chilled water supply return system, domestic water storage tanks, domestic water filtering and cooling systems and hot and cold water distribution system. In addition DSI will supply and install a chemical dosing, smoke extract, lighting control, lightening protection, aircraft warning light, background music, audio-video, CCTV and security control systems.

The Yas Island Rotana Resort is expected to open in July 2009 and will have 308 rooms and suites along with a wide range of food and beverage outlets, conference and banquet facilities and a fitness centre.

Centro, Rotana's budget brand, is also expected to open in 2009 and will offer 259 rooms. It will include a deli-style dining option, a gymnasium and swimming pool together with on-site business facilities such as private meeting rooms and a business centre.

Yas Island occupies a total land area of 2,500 hectares and will feature attractions such as a motorsport racetrack, signature hotels, the Ferrari World theme park, a Warner Bros water theme park and a 300,000 square metres retail development.

There will be links and parkland golf courses, lagoon hotels, marinas, apartments, villas and numerous F&B outlets that will create a unique international tourist destination.

DSI projects include the Shangri-La hotel in Abu Dhabi, Park Place Tower, Indigo Tower, Rashid Hospital Trauma Centre, Zayed University Campus, Dubai Police Headquarters, JBR District Cooling plant and the Dubai Festival City district cooling scheme.

Yas Island development stays on schedule

http://business24-7.ae/SiteLists/ArticlesTempPhotoGallery/7_16_2008/ArtclDtaPg_87211b15205a4ae0b679473384f0cdb0_0.2.jpg

Yas Island will give a further boost to Abu Dhabi's tourism industry.


on Thursday, July 17, 2008

Aldar Properties, a leading integrated property development company, said yesterday it was on schedule for completion of phase 1 infrastructure work on its entertainment destination – Yas Island.

Aldar is currently in the process of deepening the canal leading to Yas Island to allow super yachts to anchor in the Royal Yas Marina, providing excellent views for the audience to the Yas Marina Circuit.

The marina wall and excavation is currently 90 per cent complete. The marina is dammed to complete the remaining construction in the dry and is scheduled for flooding in the second quarter of 2009. Key milestones have been achieved on the multi-billion dollar project, with over 30 per cent of the infrastructure of phase 1 complete, with the remaining scheduled for completion well before the 2009 Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"Yas Island is set to become a world famous tourist attraction for Abu Dhabi, and it will contribute to the UAE tourism industry," said Aldar Properties CEO Ronald Stephen Barrott.

The Yas Marina Circuit is progressing well. The pit building and the four grandstands for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix's spectators will be completed by mid-2009, with concrete works for the top floor levels nearing completion and installation of mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure now underway.

Grading and shaping works in preparation for construction of the pavement for the race track itself are well progressed. Yas Mall and parking structure piling works are also progressing on schedule.

The highways and bridges are well advanced and will be complete for race day.

"Yas Island infrastructure will be ready for the expected visitors for this inaugural event," said Steve Worrell, Project Director, Yas Island. "With three vehicle entrances to Yas Island for the race day, race goers will experience easy traffic flow through these access points."

The project will cover an area of 25 sq km.

In addition to racing circuit, the development will include Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, a Warner Bros. Theme Park, five-star and boutique hotels, a water park, 356000 sq m of retail space, a links golf course, three marinas, restaurants, various entertainment facilities and luxurious residential property.

Drake & Scull wins Yas Island contract



by Peter Ward on Thursday, 24 July 2008 Drake & Scull has been awarded the MEP contracts for the Yas Island Rotana and Centro by Rotana resorts. The deals are worth US $34 million (AED125 million) and the projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2009.

The firm will be responsible for the entire MEP works on the developments including air conditioning, power distribution, drainage, plumbing and firefighting systems. Both of the resorts are located on Yas Island, which will also feature theme parks and a motor sports racetrack.

Rotana Resort is expected to offer 308 rooms while Centro by Rotana will have 259 rooms. Yas Island is a US $40 million project by Aldar Properties and it is to feature beaches, shopping, golf courses and residences.

Khaldoun Tabari, chief executive officer of Drake & Scull said: “These projects are a great opportunity for us to strengthen our well-established presence in Abu Dhabi and to demonstrate our capabilities and experience in providing fast-tracked MEP solutions that are reliable, efficient, and cost-effective.

Construction Update Jul/08

A Huge progress inside Developer's website .

http://aldar.com/welcome_to_aldar.en

A huge Construction updates from arabianbusiness.com :banana:

check out this link

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index2.php?option=com_gallery&id=530369

A huge Construction updates from arabianbusiness.com :banana:

check out this link

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index2.php?option=com_gallery&id=530369

Every project in Abu Dhabi maintains a very low profile unlike its neighbour, where even if they make a parkig lot, it comes up as news in British Tabloids!!!

And in the Singapore paddock there were rumours that the organisers of the Abu Dhabi race, which is to make its debut as the season finale next year, had taken note of the impact made by this event and would also run their race at night.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7640907.stm

Construction Update Sep/08

http://www.aldar.com/welcome_to_aldar.en

went to CityScape Dubai and Aldar told me nothing residential released to buy on Yas Island for general public for another year or so...anyone have any other info ?

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/images/magazines/arabianbusiness.com/web/fullsize/Toreh10_full.jpg

F1 at the starting line

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An artist's rendering Yas Marina Hotel at Abu Dhabi’s Grand Prix Yas Marina Circuit. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Roland Hughes
Last Updated: October 14. 2008 8:42PM UAE / October 14. 2008 4:42PM GMT

ABU DHABI // Organisers of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix yesterday emphasised its importance by comparing it to hosting the World Cup or the Olympics every year.

They also revealed details of the Yas Marina Circuit, including artists’ impressions showing the racetrack snaking through a hotel and views from the grandstand.

The final design was announced last night by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, before more than 300 dignitaries, officials and media at Emirates Palace hotel.

Khaldoon al Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and of Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management (ADMM), which is organising the race, said he was convinced the event would put the capital into the world spotlight.

He said the track had been “conceived, designed and was currently being built according to the particular needs of the city in which it belongs”.

“I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this event for this country,” he said.

“This is the epitome of sports and I think that being part of this and launching this next year and having Abu Dhabi out there for the global audience is absolutely tremendous. It’s like having the World Cup or the Olympics every year.

“It is a lot of preparation and a lot of work, but we are going to be ready and we are going to deliver to the world a statement as to how we can organise and put together world-class events.”

With a potential television audience of as many as 55 million people – or more, because the race is next year’s finale and could decide the championship – the feeling is that Abu Dhabi will get more media exposure than ever before.

About 50,000 people are expected to attend the event on Nov 15 2009, a modest number by Formula One standards, but one that could increase during the seven years Abu Dhabi will host races.

For Mr Mubarak, bringing Formula One to Abu Dhabi is a labour of love. Enlisted as the chief negotiator between the Abu Dhabi Government and Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone, it was an opportunity for the passionate fan to get an inside line on his favourite sport.

Mr Mubarak attended the Grand Prix in Montreal this year and regrets the Canadian race will not be on next year’s calendar. And he compared Abu Dhabi to the new upstarts on the starting grid.

“There is a heritage and history there that has to be given respect. I have the highest respect for some of these historic tracks.

“But I am also a pragmatist. Just as you see drivers grow old, even the champions, you know at one point they are no longer competitive.

“If you stick with it, you are hurting the sport ultimately. You need to give a chance to the Hamiltons and the Vettels of this world.“

It does not mean that, when Schumacher retires, that you forget him. But in the best interests of the sport, you need to continue to revitalise it and get the best out of it. And that comes only with opportunity.”

Yas Marina will be the first circuit to have a marina built as part of the track and the first to travel through a hotel, with one of the longest straight stretches and some of the best views of any circuit.

From a driver’s perspective, Philippe Gurdjian, ADMM’s chief executive, said it would be among the most exciting in the calendar, with a mixture of tight turns and scenic stretches.

“As soon as I started working on it, I wanted to make something special, something unique, that you just could not compare with anything in the world. I think we have that.”

The race will also boast a distinctive Arabic flavour in a manner considered missing from the Bahrain race. The main grandstand is designed in the style of an Arab tent, and the colours of the UAE flag will adorn the track and one of the VIP buildings.

Mr Mubarak, who was “sick of hiding” the designs, said: “I am confident it is going to click with everyone.“

There is something different with almost every aspect of this project – something new, something unique and something that will set a new benchmark for motorsport racing.

There is a possibility that Abu Dhabi’s race will be even more distinctive by following the lead of the Singapore Grand Prix by being run at night. The track is being built with the capacity to host night races or other events, though organisers have yet to decide on whether Abu Dhabi will be a floodlit race.

Sources have indicated that it is more likely that next year’s race will be held in daylight.

Mr Mubarak said: “Like everything Abu Dhabi does, we are going to do it right. It is going to be unique, it is going to be setting a standard and it is going to be for the long term.”

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20081014/NATIONAL/100185875/1001/ART

Yas Marina ‘will be something else’

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Spectators in the west grandstand, bottom left, will sit in view of the finishing straight. The course will open with capacity for 50,000 fans. Courtesy of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Roland Hughes
Last Updated: October 15. 2008 12:12AM UAE / October 14. 2008 8:12PM GMT

ABU DHABI // If you book into the new five-star hotel on Yas Island next November, don’t even contemplate complaining about the noise.

You will have bought yourself a front-row seat for the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the roaring engines of the fastest cars in Formula One will be passing within feet of you.

Centrepiece of the Yas Marina Circuit, unveiled in detail for the first time yesterday, will be the “drive-through” hotel.

Race cars will travel at speed down a short straight between the hotel’s two main buildings and under the pedestrian bridge linking them, giving spectators the best possible view.

The hotel, which will have 500 suites and bedrooms, a ballroom and six restaurants, will even change colour at night thanks to 4,800 LED panels that will cover it like a second skin.

A second innovation, the Sun Tower, stands just before the first corner offering the prime spot from which to see the start of the race.

Powered entirely by solar energy, it will house the most exclusive of VIPs and at night, it will shine in the green, red and white of the Emirati flag.

The first of at least seven Grands Prix will take place on Yas Island on Nov 15 next year, giving the capital the prestigious last race of the season. It is expected to be watched by up to 55 million people worldwide.

Khaldoon al Mubarak, chairman of organisers Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management (ADMM), said: “This is a track that has had a lot of input from a lot of very talented individuals and experts.

“Building from scratch allowed us a lot more creativity and flexibility in terms of how the track should be designed.

“I expect it to be a very fast track, a very competitive track with significantly more opportunities for overtaking than any other track there is today.”

For the first race, only 50,000 grandstand seats will be available, although the final number may well edge towards 60,000. As a result, Abu Dhabi’s first race will be among the more modestly attended races of the calendar, and considerably smaller than the first Singapore Grand Prix last month, which attracted 100,000 spectators.

It is understood that the option of gradually increasing seating over time is possible.

From all seats, fans will be able to see at least 30 per cent of the 5.6km-long circuit, and 100 per cent of the action, thanks to large screens. Some of the best views will be from the marina, which will be deep enough to accommodate superyachts up to 100 metres in length.

A 1.2km-long stretch on the northernmost edge of the circuit is one of the longest straights of any Formula One circuit, with drivers able to reach a top speed of 317kph before being confronted by a tight chicane. Each lap is expected to take one minute and 40 seconds.

Spectators will be able to enter Yas Island via three roads – two linked to the mainland, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai exits and one, a 12-lane motorway, linking Yas and Mena Zayed on Abu Dhabi island via Saadiyat Island.

The organisers hope the Yas Marina Circuit will not only host Grands Prix, but inspire a new generation of drivers and perhaps even a UAE Formula One champion.

They believe one of its more unassuming details could end up being one of the most important.

Nestled in the south-eastern corner of the circuit is a 1.2km-long, butterfly-shaped karting circuit where, if all goes to plan, the region’s next big racing hope could be nurtured.

The karting track will also help make the project sustainable.

Mr Mubarak said: “There is an integrated approach we are taking and it is not just about having a Grand Prix and building a track. We have to be more holistic about it.

“This is a facility that encompasses many other motorsport activities and we will be pushing, through ADMM, the development of opportunities to young drivers from the UAE and the region that they have never had before, in terms of being incubated and being able to compete.

“I think it would be great to have a racer from the region. We have a lot of prospects in racing in various other categories.

“These racers would have to be given more and more opportunities, but we need to start from a young age. To get to the Lewis Hamiltons, you start maybe at six or seven, not at 17, 18 or 19.

“Through this, we will have the opportunities to bring young – very young – drivers and develop them in the more classical way.

“That is the way we will ultimately have a driver and a champion from the UAE and the region.”

Making the island an unparalleled year-round venue is just as important for ADMM as staging a world-class Grand Prix.

The track, through the use of dividing slip roads, can be separated into two smaller circuits, at 3.15km and 2.36km long, which can be used at the same time for different races. The circuit will also be equipped to stage shows, concerts and corporate events.

Such events could be held at night under the brightly lit circuit. A night race is still a possibility for November. But sources told The National that, although the circuit would be built with the capacity to host night-time races, the first Grand Prix was likely to be a daytime event.

Initial estimates put the cost of Yas Marina Circuit at close to US$400 million (Dh1.47bn), but ADMM said it was “not in a position to discuss finances at this stage”.

It did admit, however, that the cost was more in line with major sporting developments such as Wembley Stadium in London – £798m (Dh5bn) – and the new Yankee Stadium in New York, which is still being built but will cost an estimated $1.3bn.

A spokesman said: “Yas Marina Circuit is part of a larger project, Yas Island, and as such, economies of scale play a part in keeping the costs down.”

The final specifications of the track have remained a closely guarded secret since Philippe Gurdjian, the mastermind behind the Malaysia and Bahrain grands prix, was appointed as chief executive of ADMM in March. Mr Mubarak said Yas Marina was in line with “world class tracks”, adding: “We are very confident in terms of managing this project and in terms of time and quality.”

While the majority of the features originally drawn up by Hermann Tilke, the acclaimed Formula One track designer, have remained, one of Mr Gurdjian’s first tasks was to scrap the plans for part of the track to be on a street circuit used throughout the year by everyday traffic. Such circuits elsewhere have to impose street closures during events, and must carry out regular road repairs because of wear and tear.

Drivers and team managers also contributed to the design.

The original plans for the track, which were released last year, did not include a hotel section. In making the “drive through” hotel the centrepiece of the circuit, organisers seem intent on creating an icon for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, along the lines of the tunnel in Monaco, the Eau Rouge bends at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium and the striking Biosphere in Montreal.

At present, there are 4,000 workers on the site, working in shifts throughout the day. Up to the end of September, an astonishing 7.9 million man hours had been logged building the circuit. By the end of 2008, close to 5,500 workers will be on site.

ADMM and Aldar, the developers, insist the project is on schedule, although Mr Gurdjian said he was so confident it would be of good enough quality that testing would not be required.

He added: “We are working on something that will show to the world the sporting elegance of the emirate of Abu Dhabi.”

Mr Mubarak said: “It is not just about the race being here in Abu Dhabi. It has to be about the race itself.

“And it will be something else.”

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20081014/NATIONAL/545347588/1001/ART

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Cool renders.
Im looking forward to seeing how that hotel turns out.

Fantastic renders Bu Maitha :cheers:

I for one am very happy to see F1 coming to Abu Dhabi :banana: The circuit itself looks amazing also. It's gonna be great to watch the last race of the 2009 season here :D

Pictures were taken on 21 October 2008:

http://www.thethemeparkguy.com/filestore/themepark/yas-island/241/yasisland13-big.jpg

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http://www.thethemeparkguy.com/filestore/themepark/yas-island/241/yasisland10-big.jpg

The Theme Park Guy
http://www.thethemeparkguy.com

Aldar unveils plan for 700-shop super mall http://www.arabianbusiness.com/539023-aldar-unveils-plan-for-700-shop-super-mall

700 shops!! MUCH to do then during F1, just incase race is boring loool :D

Yas Marina work races to finish

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: November 24, 2008, 00:04

Abu Dhabi: All that one got to hear about the global real estate scenario over the last few months have been slowdowns, meltdowns and delays in project schedules.

But once you drive into the Yas Island and tour the Yas Marina Circuit, one hardly feels any side effects as work is on at a vigorous pace to ensure the Formula One racing fraternity descends on to the UAE capital in November next year.

Despite the race being advanced by a fortnight, the race for the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, to be held on November 1, 2009 is well and truly on.

A tour of the facilities in and around the 5.5km circuit leaves one awestruck as the grand stands, the north stands and the Yas Marina Hotel are all taking shape.

Most part of the tunnels and the Pit Building and Team building are also up and coming and Claire Furnell, Media Officer, Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management told reporters, "The construction of Yas Marina Circuit is running to schedule and it will be ready in time ahead of the race."

The North Grandstand, which is expected to be one of the most sought areas, will be seating over 11,000 spectators while the total seating capacity at the Yas Marina Circuit is 50,000.

Sandwiched between the Main Grandstand and the Pit Building and Team Building is the start and finish of the race and the activity here is at its busiest. "Over 4,000 workers are currently on site working day and night," Furnell said.

The pontoons are in place and once water is filled they will float at the race track level and this will then complete the Yas Marina Yacht Club which will be area where the racing action can be taken in from the smaller yachts.

Just out of the ground are the pillars on which the Sun Tower will be based and it is here the VIPs will watch the action from about 60 metres above the track, a perfect view!

Work is also in full swing on the track itself with the hard surface being laid right now and will be finally topped up with the tarmac.

And the areas where the skills of the drivers will be put to maximum test are the corners; the Yas Marina Circuit has 21 of them, 12 left and 9 right turns.

The Yas Marina Circuit is being developed by ALDAR Properties as part of the overall development of Yas Island.

The work force is set to go up by next month and with a full-fledged ready-mix plant on the site and a laboratory on site to test the quality of the concrete, Abu Dhabi looks set to showcase a spectacular race track come November 1, 2009.

http://www.gulfnews.com/sport/Motor_Racing/10262198.html

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F1 circuit ready by summer

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Nathalie Gillet
* Last Updated: January 22. 2009 7:38PM UAE / January 22. 2009 3:38PM GMT

The first phase of Yas Island, which includes the Dh1.46 billion (US$397 million) Formula One grand prix circuit, will be ready by the summer, according to Aldar Properties, the project’s developer.

“All of the Yas Island phase one will be finished this summer, with obviously the Formula One grand prix circuit, the infrastructure, seven hotels, a major marina, the yacht club, a golf course,” said John Bullough, the chief executive of Aldar. “The Yas Marina will be flooded in the spring. Everything is going to be finished well ahead of the race.”
Abu Dhabi is the second city in the Middle East to host a Formula One race, after Manama in Bahrain. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be held on Nov 1.

The man-made island will also house a Ferrari theme park and a water park. The project is located opposite Al Raha Beach, another flagship development of Aldar.
Referring to the developer’s other project, Mr Bullough said phases under development would be completed according to schedule but he suggested that further phases would take more time due to market changes.

“Everything we are doing remains on programme. This is a great opportunity to refocus, to take a more measured way,” he told a conference organised by the Canadian Business Council in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

“We have had to be willing to review and analyse our pipeline of developments. Our number one priority now is to ensure the delivery at the right time and the right way. We are addressing the next phases in a more measured way.”

Mr Bullough said the company intended to capitalise on the sharp fall in construction costs. “Across our whole portfolio we will spend more time developing designs, looking at what stage we take them to, before going out to tender in order to catch the best value.”

Construction costs have dropped significantly recently, with the price of steel rebar falling from Dh6,200 a tonne in July to about Dh1,800 on today’s market.

This drop in prices has also led Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), the company behind Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, to reconsider its contracting processes.

“Previously, we could hardly find any contractor because they were all very busy. Now they are looking for work,” a TDIC official said last week. “Usually you would sign a MOU [memorandum of understanding] and go on with the same contractor through the next phases with new contracts for each phase. Now we are inviting them to re-bid each time and compete with other companies.”

Aldar has a portfolio of projects worth Dh271bn, all of which have been phased for completion over the next 10 years. They include commercial and residential projects in Al Raha Beach, Yas Island, Al Gurm Resort and Central Market, as well as hospitals. The company expects to deliver up to 7,000 homes over the next four years. Mr Bullough declined to give detailed figures on the cost of the projects so far.

Despite its healthy order book, the global economic crisis has not left the company unaffected, with Aldar’s shares trading yesterday at Dh2.43, compared with Dh10.03 six months ago.

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090122/BUSINESS/255805785/1005/FRONTPAGE

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Any news about the Future development in Yas Island ? is it still going ? or it is ON HOLD / Delayed ??:tiasd:

New hotels to open before Grand Prix

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Roland Hughes
* Last Updated: January 27. 2009 9:30AM UAE / January 27. 2009 5:30AM GMT

ABU DHABI // There will be seven hotels on Yas Island before the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix takes place in 10 months, the island’s developer says.

Aldar, which is building the circuit and all the facilities for the Formula One race, yesterday said the hotels would be completed before the race is held on Nov 1.

That, said WAM, the state news agency, would put almost 2,300 hotel rooms within walking distance of the track, substantially easing pressure on hotels on the mainland.

The new agency added that there would be 20 restaurants on the island by the race date.

More than 50,000 people are expected to attend each of the three days of Grand Prix qualifying and racing.

“Abu Dhabi will have the most magnificent facilities in the Middle East in the coming years, as we are planning some of the most spectacular facilities and restaurants,” Ahmed al Sayegh, the chairman of Aldar, was quoted as saying at a promotional event for next month’s Gourmet Abu Dhabi festival.

There are currently about 14,000 hotel rooms in the capital, although the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has said it expects this figure to rise to more than 16,660 by the time the Grand Prix comes to town.

Most of the high-end hotels in the city centre are already fully, or near fully, booked for the race weekend.

Of the seven hotels on Yas Island under construction, the jewel in the crown will be the five-star Yas Marina Hotel, through which part of the circuit will travel.

Built in two parts divided by the track, it will be covered with a shell that can change colour to suit whatever event is taking place at the time. Guests will be able to enjoy some of the best views of the race from their rooms.

The operator of the Yas Marina Hotel has not yet been announced.

Yas Island will boast three other five-star hotels: the Crowne Plaza, Rotana and the first Radisson SAS hotel in Abu Dhabi. Another Crowne Plaza is expected to have an early, temporary opening on Reem Island for the race.

One four-star hotel will also be open in time: the Staybridge Suites, a chain run by the InterContinental Group. The Park Inn chain will open a three-star hotel, its first in the UAE, as will Centro by Rotana, a new budget chain for the Middle East.

Tickets for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are expected to go on sale in the coming weeks, although it is not known how soon visitors will be able to make reservations for the new Yas Island hotels.

In September, Khaldoon al Mubarak, the chairman of the Grand Prix organiser, Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management, said it was important that hotel prices for the weekend not spiral out of control. ADTA said it was ready to cap hotel prices if they were deemed unreasonable.

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090127/NATIONAL/287829838/1010

Any news about the Future development in Yas Island ? is it still going ? or it is ON HOLD / Delayed ??:tiasd:

All work on future stages is on hold for at least 6 months and redesign will start once the go-ahead has been given

All work on future stages is on hold for at least 6 months and redesign will start once the go-ahead has been given

Most things are On hold in Abu Dhabi and therefore delayed. Lots of projects that have beed substatially designed and are in early phases of construction have been retendered as materials have crashed up to 80%. So why would you continue when your paying more than double the market rate for construction. Secondly project that are in concept design are on hold while the master developers try to figure out if they actually need so many buildings in the next 5 years.

Yas Island first phase to be ready by October

on Tuesday, March 03, 2009

The global financial crisis will not have negative effects on the execution of first phase of Dh147 billion Abu Dhabi-based Yas Island project, Aldar Properties said.

"Some 60 per cent of the project's first phase is complete and the whole phase will finish in October. The number of labourers on the island rose from 22,000 before a few months to 37,000 currently, and the number is expected to rise to 40,000 after two months," Steve Worrell, Manager of Yas Island Development, said.

He said during a journalists' tour of the island to take stock of the project's implementation that Dh24 billion had been spent on the project since its start in 2007 until now and the total investments in the first phase is estimated at Dh40bn.

There are no plans to lay off the workers, because the project is executed according to a timetable and needs a lot of labourers who are specialised in this field.

Therefore, the number of labourers has been increased to speed up the completion of the project.

He said the company attempts to take advantage of the global financial crisis by reducing the value of new contracts in the project, while it is committed to the old contracts signed before the last developments.

http://www.business24-7.ae/Articles/2009/3/Pages/03032009_b4e6744fc3914e0f8c591793071cfac0.aspx

Hot circuit

By Nitin Nair, Senior Features Writer
Published: March 02, 2009, 12:19

Abu Dhabi makes its debut on the Formula One Grand Prix calendar this year. Nitin Nair goes on a site visit to bring you this update.

Grandstand Views

Philippe Gurdjian, CEO of Abu Dhabi Motorsport (ADMM) and the man behind the design of the Yas Marina Circuit, says one of the key ideas he had in mind while conceptualising the design was to "bring motorsport closer to the spectators".

The Western Grandstand will feature a superb run-off area that will actually have cars disappear under the spectators' stands when they veer off the racing line.

The three Grandstands can seat a total of 50,000 people. Richard Cregan, general team manager, ADMM says that one of ADMM's key objectives would be to make sure that the circuit becomes an active hub for motorsport all year long.

Swish set viewing

Though initial reports suggested that Abu Dhabi would have a Monaco-style street section on the 5.5km race-track, that idea was spiked on the design table.

What it does have in common with Monaco is the opportunity for the region's glitterati to watch the race from the luxury of their yachts at the marina – the circuit will host a sophisticated marina and a yacht club. So rest assured, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be high on the celeb quotient this year given the rather glamorous settings.

Pride and joy

One thing's for certain – by the end of this year, the Yas Marina Hotel will be on the 'Must-Visit' list for every motorsport fan. The iconic hotel will be the only one in the world that actually has an F1 track running through the hotel. So for a good price, guests at the hotel can lounge around and watch Hamilton and Co. burn up the tarmac.

When completed, Yas Island (Yas Marina Circuit is a part of the larger development) will have a Ferrari theme park, a Warner Brothers theme park, a water park, links golf courses, polo clubs, apartments and villas.

Identifying the icon

Most F1 circuits have one iconic landmark instantly recognisable to TV viewers. Closer to home, the Bahrain circuit has the disinct Sakhir tower.

Gurdjian thinks this may be difficult with the Abu Dhabi track, given that it has a few distinct landmarks. However, the Sun Tower, the solar-powered VIP hospitality facility that stands at one end of Start-Finish straight is a top candidate for that recognisable landmark tag on the Yas Marina circuit.

By February this year, the barely clad Main Grandstand and the pit buildings that stand on either side of the Start-Finish straight were already taking shape.

In numbers

7000: People working 20-hour shifts on the track

50,000: Grandstand seating capacity

01-11-2009: Race Day in Abu Dhabi, the last race of the 2009 F1 season

http://www.gulfnews.com/4men/Wheels/10290815.html

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http://www.gulfnews.com/4men/Wheels/10290815.html

i got the construction update

update per Januari 2009 ( formula1.com )

http://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja1082.jpghttp://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja1130.jpghttp://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja1085.jpghttp://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja1201.jpghttp://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja911.jpghttp://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja903.jpghttp://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja100.jpghttp://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja862.jpghttp://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja103.jpghttp://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja422.jpghttp://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja545.jpghttp://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja752.jpghttp://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja101.jpghttp://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja706.jpghttp://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dne0921ja899.jpg

:cheers2: it's gonna be another Great Circuit.. :okay:

Stunning, thanks a million for posting that update. Best pics I've seen of the circuit.

F1 season kicks of in a few weeks, awesome. :banana:

:eek2:

what an update! look at the marina and all the beautiful buildings, simply stunning!

Yeah, the Marina here looks fantastic! And the design of the overall circuit is just awesome IMO! This is surely gonna be right up there with some of the best circuits on the calendar!

Roll on Melbourne!! :banana::banana::banana:

AD will definitely be a spectacular and amazing city to visit or live in. Once F1, al reem, sadiyat, yas, dolphin islands, or resorts like al gurm, nurai, or masdar city will be complete AD will really need the bigger airport cause that place will rock. And the best part of it all is that despite crisis all these projects are still moving forward!!
Very nice, can't wait to see how the city evolves.

Very WOW much intersetingly WOW...... :nuts:

Could any big moderator bring these photos vertically... please...

Wow, too much wow..

Update 25-02-2009

http://www.dohaup.com/up/2009-03-17/dohaup_1276013816.jpg

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Looks amazing.

Fantastic pics Bu Maitha, thanks alot.

:okay: :okay:

Keep it coming as always Bu Maitha ... thanks a lot :okay:

Wow, this circuit is gonna be awesome!! :banana: Thx for the great pix! :cheers1:

This will surely add value to everything off the Island.

Really nice. I hope 7 months is enough for them to finish everything.

Bear in mind its been almost a month since those pics were taken anyway. I also read somewhere the acttucal track will be finished by July before the hot weather starts and for testing. My main concern would be for the road infrastructure and landscaping. Oh, and dose anyone know if Ferrari World is due to be completed before race day??
But I agree, it dose look a bit tight.

Tickets are on sale from 30th march btw..ordered five to the tune of AED 2.500 each :nuts:

That said I think there´s a possibility that they will lower prices later on, the first batch is marketed towards corporate sponsors that will invite guests etc.

Cool, heard about this today! Just hope everything will be in place by the time race day comes round!? :cheers:

AD is really on fast-forward mode. Track, 7 grandstands, marina, yacht club, hotel, team buildings, central tower, landscaping all by july?....damn I wish these guys would build jebel ali villas when they're finished with the track!

Not all of it will be done by July, just the actual track. i.e the black stuff on the road.
It needs to be done for testing purposes.

I can imaging them still doing working right up until a few days before race day.

North Grandstands last week:

http://i44.tinypic.com/11h3ntt.jpg

Pit lane last week:

http://i41.tinypic.com/2hz4x29.jpg

Thx yasislander :cheers: This is looking real good IMO! :banana:

:bow:

http://www.yasmarinacircuit.com/uploads/mediagallery/photos/14-4517--Yas-Marina-Hotel.jpg

http://www.yasmarinacircuit.com/uploads/mediagallery/photos/14-4224---Discover-YMC.jpg

Access Yas Marina Circuit - Don’t get lost on your way to a unique Formula 1™ experience in Abu Dhabi, where we will welcome you on November 1st 2009. You will see from the map that Yas Island is located just 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport. A 12-lane highway connects the airport, Yas Island, Saadiyat Island and Abu Dhabi City Centre. Yas Island will host many different hotels, providing a variety of accommodation options ensuring that guests can make the most of their visit to Yas Marina Circuit.

Tickets are on sale from 30th march btw..ordered five to the tune of AED 2.500 each :nuts:

That said I think there´s a possibility that they will lower prices later on, the first batch is marketed towards corporate sponsors that will invite guests etc.


Just wanna add that they didn´t charge me AED 12.500 but 10.000 as there´s a 20% "early bird" discount apparently.

cJbwLQiGauM

2500 a ticket are they FUCKING KIDDING thats more that's double Bahrain, and on a par with Silverstone, fuck them if they wan't that sort of money thats fucking taking the piss

2500 a ticket are they FUCKING KIDDING thats more that's double Bahrain, and on a par with Silverstone, fuck them if they wan't that sort of money thats fucking taking the piss

The cheapest tickets are going for AED 1600 I think...add the "early order" discount and you´ll get away with AED 1280 which ain´t that bad for three days access.

Just in from Radio-Canada: No Abu Dhabi race this year, to be replaced by Montréal Grand Prix. :ohno:

In french:
http://www.radio-canada.ca/sports/sports_motorises/2009/03/29/001-canada2009.shtml

Just in from Radio-Canada: No Abu Dhabi race this year, to be replaced by Montréal Grand Prix. :ohno:

In french:
http://www.radio-canada.ca/sports/sports_motorises/2009/03/29/001-canada2009.shtml

In their dreams...:lol:

Just because a Canadian racing mag talks about a "rumour"..

Come hell or high water the Yas Island race track will be finished on time...Money is simply no object.
Besides, Abu Dhabi got a lot more clout in these circles than Montreal as they part own Ferrari.

2500 a ticket are they FUCKING KIDDING thats more that's double Bahrain, and on a par with Silverstone, fuck them if they wan't that sort of money thats fucking taking the piss

Bahrain Paddock and Main Grand Stand tickets are more expensive this year, the rest are cheaper.

By the way Abu Dhabi's using Bahraini chief martials to run/manage their F1 GP event.

Whaddaya know..those five VIP tickets I got on pre-order thru a sponsor might be the best buy I have done so far this year :lol:


F1 fever causes top tickets to sell out
Roland Hughes

Last Updated: March 31. 2009 12:29AM UAE ABU DHABI // Two grandstands, seating about 20,000 fans, were sold out yesterday within hours of tickets for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix going on sale.

Tickets for the Formula One race on Nov 1 went on sale across the country at 10am, and queues immediately formed in malls in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The feelings of the would-be ticket holders were summed up by Steve Zehenny, 32, an oil industry manager originally from Lebanon, who bought four tickets for himself and three friends. “I am the biggest F1 fan,” he said. “I have been wanting to live this experience my whole life and I would not miss this for anything. It is the biggest event that has happened here.”

Customers looking to buy the most expensive seats in the main grandstand, along the start-finish straight, were told they were no longer available within the first hour of going on sale. A three-day pass costs Dh2,000 (US$544).

Other fans hoping to buy sought-after tickets in the west grandstand, which offers views of the longest straight section, found there were none left just before noon. Sections of each of the other three grandstands were selling out as the day went on.

A number of people were looking to buy tickets for friends or relatives travelling to the UAE just for the race. Makram el Zyr, 33, a Lebanese national working in hotel development, wanted 15 tickets in the west grandstand for himself and friends, four of whom will be travelling from Lebanon or Saudi Arabia.

Instead, he was told the limit was 10 tickets per person, and had to settle for seats in the U-shaped north stand.

What the buyers got yesterday were official receipts: the tickets themselves are expected to be distributed to them in the two or three months before the race weekend.

Because many tickets were being bought for visiting friends, Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management, the race organisers, admit the purchases made in the UAE will not truly reflect how many people from the UAE itself will be at the race. ADMM did not release figures for sales made within the country.

A number of people spoke of a variety of problems attempting to buy tickets online or over the phone.

Miguel Rocha, 49, a pilot from the Philippines, bought five tickets from the stand at Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi.

“I was online at 10am when the tickets went on sale because I wanted tickets for the main grandstand, but I couldn’t get on the website,” he said.

By the time Mr Rocha reached Marina Mall, seats in his preferred main grandstand had sold out. He instead bought tickets for the south grandstand.

Away from the sales fever, rumours of delays to the Yas Island circuit were dismissed.

Christian Tortora, a reporter with the French-language sports radio network RDS in Canada, is reported to have said during the Australian GP in Melbourne on Sunday that the Abu Dhabi circuit’s construction was facing delays and Montreal could host a race instead.

A spokesman for ADMM yesterday said: “Progress on the construction of Yas Marina Circuit is on track and there are no concerns regarding delivery deadlines.”

Aldar, the site developers, previously said the circuit would be ready by Aug 31.


rhughes@thenational.ae

13/03/2009

http://browse.digitalglobe.com/imagefinder/showBrowseImage?catalogId=10100100094CA500&imageHeight=natres&imageWidth=natres

Photo Credits : Evert

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:eek2: The Ferrari World looks awesome!

Construction Update - video ( March 2009 )

http://websites.aldar.com/aldarnews/

Formula One track will be ready for race day - developer

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by Alex Delmar-Morgan on Sunday, 19 April 2009

Aldar CEO John Bullough issued a strong denial on Sunday that the Formula One race track on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island would be delayed.

Aldar is the master developer on the $40bn Yas Island Project and is building the Yas Marina circuit for the first ever Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that takes place on Nov. 1.

The island will also feature a Ferrari Theme Park, golf courses and a string of luxury hotels.

“By Nov 1 when you go to Yas Island, you will see seven hotels, a Formula One race circuit, with a Formula One race happening on it, a lynx golf course, a Ferrari Theme Park, and a marina,” Bullough said.

He added that the marina was being flooded on May 2.

Bullough was responding to mounting speculation in recent weeks that the circuit will not be ready for the race in November.

At the end of March, the Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management Company (ADMM), the group managing the Formula One race, issued a statement saying construction was ‘on track’ and there were ‘no concerns regarding delivery deadlines.’

Aldar, the largest developer by market value in Abu Dhabi, owns a 40 percent stake in ADMM.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/553099-formula-one-track-will-be-ready-for-race-day---developer-

13/03/2009

http://browse.digitalglobe.com/imagefinder/showBrowseImage?catalogId=10100100094CA500&imageHeight=natres&imageWidth=natres
Could u tell me how to get this sort of images from DigitalGlobe ??

Could u tell me how to get this sort of images from DigitalGlobe ??

Firstly go on to digitalglobe.com, then you will need to go onto Satellite Imagery (there should be a tab called "coverage" about half way down the main page, click on that then "Satellite Imagery"). The rest is explained by Hollie Maea on his Profile (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/member.php?u=66101)


---------------------------

Some images from Cityscape
Credit goes to Imre

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40,000 winning race against time

http://i41.tinypic.com/2cr3ugw.jpg

Roland Hughes
* Last Updated: April 21. 2009 12:08AM UAE / April 20. 2009 8:08PM GMT

ABU DHABI // The brightly coloured roof of the enormous building dominating Yas Island gives a clear indication of what will soon lie inside.

It is not just red. It is Ferrari red.

Workers have already started placing giant tiles to create a splash of yellow and black in the form of Ferrari’s prancing horse – one of the world’s most widely recognised motifs – in the sea of red. Underneath will be Ferrari World, which, at 200,000 square metres, is planned as the world’s largest indoor theme park.

Passengers on aircraft taking off from the international airport nearby might suppose that the building, a Yshaped behemoth, is nearing completion.

It will certainly appear so from the outside come Nov 1, when the adjoining Yas Marina Circuit stages its first Formula One Grand Prix.

But the attraction will still be off-limits to the public during the race weekend, and will open its doors in 2010.

The circuit itself is far closer to being finished.

Steve Worrell, the director of the Yas Island project for Aldar, the developer, said work was about 70 per cent complete, both on the circuit as a whole and on the track itself.

“The scaffolding is coming down, the paving is being done, the tents [covering the seating] are going up on the grandstands.

“We are at a real crunch period now. We are just about at our peak workforce, with just over 40,000 people, and everybody is working flat-out. We have really picked up the pace of the project.”

The track would be finished by the end of July, Mr Worrell said. Nearly three-quarters had been laid, including most of the crucial start-finish straight.

The summer heat would not be a problem.

“In fact, if you were working in a colder climate, you would be worried about the asphalt cooling off before you have had a chance to place it,” he said.

“Here, you do not have to worry about that.”

He insisted the project would be finished on time, scotching rumours in the Canadian press last month that Montreal was ready to replace Abu Dhabi in the race calendar because of supposed delays on Yas Island.

“We have a camp with 40,000 people in it. It has been an amazing logistical exercise to get all of those parts moving in the same direction. The contractors are doing a fantastic job.

“Yes, OK, we have had problems, no doubt about that – like any other project. But we are very positive, with all our partners.”

With the race to be held six months from next week, most of the structural work around the circuit is finished, windows are being installed, interiors fitted out and trees planted.

Many suites and bedrooms in the attraction’s seven hotels, including the five-star Yas Marina Hotel, the centrepiece of the circuit, are nearly ready. While a number of hotels in the city centre are sold out for the race weekend, it is not yet possible to book any of the 2,300 rooms at the circuit hotels.

Mr Worrell said it was not known when they would be made available.

In mid-May, work on flooding the marina will begin. By July, the country’s first links golf course will open and the track will be finished.

In September, the first of the hotels is due to open.

All that will remain then is for the drivers to play their part.

rhughes@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090421/PAGETHREE/704209824/1119/NATIONAL

Video: Checking in on Yas Island http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090420/MULTIMEDIA/904209987/1318/NATIONAL

Cityscape Abu Dhabi


MUqZFM2zB18

Grand Prix rooms on sale next week

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The Yas Marina Hotel that will straddle the Grand Prix circuit. Courtesy Aldar

Roland Hughes and Jen Gerson
* Last Updated: April 22. 2009 12:55AM UAE / April 21. 2009 8:55PM GMT

ABU DHABI // Hotel rooms within walking distance of the new Formula One circuit will become available to the public from the middle of next week.

Seven hotels with a total of about 2,300 rooms are being built on Yas Island for the inaugural Grand Prix on Nov 1.

Race tickets went on sale a month ago and some hotels in the city centre have already started to sell out, but fans have so far been unable to book rooms at any of the new hotels next to the Yas Marina Circuit. Many will, however, be available to book from May 1.

The centrepiece of the circuit is the five-star Yas Marina Hotel, which will straddle the track. Like the Burj al Arab in Dubai, access to the hotel will be restricted, with visitors arriving over a bridge.

The hotel will be cloaked in a shell designed to resemble a fishing net and able to change colour at night.

The other six hotels to open on Yas Island before the race weekend, all gathered in a plaza, include two with five-stars, the Crowne Plaza and Radisson SAS, two with four, the Rotana and Staybridge Suites, and two with three, the Park Inn and Centro by Rotana.

Adrian Deegan, the area director of sales for the Rotana chain, said that by May 1 the company would be offering rooms through its own website as well as through such sites as www.expedia.com and www.bookings.com. In the meantime, all of the hotels on the island had been reserved by Aldar, the developer, and Etihad Airways, the sponsor, as they decided how many rooms they would need to accommodate VIP guests and delegations.

“What they want is still a little bit in the dark.”

Mr Deegan said he expected Rotana’s four-star hotel to charge approximately Dh2,650 (US$720) per night during the race. Its budget Centro hotel would charge about Dh1,500.

Julie Deighton, a spokeswoman for the Radisson SAS, said: “The rooms aren’t available yet. It has yet to be decided when they will go on sale and at what price rate they will be.”

Meanwhile, the director of sales for hotels to be run by the InterContinental Group, including the Staybridge Suites and the Crowne Plaza, said information about pricing and availability was likely to be released within the next month.

The capital has suffered from a shortage of hotel rooms in the past few years. The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority says it has plans to build 25,000 hotel rooms by 2012, almost doubling the current stock of about 13,000.

In a recent interview, Lawrence Franklin, the director of strategy and policy for the ADTA, said the authority was expecting between 3,000 and 5,000 rooms to be built in time for the F1 race.

Steve Worrell, the Yas Island project director for Aldar, the developer, said “Inside the buildings and hotels, the rooms and suites are well advanced. The carpets, the paint, the doors and the finishing works are well advanced.

“The biggest push now will be all the reception areas, and particularly the kitchen and restaurant areas. Those are the areas the operators want to get first so they can train the staff and practise operating the hotels.

“There are discussions going on now with all the operators. All of them are on board now. The arrangements about booking are happening now. The soft opening of the hotels will probably be in late September.”

On Abu Dhabi island itself, hotels not taking any more bookings for race weekend include the Emirates Palace, Hilton Corniche, Sheraton Corniche, Royal Meridien and Novotel.

A number of F1 teams, including McLaren and Brawn GP, are known to have block-booked rooms in some of those hotels. Each of the 10 teams participating in the race weekend is expected to bring between 200 and 250 staff to Abu Dhabi, immediately accounting for between one in six and one in seven of the capital’s hotel rooms.

A further 50,000 people will attend each of the three days of competition, although the proportion of those people who will be travelling from abroad and requiring hotel rooms is not known. A further 600 journalists are expected to attend the race.

So far, the highest rates announced for the grand prix weekend are at the Al Raha Beach hotel, 15 minutes from the circuit. Rooms are still available there, although at Dh4,640 a night after tax, they risk being prohibitively expensive for most fans.

rhughes@thenational.ae

jgerson@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090422/NATIONAL/704219936/1040

astonishing

Sorry in that picture above is Ras Island directly in the approach path of the airport ?

Stunning looking buildings.

Is it me or is that whole project right underneath the approach to Abu Dhabi Airport? This would result in quite some noise complaints from the new owners of properties on Yas Island.

Sorry in that picture above is Ras Island directly in the approach path of the airport ?

Stunning looking buildings.

Lol didn't read your post, but I was thinking the same :nuts:

Grand Prix rooms on sale next week

Adrian Deegan, the area director of sales for the Rotana chain, said that by May 1 the company would be offering rooms through its own website as well as through such sites as www.expedia.com and www.bookings.com. In the meantime, all of the hotels on the island had been reserved by Aldar, the developer, and Etihad Airways, the sponsor, as they decided how many rooms they would need to accommodate VIP guests and delegations.


I think they mean Booking.com ;)

I guess it is then, and It's really close, I can see them avoiding the area on climb out but there is no way to avoid it on approach. Investing in a high rise in that area could be noisy OR will they share the new Dubai Airport ?

I think they mean Booking.com ;)

no internetbookings.com bestbookingsontheinternetforbookings

p.s. you can stay in my luxuriously appointed 2* spare room just fifteen minutes from the track from 5,000 per night. I'll throw in some breakfast cereal too.

http://i43.tinypic.com/sgqs68.jpg
http://www.constructionweekonline.com/projects-41-yas_island_development/

Old render, but still good..:)

Staff walk out of Dubai Formula One job

7 May, 2009

By Roxane McMeeken

Developer insists row over payment will not delay Yas Marina circuit, which is due to make its F1 debut in November

A row has erupted between contractors working on Abu Dhabi’s Formula One track after staff at one firm claim not to have been paid their full salaries. The F1 track on Yas Island, being developed by Aldar, is due to open in November.

Dubai-based project manager and fit out firm Hamilton International is understood to have fallen out with UAE construction consultants Odyssey Development Consulting after 12 of its staff walked off the job. ODC was advising Hamilton on the fit out of the F1 track including the grandstand, pit and team buildings. Hamilton were sub-contracted by construction firm Cebarco WCT, who are building the circuit.

According to Arabian.Business.com some of ODC staff walked off the job after not receiving full pay from their employer for several months. It is understood that Hamilton is now employing ODC’s managing director Garth Martin as a consultant, but no other staff connected with ODC. It is unclear whether the situation will delay the handover of the project.

There has been intense media speculation over whether the F1 track, called the Yas Marina circuit, will be ready for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November. In March, the Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management (ADMM) put out a statement strenuously denying reports that there were was any delay to the track. Aldar, the master developer of Yas Island, has also insisted the F1 project will be completed on time.

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=779&storycode=3139981&c=3

Anyone know if the marina has been flooded yet?

09/May/2009

Yas Island , Abu Dhabi

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Anyone know if the marina has been flooded yet?

read post 101

How will this ever be ready by November?!?!

Anyone know if the marina has been flooded yet?

Today it was flooded maybe 60-70% and should be completed by end of the week, I think

Today it was flooded maybe 60-70% and should be completed by end of the week, I think

So they're about 2 weeks behind schedule if post #101 is correct? :?

read post 101

:lol: Read it long ago, I mean I did post it myself. ;)

I was just wondering how far along they were/are at the moment? :cheers:

Today it was flooded maybe 60-70% and should be completed by end of the week, I think

Well that's good to hear anyway. Hopefully they'll get everything done and in it's place very soon. Thx for the info :cheers:

sorry wrong thread

:lol: Read it long ago, I mean I did post it myself. ;)

I was just wondering how far along they were/are at the moment? :cheers:

lolx, sorry didnt see that, yep it has been flooded around 70% ! :banana:

lolx, sorry didnt see that, yep it has been flooded around 70% ! :banana:

That's cool. Well 70% sounds good to me! :pepper:

Ive just recieved an email from one of the departments at my work saying there is this offer for Abu Dhabi government employees where i can purchase 6 tickets at the best location to watch the race

NO THANKS ! :nuts::lol:

Ferrari just lost there court case in France regarding capping spending. They and six other teams are threatening to pull out of next years F! season.

Lets hope they find a solution

http://i42.tinypic.com/2eoxq4x.jpg
The Yas Hotel is one of the main architectural features of the US $36 billion-dollar Yas Marina development and F1 raceway circuit.

Asymptote's Yas Hotel on track to host F1 visitors

by Jeff Roberts May 20, 2009

New York-based Asymptote Architecture is nearing completion of The Yas Hotel project in Abu Dhabi. The 500-room, 85,000m² complex is currently under construction but looks to finish interiors, exteriors and landscapes by October 30, 2009, to coincide with the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Yas Hotel is one of the main architectural features of the US $36 billion-dollar Yas Marina development and F1 raceway circuit, which is also near completion. Asymptote’s founders and partners Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture envisioned an architectural landmark that would embody various influences ranging from the aesthetics and forms associated with speed, movement and spectacle to the artistry and geometries forming the basis of ancient Islamic art and craft traditions.

“[The Yas Hotel] represents a perfect union and harmonious interplay between elegance and spectacle,” explained Rashid. “The search here was inspired by what one could call the ‘art’ and poetics of motor racing—specifically Formula 1—coupled with the making of a place that celebrates Abu Dhabi as a cultural and technological tour de force.”

Of greatest architectural and engineering significance is the project’s 217m canopy, which is an expanse of sweeping, curvilinear forms constructed of steel and 5800 pivoting diamond-shaped glass panels. This ‘Grid-Shell’ becomes a veil-like structure that contains two hotel towers and a bridge that passes over the F1 track, which snakes its way through the building complex.

Visually, the Grid-Shell fuses the entire complex together while producing optical effects and spectral reflections that play against the surrounding sky, sea and desert landscape.

The architecture succeeds as both an environmentally responsive solution as well as a structure of spectacle and event. The entire jewel-like composition of the project responds visually and tectonically to its environment to create a distinct and powerful sense of place.

http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-5279-asymptotes_yas_hotel_on_track_to_host_f1_visitors/

Yas Marina Nearing Completion
T. Ramavarman


1 June 2009
ABU DHABI - Work is fast nearing completion on the Yas Marina project which will enable about 5,000 people to view the inaugural Formula 1 car race in Abu Dhabi, from the decks of regional and international vessels berthed in the marina.

The inaugural Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is to be held on November 1 at the race track being built at the Yas Island. Many of the berths in Yas Marina, which is one of the major waterfront developments coming up on the Yas Island, are in close proximity to the car race track and, will offer unique views of this spectacular event.

Being developed by the Abu Dhabi-based property giant Aldar Properties PJSC, Yas Marina is the first marina to be constructed as a dry basin first and subsequently flooded in Abu Dhabi. Flooding of the marina at the heart of Yas Marina Circuit, was completed on Sunday, and the berths will be ready for operation in the first week of July, according to Lee A Kandalaft, Deputy Director Infrastructure, Yas Island.

Aldar Marinas LLC, a subsidiary of Aldar Properties PJSC will manage the projects
The Yas Marina measures 115,000 square meters and contains 150 million gallons of water. It has a standard capacity of 143 berths ranging in length from 15 to 66 meters, with provision for additional capacity for the race weekend. Each berth offers power and water, and there is provision for pump out for all vessels in this state of the art facility. A temporary fuel dock will be located near to the Yas Marina, at Yas Cays, prior to the race week, with a permanent fuel dock to follow.

“We have completed nearly 90 per cent of the infrastructure for the project and are on the commission and trial phase now,’’ Lee A Kandalaft told a group of visiting journalists at the Yas Marina.

Full facilities including the Yas Yacht Club will be up and running by the end of the year. Club car and “concierge vessel” service will provide access to all berths. There will also be three external berths for vessels up to 150 m, Paul Lane, Project Director, Yas Marina, said.

http://i44.tinypic.com/2598jts.jpg
http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-5458-dubai_is_base_for_mesas_mena_operations/

forgot to post them earlier :bash:

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/4871/img0028j.th.jpg (http://img364.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0028j.jpg)
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/7946/img0027oge.th.jpg (http://img31.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0027oge.jpg)

great structure just wish the second skin was more geared towards shading or power generation, instead its just for a light show...beautiful but unsustainable

great structure just wish the second skin was more geared towards shading or power generation, instead its just for a light show...beautiful but unsustainable

I can see you are an architecture "student".....you are talking like one....in real life money talks!!!

former student...graduated...yea ;)

Yas Island Hotels nearing completion
Wednesday 13 May 2009 - Royal BAM Group nv, Bunnik

http://bneopq.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pS_qoC4oAqDXIT_2nZcizjfjUw52iYVKbaSQg6Oad2Qiq-LVrCVy8VE2Q3HVV6j7uhyJhSgdbJE5OKuJuRmmTvNLAPbekURrA/Yas%20Press.jpg

Abu Dhabi, 12 May 2009 - Interbeton Abu Dhabi nv LLC has completed the first floor of guestrooms on the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Staybridge Apartments Project, Yas Island, ready for handover to Aldar Properties PJSC. The soft opening date for the Crown Plaza with 428 rooms and Staybridge Apartments with 165 apartments is July 2009.

In less than 16 months the project has risen out of the ground with more than 56,000 cubic meters of concrete, almost 10,000 tons of reinforced steel and with a total of 7 million man hours. This achievement being another step towards project developer Aldar's commitment to open the first hotels to the general public in September, with all hotels being open in time for the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Formula 1 race, on 1 November.

Craig Wilson, Interbeton's commercial manager in Abu Dhabi, was quoted to say that 'this achievement is a direct result of the dedication given by the project team along with many subcontractors including Power Transmission Gulf and Depa Abu Dhabi, who have and continue to give that extra effort required to achieve what so many said was impossible.'

Interbeton is also involved in the construction of the welcome pavilion which gives entrance to the Ferrari Theme Park on Yas Island. The company is part of Royal BAM Group, a major European construction group which undertakes project worldwide. In the course of 2009 Interbeton will pursue its activities under its new name BAM International, adopting the name of its parent company.


Further information: Halbe Veenstra, Area manager Middle East/Gulf States 971 50 81 35 420

http://bneopq.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pE9oCIiokr3peEqWg-imj2rvw9hpI46Pebda3BYLWNZLgZSNQSjNbb9wIu5q9RMvGXzS5jOku-zqGQAYj9_y1vnAO-VylcPzZ/Crowne%20Plaza.jpg

http://www.bam.nl/baminternet/baminternet/index.jsp

Welcome to the forums IBAUH, I like the looks of that top hotel

--------

Yas Island to see 35,000TR of cooling come online

UAE-based district cooling major Tabreed, is in the process of commissioning 35,000TR of cooling capacity on Yas Island.

“It is being commissioned as we speak. We are flushing the system on both sides right now, with imminent delivery of the first chilled water,” Tabreed’s new CEO Sujit S Pahar told MEP Middle East in an exclusive interview.

Pahar explains that, while the total capacity of the Yas Island district cooling plant is 65,000TR, this will be brought on-line in phases as the project progresses. Yas Island is a 25km2 island located strategically between the coast and Abu Dhabi.

It will feature a range of world-class hotels, theme parks, golf courses, mega malls, apartments and villas. It will also boast the world’s Ferrari theme park, with the world’s fastest roller coaster, while the inaugural F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be held on November 1.

http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-5585-yas_island_to_see_35000tr_of_cooling_come_online/

Aldar concentrates on F1 completion

Edward Poultney takes a look at the progress of Abu Dhabi's Yas Island Formula One track and the infrastructure that is being put into place to ensure that the master developer meets the November 1 deadline.

watch video here: http://www.ameinfo.com/201476.html

http://www.synfo.com/TheYachtReport/articles/Picture%201_2191.png

http://www.synfo.com/news/allnews.asp?id=13744

nice pics,,, anybody has an idea for the car park in yas island for yas mall and F1????

What do you want to know? :dunno:

Clock counts down to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

http://i31.tinypic.com/2ajo0b6.jpg
The digital clock beside the Corniche counts down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the inaugural Abu Dhabi GP. Delores Johnson / The National

Daniel Bardsley
Last Updated: July 09. 2009 9:42PM UAE / July 9. 2009 5:42PM GMT

ABU DHABI // Where will you be in 114 days’ time?

That was what hundreds of people were asked yesterday as they watched a digital clock that will count down to the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix being switched on.

The clock, embedded inside a billboard along the Corniche, tells passers-by how long – down to the second – they have to wait until 3pm on November 1.

That is when the world will be watching as motorsport’s leading drivers are given the green light to start racing at the Yas Marina Circuit. The billboard also features a dramatic blue Formula One car and a driver wearing a red and orange helmet.

Richard Cregan, the chief executive of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, the organiser of the race, said the company was “delighted” to launch the clock.

“With only 15 weeks to go to the first Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 1, we want everyone to share in the anticipation and excitement of one of Abu Dhabi’s biggest sporting events,” he said.

People who saw the clock yesterday said they expected it to boost interest in the first Formula One race to be held in the UAE.

“It looks nice,” said Lina Khair, 30, an insurance worker from Syria. “For sure it’s a good location. All of the people will see it. Advertising it is very important.”

Equally impressed was Gerald Ali, a 33-year-old Filipino cashier at a nearby Adnoc petrol station, where customers have a clear view of the countdown.

“A lot of people pass this way and they will see that big clock and they will be interested in the race.”

Mr Ali said he was keen to attend the race, although financial considerations might make it difficult. “It costs a lot to get a ticket,” he said.

The circuit, where the world champion Lewis Hamilton, this year’s pace-setter Jenson Button, and other big names including Rubens Barrichello and Sebastian Vettel will battle it out for precious points, is still under construction.

The track will feature a 1.3km-long straight on which the cars will reach speeds as high as 300kph.

It will be one of only four circuits in the 17-race competition where the cars are driven in an anti-clockwise direction.

dbardsley@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090710/NATIONAL/707099846/1010

Aldar concentrates on F1 completion


Edward Poultney takes a look at the progress of Abu Dhabi's Yas Island Formula One track and the infrastructure that is being put into place to ensure that the master developer meets the November 1 deadline.

(Video)

http://www.ameinfo.com/201476.html

9th July

Yacht Club

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kjZXkLMA3po/SlmCKj9b4aI/AAAAAAAAAV8/x_d_FzGf-zU/s576/IMG_0510.JPG http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kjZXkLMA3po/SlmCBELjQaI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/zOMm_wSkkMk/s576/IMG_0521.JPG


Yas Hotel

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kjZXkLMA3po/SlmCDlbwhgI/AAAAAAAAAVY/BIDM9QP5OYk/s576/IMG_0519.JPG http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kjZXkLMA3po/SlmCGMn3bNI/AAAAAAAAAVg/5ZLKs5VjhYk/s576/IMG_0517.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kjZXkLMA3po/SlmCG7B7ciI/AAAAAAAAAVk/53cMxjkzc6Q/s576/IMG_0516.JPG http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kjZXkLMA3po/SlmCHsqpgfI/AAAAAAAAAVs/a8KaeqFxA4o/s576/IMG_0515.JPG


Fastest ride in the world - Ferrari World

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kjZXkLMA3po/SlmCRl0-PpI/AAAAAAAAAWY/A0pueUTOpmo/s576/IMG_0499.JPG http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kjZXkLMA3po/SlmCPsxl8dI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/BpnBR1VVZ2s/s576/IMG_0501.JPG


Race Tower

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kjZXkLMA3po/SlmCKHrx35I/AAAAAAAAAV4/ZWMxUc2XkDs/s576/IMG_0511.JPG

Master-Plan

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kjZXkLMA3po/SlmCNNKPe2I/AAAAAAAAAWI/G7rj6bt3g2w/s400/IMG_0502.JPG

All the images can be seen high-res here (http://picasaweb.google.com/cranecountry/).

I guess if i am not mistaken that the fastest roller coaster will open the same day with the formula 1 on November 1st cause its ready so do u think i am right or wrong in this?

3.5 months left to go and a LOT of stuff to do by the looks of it, plus summer reduced schedule, plus ramadan, will they actually manage to be ready? Hope I'm wrong but it seems a bit unlikely. Work on the outside of the hotel is still going on, work inside has probably started not long ago.
The track might be ready by the due date, but all the stuff around it seems still far to me. A hasty finish could also compromise quality of end product.
Good luck

I guess if i am not mistaken that the fastest roller coaster will open the same day with the formula 1 on November 1st cause its ready so do u think i am right or wrong in this?

I think you're wrong because the coasters are part of the Ferrari World due to open only next year.

Another amazing thread of another exciting project.





:horse:

137,680,653 man hours on Yas Island

On Yas Island, 41,000 construction workers are in a race to finish in time for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November. The island is one of the most frenetic and orchestrated construction sites in the country and is coming online just as more than a dozen new hotels, apartment buildings and offices are also opening. The enormity of the exertion underway at Yas can be found in its kitchens, which go through 17 tonnes of rice and 156,000 pieces of chapatti bread a day, not to mention 250 tonnes of chicken a month.

:runaway:

Link (http://blogs.thenational.ae/crane_country/2009/07/morning-round-up-137680653-man-hours-on-yas-island.html)

alien world on earth...:lol:
i like it.

I can't see it [yet] but if they can have this done on time for the Grand Prix in November then they certainly have my respect BIG time!

Well, all I can say is, that's a whole lotta chicken!! :lol: :D

and another nice pictures of Yas Island :nuts:

Marina Hotel:
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/9043/yasmarinahotel.th.jpg (http://img253.imageshack.us/i/yasmarinahotel.jpg/)

Ferrari World:
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8366/yasferrariworld.th.jpg (http://img140.imageshack.us/i/yasferrariworld.jpg/)

OMG! thank you so much Ro.Bi :master:
Proberly the best pic's I've seen of Abu Dhabi all year.
When where they taken?

I'm counting down the weeks now....:banana:

Cool shots Ro.Bi. :cheers: Getting there...:)

Grand prix track to teach driver safety

http://i25.tinypic.com/2r24sbm.jpg
Richard Cregan, the CEO of Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management, at his office with a model of the Yas Island development. Stephen Lock / The National

Roland Hughes
Last Updated: July 26. 2009 1:05PM UAE / July 26. 2009 9:05AM GMT

ABU DHABI // Managers of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix say that they are “duty-bound” to use the circuit to improve road safety standards in the country.

The first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be held on November 1, but the Yas Marina Circuit is likely to be put to other uses for 300 days of the year, away from the Formula One race weekend.

Among the initiatives being planned is a driving school for youngsters that will teach them basic road safety skills before they begin driving lessons on the roads.

Richard Cregan, chief executive of Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management (ADMM) who will manage the circuit, said it was crucial that the organisation “put something back into the community in terms of safe driving”. That would be done by making the circuit accessible to the public for most of the year, he said.

Announcing ADMM’s support of The National’s Road to Safety campaign, Mr Cregan said his organisation would be “supporting any campaign to make the roads a safe place to be”.

“One of the projects we are working on internally is the possibility to have a driving school for young people – a pre-driving facility, if you like,” he said.

“What we would like to do is work with various different bodies and authorities to give 14-year-old kids the opportunity to come and drive in a safe, controlled environment and learn how to control a car, and have that as part of the education to achieve a driving licence. Then we would really be contributing to making roads safe.

“It is an issue that needs to be addressed, and we know there are a lot of different bodies, including The National, Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD) and Salama [doing this].

“The current situation is raising awareness to the public. Everybody is aware of the figures and the sad amount of people lost due to road accidents.

“What we need to do is join up all the various initiatives and do something.”

Last year, 1,071 people died on the roads in the UAE, and 12,273 were injured, according to statistics from the Ministry of Interior.

Talks between ADMM and various authorities about how the circuit can be used as part of wider road safety measures are continuing.

ADMM plans eventually to employ driving instructors to work on the Formula One circuit and on the adjoining 1.2km-long go-kart course.

A 30,000-square-metre facility planned for the circuit on Yas Island will be used to teach driving skills such as controlling a skidding car.

Research conducted for the Ministry of Interior by the British-based Transport Research Laboratory found that 32.5 per cent of serious road accidents in the UAE and 37 per cent of all road accidents over the previous five years were caused by new drivers.

Drivers aged 18 to 27 were also found to be responsible for 35 per cent of all collisions.

In March, the ministry announced that it was to standardise driving tests across the emirates after identifying variations in driving instruction as a factor in accidents. The unified system has yet to be approved by the Cabinet.

As well as working with authorities to improve road safety awareness, Mr Cregan said he hoped some of the biggest names in F1 would be able to co-operate when they visit Abu Dhabi this year.

“We are going to have the cream of the world’s racing drivers on Yas. There are opportunities here to use these key figures to raise awareness. Whatever we can do as individuals or as a group, we are duty-bound to do that.”

This month, Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, the first Arab driver to score points in the World Rally Championship and the face of HAAD’s road safety campaign, said he believed the Yas Marina Circuit would provide a venue for the country’s drivers to harness their skills and to unleash their “speed demons”.

“Packages and programmes could be arranged to allow people to drive around on the track with special cars and release that speed in the right place,” he said.

“Hopefully, that will help reduce accidents.”

Mr Cregan said that, as well as aiming to improve driving standards, ADMM would be putting a five-year strategy in place in the coming months.

One of the aims, he said, was to identify young driving talent in the UAE and train youngsters to a competitive level.

“We will be in a position to take a young driver from a karting situation all the way through Formula racing or rally car racing. There is a huge passion for cars in general, and we need to develop that.

“I am sure that in a couple of years, and we have already seen it in rallying, I don’t see any reason why we won’t see a driver in F1 from the UAE.

“We have the tools to achieve it, we just have to apply the management.”

At the launch of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, the ADMM chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak said future champions would have to be identified at age six or seven.

“Through this, we will have the opportunities to bring young – very young – drivers and develop them in the more classical way,” he said.

Mr Cregan said the key was to develop an interest in motorsport in general in the UAE before young talent could be identified.

“We have to work on the awareness of motorsport. The big thing is the F1. But we have to make sure we go out there to the general public to show them the possibilities there are.”

rhughes@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090726/NATIONAL/707259850/1010

Yas Island's plans for round-the-clock motorsport

Roland Hughes
Last Updated: July 29. 2009 8:14PM UAE / July 29. 2009 4:14PM GMT

http://i30.tinypic.com/2myw6e0.jpg
Cars race through the night at Le Mans 24 Hours in France last month. The company managing the Yas Marina Circuit hopes to host races in the Le Mans series as well as in other racing categories. Sutton Motorsport Images

ABU DHABI // While all eyes are on November’s Grand Prix in the countdown to the debut race at the Yas Marina Circuit, organisers are working on plans to keep up the momentum with a full calendar of leading motorsport events.

Following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 1, the track is likely to be the venue for up to half a dozen different races during 2010, including the world’s best-known endurance series as well as races between supercars such as Aston Martin and Lamborghini.

Other projects include a business park for the motorsport industry and the possibility of using the circuit as potentially the capital’s largest concert venue.

Richard Cregan, the chief executive of Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management (ADMM), which will manage the circuit, confirmed it was negotiating with the operators of a number of events to bring them to the capital.

“We are looking at having between four and six major motorsport events a year,” he said. “We are in discussions with various different groups to have a GP2 stand-alone race, Le Mans, and FIA GT.

“We are looking at some classic [car] events and then we are looking at club events, satisfying the needs of every sector within motorsport.

“We would very much like to have a motorcycle event, so we are in discussions over those.”

A GP2 race, featuring single-seater cars similar to F1 cars, would bring with it the possibility of seeing future Formula One drivers. Many current F1 drivers graduated through the ranks of GP2, including Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen and Timo Glock. The GP2 Asia subdivision has been running for two years.

As well as the 24-hour Le Mans series, which will be possible on Yas Island thanks to floodlights installed around the track, the FIA GT would provide another endurance race, pitching Aston Martins, Lamborghinis and Maseratis against each other in races lasting between two and 24 hours.

Mr Cregan said announcements about the exact events taking place would be made over the coming months, in the run-up to the Grand Prix.

http://i26.tinypic.com/2h57cec.jpg
The Yas Island Circuit may also be a venue for go-karting and musical events such as the Womad festival held in the capital earlier this year. Randi Solokoff / The National

“We have to work on them in parallel with the F1, because we have to deliver [them] by 2010,” he added.

GP2 races often take place at the F1 circuits on the same weekends as Grands Prix, capitalising on the ready-made fan base.

While not as high-profile as the F1 itself, support races often prove highly profitable in their own right.

The V8 Australian supercar series, which takes place every October at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), generates US$85million (Dh312m) of income to the kingdom every year.

Martin Whitaker, the chief executive of BIC, which has staged a Grand Prix for the past five years, said the key to the success of a circuit was ensuring it was not used for only one weekend a year.

“It is one of the things we have pushed – it is not just about the Grand Prix, but about attracting international events, whether it is V8 or GP2 Asia. We have held events here for every single global motor manufacturer, pretty much.”

Including the Grand Prix, the Yas Island track is expected to be in use on 300 days of the year.

Mr Cregan said it would not even be off-limits in the midsummer heat – adding that he had already joked with F1 drivers about the opportunity of travelling to Abu Dhabi to undergo endurance training in the humidity.

Apart from the planned events on the 5.55km track, several facilities will be made open to the public, most notably a drag strip that is almost a kilometre in length and a karting circuit that will be used to train young drivers and for corporate events. Both will open soon after the November Grand Prix.

Driving aside, the Yas Marina Circuit is also likely to be opened up for concerts, with each of the five grandstands seating about 10,000 people. Mr Cregan said:

“When it would come to using the facility for something like a concert, we would run the facility but then hand it over to experts to run the concert.

“We don’t want to get into that, there are people [for whom] that is their speciality.”

He added: “We have to open it up to the people, to make sure they have an opportunity to go out there and enjoy the circuit.

“F1 is only one of the events. A very key element is to make sure we serve the community.”

One of the biggest plans being considered is a large business park adjacent to the track. If it goes ahead, Abu Dhabi will follow the lead of other F1 circuits in becoming bases for motorsport manufacturers.

Bahrain is home to the BMW Performance Centre and a Hummer driving academy, while Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix, has attracted a Ford Rally Academy as well as the Force India F1 team.

Aldar, the Yas Island site’s developer, said the business park was one of many options being considered.

Mr Cregan, who said there had already been expressions of interest from manufacturers in moving to Yas Island, said: “Our hope will be that it is taken up by teams and manufacturers looking for a development base.

“We will support anybody who comes along and wants to use our facility – it could be Ferrari, Audi, Porsche, Mercedes – by creating a motorsport business park that would give them the opportunity to set up a research and development facility, for example.

“With the track lighting, we have the possibility of 24 hours, and the possibility of doing car launches. There are huge possibilities here.

“The only restriction on our project is our own imagination. We need to think outside the box.”

rhughes@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090730/NATIONAL/707299928

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’s new buzz

Roland Hughes
Last Updated: July 31. 2009 12:09AM UAE / July 30. 2009 8:09PM GMT

ABU DHABI // Formula One fans said yesterday that they were excited at the possibility of seeing Michael Schumacher in action in Abu Dhabi in November.

Schumacher, the most decorated driver in Formula One history, announced on Wednesday that he would return to drive for the Ferrari team following an injury to the team driver Felipe Massa at the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend.

The date of Massa’s return from a skull and eye injury is unclear, meaning that Schumacher could race all the way to the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Should he do so, the serial record-breaker would reach another landmark by starting his 257th race, tying for second most starts in Formula One, alongside the Italian Riccardo Patrese.

The Italian team said on Wednesday: “Ferrari intends to entrust Michael Schumacher with Felipe Massa’s car for as long as the Brazilian driver is not able to race.”

Having initially denied being willing to replace Massa, Schumacher said: “Even though I completely wrapped up the subject of Formula One quite a while ago, due to my attachment to the team, I cannot ignore this unfortunate situation. As a competitor, like I am, I’m looking forward to this challenge.”

If Schumacher passes a fitness test, he will race for Ferrari at the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23.

Paolo Soldevila, a Spanish engineer living in Dubai, bought three tickets for the Abu Dhabi race on the day they went on sale in May.

He said he and a friend who is travelling from Madrid for the race were “crazy, crazy” fans of Schumacher and hoped he would be racing on Yas Island.

“This guy is the best I’ve seen,” he said. “There’s been no one like him; but it’s that attitude that he had; he just wants to win.

“I really hope he’s there. He is F1. I mean, it’s really sad why he is there, because of Massa, but this is maybe amazing for Abu Dhabi.”

Schumacher was also a replacement driver in his first F1 race, standing in for the Jordan-Ford driver Bertrand Gachot at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, while the Belgian was in jail for spraying CS gas at a taxi driver.

After that, driving for Benetton and then Ferrari, Schumacher went on to win 91 races and seven world championships, becoming the most successful F1 driver of all time.

Since his retirement in 2006, he has continued to work as an adviser to Ferrari and would in all likelihood have been in attendance in Abu Dhabi, even had he not been drafted in as a driver.

Last year, the property developer PNYG announced that the Michael Schumacher World Champion Tower, a 400-apartment complex with a marina, would be built on Reem Island.

A spokesman for YallaF1, a new Dubai-based fan website, said: “He is the best known racing driver in the world, a big name whose presence on the grid in Abu Dhabi will attract even more fans to the race, and, of course, the TV audience will be massive.”

Khalid Halabi, a Syrian resident of International City in Dubai, said the chance to witness a piece of sporting history has erased his temptation to sell his ticket.

“With [Jenson] Button so far ahead in the title race, I was starting to lose interest,” Mr Halabi said. “The championship will probably be all over by the Abu Dhabi race. At Dh1,400 for a ticket, I was tempted to try to sell it.

“But now the race will go down in history. It will be a classic whatever the result, and if Schumacher wins, we will be able to say, ‘I was there to see his last ever win’. This will add to the pre-race hype, if it wasn’t hyped enough.”

Damien Reid, the editor of F1 Racing Middle East magazine, said he was taken aback by the announcement. “It was a huge surprise,” he said.

“I did a radio interview on Wednesday saying he was definitely not going to come back and all of a sudden, he announced he was.”

He added that he hoped Massa’s injury would not lead to his having to retire from F1.

“With F1, you need 20-20 vision, and if he doesn’t have that, it doesn’t mean it is the end of his motorsport career; there could be touring cars, for example.”

Massa’s injury, one of the most serious in the sport in recent years after considerable safety improvements to cars, should be cause for everyone in F1 to reflect, Mr Reid said. “It has raised a lot of questions in the sport again.”

rhughes@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090731/NATIONAL/707309872

Khalifa views capital’s future
Melanie Swan

Last Updated: August 04. 2009 11:06PM UAE / August 4. 2009 7:06PM GMT
Sheikh Khalifa, President of the UAE, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, inspect the main grandstand at the Yas Marina Circuit. Philip Cheung / The National
ABU DHABI // Sheikh Khalifa, President of the UAE, said yesterday that the capital’s biggest developments demonstrated how swiftly it was positioning itself for its future in trade and tourism.

After viewing the Saadiyat and Yas Island projects, he said they not only encouraged foreign investment and co-operation, but proved the country was building itself a bigger place on the world stage.



The state news agency, WAM, said the delegation began the tour from the Abu Dhabi Corniche, now linked to Saadiyat Island by the 10-lane Abu Dhabi-Saadiyat Bridge.

The President was accompanied by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, as well as other dignitaries including the National Security Adviser, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed; the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed; and the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon.



The President, named this week by the Arabic-language version of Newsweek as one of the 50 most powerful people in the world, was given a detailed update on the projects’ progress.

The President expressed his happiness over the state of the developments and that of other important projects across the country.

Yas Island, on which construction is under way ahead of the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November, is part of a wider aim of boosting the UAE’s position as an international centre of sport and tourism, said Sheikh Khalifa. He said the developments would also strengthen the links between cities across the country, according to WAM.


The work showed the country’s willingness to diversify its economic activity, the President said.

The visit took the President to what the city envisions as being its future cultural capital, Saadiyat Island. The full cultural district will be spread over 270 hectares, about 10 per cent of the island, and will be completed by 2018.

The Louvre, Guggenheim and the Zayed National Museum will comprise the first phase, with most of the building work on them expected to be completed by 2013.



Saadiyat Bridge will give a bird’s-eye view of some of the district’s most impressive buildings, including the Guggenheim, designed by the architect Frank Gehry, and the Performing Arts Centre, designed by Zaha Hadid.

The openings of the three museums will be staggered over two years, its developer, the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), said this year.

The delegation also visited the site of this year’s Grand Prix, Yas Island, and Al Raha Beach, a small city in its own right stretching over 5.2 million square metres of the mainland.



One of the most high-profile developments in the country, Yas Island will, along with the Yas Marina Circuit, boast Ferrari World, a large, red-roofed dome housing the first Ferrari theme park and the world’s fastest roller-coaster, due to open in 2010.

A Warner Bros theme park is also planned, as well as several new marinas, and is expected to be open by 2013.

A couple of nice albums. Loads of pic's of the project.

Album 1 (http://picasaweb.google.com/GoesUAE/20090729YasIsland) - 29th July
Album 2 (http://picasaweb.google.com/GoesUAE/20090731YasIsland) - 31st July

Yas Island Development

Client: Aldar Properties PJSC
Actual Value: 40bn USD
Contractors: Main Contractor: Drake & Scull International L.L.C.
Main Contractor: Belhasa Six Construct L.L.C.

Project Type: Mixed Use

Project Duration:

From: Q4 2007 Actual
To: Q1 2018 Actual

Status: Construction

Scope: Yas Island occupies a total land area of 25,000,000 million square metres. A 17,000,000 square metres will be claimed for development. The Island will feature attractions such as a world-class motor sports racetrack, signature hotels, the Ferrari theme park, Water Park, and the Abu Dhabi destination retail development of 300,000 sq m retail area, links and parkland golf courses, lagoon hotels, marinas, polo clubs, apartments, villas and numerous food & beverage outlets that will create a unique international tourist destination.

Schedule: The deadline for completion of Ferrari Theme Park is on 1st November 2009.

Interior contractor Depa said on Monday its Abu Dhabi subsidiary and joint venture partner have won a AED200m ($54.4m) contract to complete the fit out for the Ferrari World theme park on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Depa, which is overseeing the fit-out for the world’s tallest building, the Burj Dubai, said in statement on Monday that work on the Ferrai World Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest indoor theme park, scheduled to open in 2010, would include flooring, walls doors and ceilings.

Aldar BeSix appointed Depa, which has been given a completion date of March 31 2010, the statement added.


Depa’s joint venture partner is Mivan Depa, whose previous projects include The Atlantis Hotel and Museum of Islamic Arts in Doha. Depa Abu Dhabi is Depa's subsidiary.

The theme park will feature 20 rides and attractions including the world’s fastest rollercoaster and a racetrack.

Link:http://www.arabianbusiness.com/565095-depa-announces-544m-ferrari-world-deal

I can't see it [yet] but if they can have this done on time for the Grand Prix in November then they certainly have my respect BIG time!

Well, all I can say is, that's a whole lotta chicken!! :lol: :D

I couldn't see it at first as well, but I can assure you the track will be done in time. Actually, ADMM and Yas Marine are ready to host the race now even if it was a night time race. The track lightings and all are ready. All they need is a 3 days notice to clean and clear the equipments, etc. but thats not how they want to present the final result of the project. yes they are pressed on time, but the main requirments to host "the race" is done, whats remaining is axilaries and Yas Island related, not F1 track related.

Unfortunately I can't post the pictures because it shows areas that have not been shown yet to the media, through ADMM at least. Landscaping is well in progress, and almost all the infrastructure and construction is completed. What's remaining is mostly fitting jobs. people will be impressed by November 1st. Even Ferrari world is well in progress.

The project is massive, I don’t think am exaggerating when I say it's on par with Burj Dubai, you have to see it to comprehend its scale. What most people see are the track and the Yas Marine Hotel only. What they don’t see is the mind blowing infrastructure and facilities, the underground tunnels, basements, clubs, the solar powered rotating tower and facilities for media and F1 cars teams and support companies.

I couldn't see it at first as well, but I can assure you the track will be done in time. Actually, ADMM and Yas Marine are ready to host the race now even if it was a night time race. The track lightings and all are ready. All they need is a 3 days notice to clean and clear the equipments, etc. but thats not how they want to present the final result of the project. yes they are pressed on time, but the main requirments to host "the race" is done, whats remaining is axilaries and Yas Island related, not F1 track related.

Unfortunately I can't post the pictures because it shows areas that have not been shown yet to the media, through ADMM at least. Landscaping is well in progress, and almost all the infrastructure and construction is completed. What's remaining is mostly fitting jobs. people will be impressed by November 1st. Even Ferrari world is well in progress.

The project is massive, I don’t think am exaggerating when I say it's on par with Burj Dubai, you have to see it to comprehend its scale. What most people see are the track and the Yas Marine Hotel only. What they don’t see is the mind blowing infrastructure and facilities, the underground tunnels, basements, clubs, the solar powered rotating tower and facilities for media and F1 cars teams and support companies.

Fantastic news! :banana: I'm absolutely delighted to hear this! I must admit I was worried about this circuit being finished on time, but from what you say, they're definitely gonna pull it off! When you look at some of the photos you think there's no way on earth they're going to get this done on time ... just amazing, that's all I can say.

Thanks very much for the info, UAE'er :cheers:

Wow...cant wait to go.... its looks IMPRESSIVE!

Any new pictures of the Yas Marina Circuit?

21/08/09

http://i32.tinypic.com/5x0sjt.jpg

Three extra races set for Abu Dhabi F1 circuit


Abu Dhabi’s new Formula One circuit will host three other races on the same weekend as the inaugural Grand Prix, it was confirmed today.

Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management, who will manage the Yas Marina Circuit, said that a round of the GP2 Asia championship will also take place on the weekend of October 30 to November 1.

Also scheduled for the same weekend is a round of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup championship and the Chevrolet Supercars Middle East Challenge.



The races will take place in between practice and qualifying rounds for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as well as before the main race.

The National (http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090826/NATIONAL/708269964/1010)

I couldn't see it at first as well, but I can assure you the track will be done in time. Actually, ADMM and Yas Marine are ready to host the race now even if it was a night time race. The track lightings and all are ready. All they need is a 3 days notice to clean and clear the equipments, etc. but thats not how they want to present the final result of the project. yes they are pressed on time, but the main requirments to host "the race" is done, whats remaining is axilaries and Yas Island related, not F1 track related.

Unfortunately I can't post the pictures because it shows areas that have not been shown yet to the media, through ADMM at least. Landscaping is well in progress, and almost all the infrastructure and construction is completed. What's remaining is mostly fitting jobs. people will be impressed by November 1st. Even Ferrari world is well in progress.

The project is massive, I don’t think am exaggerating when I say it's on par with Burj Dubai, you have to see it to comprehend its scale. What most people see are the track and the Yas Marine Hotel only. What they don’t see is the mind blowing infrastructure and facilities, the underground tunnels, basements, clubs, the solar powered rotating tower and facilities for media and F1 cars teams and support companies.

I've been on the track yesterday (without camera :ohno:) and I disagree with the 3 day notice statement. There are still so many things to be done - some parts of the wearing course, safety fences, etc. - that are mandatory to start the race, not to mention the grandstands andall the other stuff around. But I'm confident that they will get it done in time, the contractor who is under huge pressure is doing a magnificent job IMHO.
I do agree however that it is (will be) one of the greatest developments in the UAE.

I've seen also the MArina Hotel and I would look for a back up now if I had booked there for the race day. Very hard to believe that they will make it.

sorry if I go out of the topic but what about futbol stadiums?? I heard somewhere that dubai is going to bid for a world cup hosting ?? any answers??? thank you...

Infrastructure work on Yas Island completed

Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi's largest real estate developer by market capitalisation, Wednesday said it has completed infrastructure-related work on Yas Island where the 2009 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is scheduled to be held on November 1.

Aldar's Director of Planning and Infrastructure Talal Al Dhiyebi told reporters that seven hotels on Yas Island are in the process of being handed over to the operators.

He said the 5.55 kilometre race track is ready and was inspected by Federation Internationale de L'Automobile (FIA) on August 5. "The final FIA check will be in September. We are delivering the race track according to the specifications given to us," said Al Dhiyebi.

He, however, couldn't immediately provide figures of total investment by Aldar in Yas Island.

"The utilities on the Yas Island are in the final stages of testing and commissioning. We are testing and commissioning the assets," said Al Dhiyebi.

Gulf News (http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Development/10343881.html)

Edit: Some pic's

http://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dcd0926au07.jpg

http://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dcd0926au08.jpg

http://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dcd0926au06.jpg

http://www.formula1.com/photos/597x478/manual/dcd0926au10.jpg

those pictures must be very assuring to the public, with 2 more months remaining until the race, all the small bits and pieces will be taken care off. looks like ALDAR will be able to handover the project to ADMM faster than expected. hand over is next week :cheers:

ALDAR reputition as developer will be really boosted by this project, and will reflect on its financial performance. meeting the deadline must been a real challange and is a achivement to ALDAR and Abu Dhabi. hopefully people can "start" changing thier image about Abu Dhabi's projects taking forever to be built :bash:

Bruno Senna took some pics http://twitpic.com/photos/BSenna

Abu Dhabi to host F1’s first twilight race

Abu Dhabi will host a twilight Formula One race after the start time was changed with only two months to go.

The race, the season finale, had been due to start at 3pm on November 1, which would have seen it end in daylight.

However, a document issued to television producers at the Belgian Grand Prix today said that the race will instead begin at 5pm.

Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management, the race organisers, have since confirmed the new time, which came about after a decision by Bernie Ecclestone, the F1 supremo.

It will mean that, while the race will start in daytime, it will end as the sun goes down, making Abu Dhabi the first race to be held at night and day. Singapore hosted the first full night race last year, with the second taking place next month.

“Yas Marina Circuit has been built from the outset to host day and night-time activities,” said Richard Cregan, the chief executive of ADMM. “Staging Formula 1’s first ever day/night race offers us the unique opportunity to demonstrate the circuit’s inbuilt flexibility and state-of-the-art facilities. It has always been our intention to showcase to the world this spectacular venue and this decision allows just that opportunity.

"It is the best of both worlds, spectators and television viewers will see the stunning architecture of the world’s newest Formula 1 circuit during the afternoon sunlight and then experience what it is like under floodlights. We hope that everyone will be impressed by what they experience and see.”

Both the Australian and Malaysian grands prix, which opened the race calendar, started at 5pm. Abu Dhabi’s location means it is likely to end in dimmer light than those races; sunset in Abu Dhabi on November 1 is expected at 5.43pm, according to a number of meteorological websites.

Floodlights up to 40 metres tall will surround the Yas Marina Circuit, which is still under construction, ensuring that future races could be held at night. As a result, ADMM are confident there would be no visibility issues for a twilight or night race. The Yas Hotel, through which the track travels, will also be fitted with 4,800 LED panels that can change colour at night.

The National (http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090828/NATIONAL/708289862/1001)

It going to be stunning to watch this in the sunset. :banana:

yep Adam, it will be spectacular. i think its sunset is the best timing. Yas Marine deserve being watched in both daylight and night time.

Thanks for the info Adam. This just gets better and better!

Everything here looks amazing! The Marina and Hotel are just beautiful and must say they do compliment each other very well. Having the race end at sunset is a fantastic idea! Should be an awesome spectacle......:banana:


:cheers:

Capital set to host 2010 F1 finale

http://i29.tinypic.com/14nczkx.jpg
Yas Marina is likely to host the final grand prix of 2010. Andrew Henderson / The National

Roland Hughes Euan Megson and Alam Khan
* Last Updated: August 30. 2009 12:07AM UAE / August 29. 2009 8:07PM GMT

ABU DHABI // The final Formula One grand prix of next season is likely to be in Abu Dhabi again, although on a slightly later date than the capital’s inaugural event.

Broadcasters and F1 team managers were handed provisional race calendars for 2010 at the Belgian Grand Prix meeting yesterday, with Abu Dhabi scheduled to host its race next year on November 7. This year’s event is on November 1.

It means that the next F1 season will be bookended by races in the Middle East, with Bahrain scheduled to host the opening race on March 14, more than a month earlier than this year’s round at the Sakhir circuit.

The provisional dates were not confirmed by the world motorsport governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, yesterday. They have to be presented formally by the World Motor Sport Council, which meets in Paris.

However, Richard Cregan, the chief executive of the race organiser, Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management, who was in Belgium yesterday, said he hoped that the dates would remain the same.

“I’ve seen the schedule for 2010 this morning,” he said.

“Again, it’s a nice position to be in and it is in keeping with what’s happened this year.

“I can see [the calendar] staying like this and we’ll be in a strong position next year as an established race.

“It’s all dependent on deals being done and contracts being signed. We’ll wait a while and see if the WMC [World Motor Sport Council] ratifies the calendar.

“We’re happy with the current situation and will always support any decision the FIA and Formula One Management [which owns F1’s promotion of content] make,” he said.

Changes to the race calendar are still possible following the first announcement. Abu Dhabi’s race date was moved forwards two weeks after the provisional 2009 calendar was released in June last year, and Canada’s race was dropped entirely.

However, it is rare for the first and last races to be changed, making it highly unlikely at this stage that Abu Dhabi would lose its place as the last race of next season.

Mohammed ben Sulayem, the FIA’s vice president for sport, said: “The calendar has to be ratified by the World Motor Sport Council, but it is just perfect for the Gulf. When we first talked about taking races to the Middle East, we always thought about the conditions to make it the best race possible for drivers to perform and spectators to watch.

“Last year in Bahrain [on April 29], we had stewards who were very dehydrated. The spectators found it difficult in the heat and the drivers too. It was not easy and I spoke to Bernie [Ecclestone, owner of F1’s commercial rights] about this.

“By moving it to the first race in March, it is a great move for Bahrain. The climate will be cooler and I expect to see a lot more people. Everyone will enjoy it better.”

If the dates are confirmed, it will cement Abu Dhabi’s position as the finale to the F1 season, after years in which Brazil hosted the last race.

Two races next year, in Canada and Britain, are provisional. Neither is yet in a position to confirm its participation next season – Canada because of doubts over whether a commercial agreement will be signed with Formula One Management, and the UK owing to uncertainty over the readiness of the circuit.

* The National

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090830/NATIONAL/708299833/1010

A couple of days ago someone asked for updated pics from Yas Island.
Here a few for those who are interessted: :gossip:

Crown Plaza on Yas Island:
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9013/yasisland07crownplaza.th.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/i/yasisland07crownplaza.jpg/)

Few other hotels on Yas Island:
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3539/yasisland06hotels.th.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/i/yasisland06hotels.jpg/)

And of course a picture from the Marina Hotel:
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3306/yasisland05marinahotel.th.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/yasisland05marinahotel.jpg/)

Further some from the Yacht Club & the Race/Sun Tower:

Sun Tower & Yacht Club
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9315/yasisland02yachtclubsun.th.jpg (http://img180.imageshack.us/i/yasisland02yachtclubsun.jpg/)

Sun Tower
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7461/yasisland04suntower.th.jpg (http://img340.imageshack.us/i/yasisland04suntower.jpg/)

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/8804/yasisland01suntower.th.jpg (http://img39.imageshack.us/i/yasisland01suntower.jpg/)

Yacht Club
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2286/yasisland03yachtclub.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/i/yasisland03yachtclub.jpg/)

Hope you enjoy them!

A couple of days ago someone asked for updated pics from Yas Island.
Here a few for those who are interessted: :gossip:

Crown Plaza on Yas Island:
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9013/yasisland07crownplaza.th.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/i/yasisland07crownplaza.jpg/)

Few other hotels on Yas Island:
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3539/yasisland06hotels.th.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/i/yasisland06hotels.jpg/)

And of course a picture from the Marina Hotel:
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3306/yasisland05marinahotel.th.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/yasisland05marinahotel.jpg/)

Further some pictures from the Yacht Club & the Race/Sun Tower:

Yacht Club & Sun Tower:
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/9315/yasisland02yachtclubsun.th.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/yasisland02yachtclubsun.jpg/)

Yacht Club:
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/2286/yasisland03yachtclub.th.jpg (http://img403.imageshack.us/i/yasisland03yachtclub.jpg/)

Sun Tower:
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7461/yasisland04suntower.th.jpg (http://img340.imageshack.us/i/yasisland04suntower.jpg/)

Sun Tower:
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/8804/yasisland01suntower.th.jpg (http://img39.imageshack.us/i/yasisland01suntower.jpg/)

Hope you enjoy them.

Very nice Ro.Bi :cheers:

You must be involved in this project in some way or another. What's your opinion on how much will be ready on time? Anything you think won't be completed? Interested to hear your thoughts, I hope it all runs smoothly.

http://i26.tinypic.com/2e322ax.jpg
http://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/article-5089-top-10-new-hotels-for-2009/

thats not real, is it? i'm pretty sure they havent had time to landscape it with turf yet!

No, it's a old render. :laugh:
Here's how the landscaping looks at the moment.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_j4UjZ0VkVAY/Sp0Lb_sgg8I/AAAAAAAACVo/bP2Sr91aGc4/s640/pic%20014.jpg
High-Res (http://picasaweb.google.com/glasslinead/YAS010909#5376466105732727746)

thats not real, is it? i'm pretty sure they havent had time to landscape it with turf yet!

lol No, aravinda, just a render. Actually, with just a couple of months to go now until race day, the landscaping should be going down within a few weeks ... if they want a "green" race of course?? :)

dunno if it was posted on the forum, but the race is going to be a dusk race: floodlights from start to finish!

Yes, it was mentioned here already (previous page). Personally, I'd rather the F1 season finish in Brazil, but never mind, I'm sure Abu Dhabi won't disappoint. :cheers:

Aldar update - August

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/5154/yas1.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/2789/yas2.jpg

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/371/yas3.jpg

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/9045/yas4.jpg

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/9470/yas5.jpg

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/9027/yas6.jpg

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9797/yas7.jpg

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/2741/yas8.jpg

More here (http://www.aldar.com/construction_progress_gallery.php?m=construction_yasisland_09-08)

It won't be pretty come October, but I guess it can be done by then.

Either way it still is mighty impressive even though overall it's no where complete.

Well basically they've got just over 7 weeks to get as much done as possible.
However the pace that this project has been going over the last few months I'm sure that everything needed for race day will be finished.

Notice it's started to go green as well :)

Well basically they've got just over 7 weeks to get as much done as possible.
However the pace that this project has been going over the last few months I'm sure that everything needed for race day will be finished.

Notice it's started to go green as well :)

Yeah I figure that too. But I don't see all the landscaping getting done by then.

Here is an update again regarding the Marina Circuit.
Today the first test rounds have been absolved on the track by a F1 car and a couple of other cars (Porsche - not sure, and a couple of Audis). :banana:

Take a look at the attached pics if interessted:

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/9074/dscf6114x.th.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/dscf6114x.jpg/)

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/2294/dscf6116m.th.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/dscf6116m.jpg/)

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/589/dscf6117h.th.jpg (http://img81.imageshack.us/i/dscf6117h.jpg/)

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/4886/dscf6119.th.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/i/dscf6119.jpg/)

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/3927/dscf6120.th.jpg (http://img410.imageshack.us/i/dscf6120.jpg/)

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/6069/dscf6122.th.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/i/dscf6122.jpg/)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8533/dscf6123t.th.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/dscf6123t.jpg/)

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/9093/dscf6124j.th.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/i/dscf6124j.jpg/)

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/3769/dscf6125.th.jpg (http://img443.imageshack.us/i/dscf6125.jpg/)

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5690/dscf6126.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/i/dscf6126.jpg/)

I would say we are nearly ready for the race!!

^^ edit:
it was a car similar to F1 due to the fact it was a 2 seater :bash:

Wow, thanks Ro.Bi. :cheers: Yes, the circuit is certainly looking very close to being up to racing standards now. So cool to see actual testing going on now also. I guess just as long as they have everything in place that they will need for race day then everything will be fine. Next year of course things will look a whole lot prettier, with the landscaping, etc and general area completed.

Wonder who the drivers are doing the testing here at Yas? :)

Only 47 days to race day!! :banana:

Yas Marina Circuit ready for racing

http://i25.tinypic.com/344r234.jpg
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, inspects the circuit with Khaldoon al Mubarak, the Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management chairman, right, and Ahmed Ali Sayegh, the Aldar chairman, left. Philip Cheung / The National

Daniel Bardsley
* Last Updated: September 17. 2009 11:58PM UAE / September 17. 2009 7:58PM GMT

ABU DHABI // The Yas Marina Circuit was handed over by its developer to the organisers of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on schedule yesterday, two and a half years after construction started and six weeks before the track’s first race. Bruno Senna, nephew of the late racing champion Ayrton Senna, marked the occasion by completing the first official lap of the track in a Formula One car.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, attended the festivities.

The new racetrack will host the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 1. The final event of the 2009 Formula One season is expected to attract almost 60,000 fans to Yas Marina to see a field of drivers that will include the current points leader, Jenson Button, the reigning world champion, Lewis Hamilton, and two-time world champion, Fernando Alonso.

The new track is “an impressive example of the home-grown initiatives taking place in Abu Dhabi”, Khaldoon al Mubarak, the chairman of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management (ADMM), said in a statement. “We congratulate Aldar Properties on delivering one of the most sophisticated motorsport circuits ever built.”

It took 14,000 workers more than 35 million man hours to build the 5.55km circuit. It is covered with 720,000 square metres of asphalt, and was constructed with 225,000 cubic metres of concrete and 25km of electrical cables.

The race weekend will run from October 30 to November 1 and include three support races: the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, the Chevrolet Supercars Middle East Challenge, and the GP2 Asia Series.

Richard Cregan, the chief executive of Yas Marina Circuit and ADMM, said 90 per cent of the tickets for the Grand Prix had been sold. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be Formula One’s first dusk-to-night race, starting at 5pm and running under floodlights until after dark.

Future events at Yas Marina include a race for Australia’s V8 Supercars on February 18-20.

dbardsley@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090918/NATIONAL/709179849/1010


YAY!! :banana:

Says here that Bruno Senna did the first official lap of the circuit. Cool! :)

Very Exciting :D can we dare and say the project completed "ahead of schedule" :D

I have a couple of pictures of the formula-1 and the Nissan skyline-GT Cars, but my phone wouldnt pair with my PC's bluetooth >_< I will post them later when i get a wired connection.

:applause:

Sorry for the bad quality, phone camera

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/1462/img00010200909171655.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)


http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/9803/img00008200909171643.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)


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Good Job Aldar and ADMM :cheers:

Very Exciting :D can we dare and say the project completed "ahead of schedule" :D

Yes, I do believe we can stick our necks out now and "dare" to say those magic words we've all been longing to hear. :D

Nice shots:cheers:

Not a fan of the blue/green colour at all!!

Not a fan of the blue/green colour at all!!

me too at first, but getting used to it, and staring to think its actually unique. diffrent than the red/black typical combinations. hope it will look nice when the whole track Theme is completed, the blue colore might complement Yas Hotel quit nicly at night :)

I'm sure they did the thinking/research and that colore was the best option

Abu Dhabi to lose finale position on F1 calendar

Melanie Swan
* Last Updated: September 21. 2009 10:41PM UAE / September 21. 2009 6:41PM GMT

Abu Dhabi looks all but certain to lose the privilege of hosting the grand finale to next year’s Formula One season.

Some motor racing fans in the capital will be disappointed at the news, announced yesterday by the World Motor Sport Council.

Next year’s F1 calendar, for the first time since 2005, will contain 19 races, culminating in the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 14. Abu Dhabi will stage the penultimate event on October 31.

This year, the first time that the UAE has hosted a grand prix, Abu Dhabi has pride of place, with its November 1 race forming the end-of-season spectacular.

Richard Cregan, the chief executive of the race organiser Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management, was not disheartened by the reshuffle.

“Formula One is a truly global sport, the addition of new teams and a 19th race in 2010 indicates positive growth,” he said. “We are delighted Yas Marina Circuit is part of the championship as it continues to grow.”

Neil Vorano, the motoring editor of The National, said: “As the last race of the season, so many people around the world will be tuning in to see the results.

“Everyone wants the last race of the year to be the decider, to extend the drama throughout the whole season, as happened last year with Lewis Hamilton winning the title in Brazil over Felipe Massa. But the reality is that’s not always the case.”

Next year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will again be a dusk-to-dark race starting at 5pm, like this year’s 55-lap event.

Last week, the Yas Marina Circuit was handed over by its developer to the organisers of the grand prix, two and a half years after construction started and six weeks before the track’s first race.

Bruno Senna, the nephew of the late champion Ayrton Senna, marked the occasion with the first official lap of the track in a F1 car.

The event is expected to attract almost 60,000 fans to watch drivers including the current championship leader, Jenson Button, the reigning world champion, Lewis Hamilton, and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.

Next year’s F1 season will start on March 14 in Bahrain. There is one event awaiting confirmation, the Canadian Grand Prix, subject to the completion of contract negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone’s Formula One Management.

mswan@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090922/NATIONAL/709219845/1010

Parisan Girl why did you have to Jinx it?... :(
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=42323910&postcount=186

:)

Parisan Girl why did you have to Jinx it?... :(
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=42323910&postcount=186

:)

Sorry guys. :D

My mother always told me I had an uncanny knack of predicting what nobody wanted to hear. She said I must have been born with a crystal ball up my ass! :lol:

Anyone want to hear my prediction for the race? :lol:

I was told by ADMM that its still not official, although there is a chance that UAE will loose the finale to brazil.

So, Persian Girl, Yas Island is better than Brazil . . . . Yas Island is better than brazil :nuts: *hypnotizing voice* :nuts:


:lol:

Actually, would'nt be bad seeing you predict the race

I was told by ADMM that its still not official, although there is a chance that UAE will loose the finale to brazil.

Well, it's true, nothing is for sure with FI these days ... as we've seen over the last few years in particular. Look at all the crap going on at Renault at the moment. :nuts: It's cool to have the final race I guess, especially if that race happens to be the decider, but lets wait and see how things turn out. You never know..:)

So, Persian Girl, Yas Island is better than Brazil . . . . Yas Island is better than brazil :nuts: *hypnotizing voice* :nuts:


:lol:

Yes, I must admit, you have truly convinced me that Yas Island is better than Brazil... :shifty: ... :runaway: :lol:

PS: That's Parisian Girl, thank you! ;) :lol:

Actually, would'nt be bad seeing you predict the race

When the mist clears from my crystal ball I'll give you my lowdown on the race. ;) :lol:

As Abu Dhabi is a totally unknown quantity, in race terms, it's gonna be quite difficult to predict how things will go ... I'll have a real guess after the Singapore race. The last two drivers championships have been won on ONE point, but I don't see a repeat of that this year. :)

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jEqKneXTJHo/SrRxIMGnRuI/AAAAAAAAMYU/mkGWBXQUT-w/s720/IMG_6526.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jEqKneXTJHo/SrRxgWIVpxI/AAAAAAAAMYw/xIz8WBPANe8/s720/IMG_6529.JPG

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http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jEqKneXTJHo/SrRxyI6c20I/AAAAAAAAMZI/zydh_zxLA2k/s640/IMG_6528.JPG

>> More here in higher resolution. (http://picasaweb.google.com/ruthiepowles/YasIsland#) <<

WOOOOOOOOOOOOW

Yas Marina Circuit in home stretch

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By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: September 24, 2009, 22:41

Abu Dhabi: Finally it was an experience which each member of the small group of 15 local journalists will cherish for a lifetime.

A lap of the Yas Marina Circuit, the venue of inaugural Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in a mini bus finally lay to rest any lingering doubts of the emirate's ability to stage one of the world's top sporting events.

Travelling at a speed of less than 30km per hour on one of the longest straights in a F1 circuit, the thought of just imagining a speed of 317 km per hour on the very same track on November 1 was enough to bring goose bumps on a warm afternoon.

There were many reports emanating from various quarters which did doubt whether Abu Dhabi would be in a position to stage the 2009 year-ending finale to the Formula One series.

However, a week after Aldar Properties PJSC handed over the completed circuit to venue operator Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management (ADMM), and after yesterday's 'Educational Tour' of the track, one can safely confirm that Abu Dhabi's endeavour is on the home-stretch.

While the entire track is complete, the seven hotels including the one on the track - the Yas Hotel - are going through their fit-outs.

The team of journalists also got to drive on the track under the hotel - the world's first such track which runs through the Yas Hotel structure which by itself is another building of marvel.

The journalists' vehicle had to maintain a slow speed, what with a 14,000-strong work force making the final touches to what is expected to raise the bar as far as F1 circuit and safety matters are concerned.

Nicole Hayde, ADMM's head of communications said: "A unique feature of this circuit is that from almost every stand you can catch of view of about 30 to 40 per cent of the track. Ticket sales have gathering a brisk pace."

ADMM's Kawthar Bin Sulayem, the local media manager and one of the many Emirati faces involved in the project said: "Almost every day we can see massive changes. The pace of progress is frenetic and we should be ready to put up a great show."

Following the November 1 Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit will operate year-round with a variety of international racing and other special events, drag racing, karting, the driving school, corporate opportunities, and concerts.

http://www.gulfnews.com/sport/Motor_Racing/10352051.html

Yas Marina on track to be a cracker

http://i34.tinypic.com/dqhy6q.jpg
The back main straight of the Yas Marina circuit seen on the right from the north grandstand is the longest in F1. Philip Cheung / The National

William Johnson, Chief Sports Writer
* Last Updated: September 25. 2009 12:12AM UAE / September 24. 2009 8:12PM GMT

Five weeks from today the first Formula One car will roar out of the tunnel linking the pit-lane onto the Yas Marina Circuit (YMC) and seek to break an expected average lap time of 1 minute 40 seconds in the opening practice session for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Many doubted that the Dh5 billion state-of-the-art race track would be ready to welcome the world’s fastest drivers for the season’s finale and potential championship-decider on November 1.

Admittedly, the island still resembles, in some places, a massive building site with a lot of man hours of work needed to be carried out to bring the development to a conclusion.

But the focal point of the whole affair – the 5.55km (3.41-mile) circuit – is ready and waiting for that historic green light to be switched on.

That was the message conveyed to a media gathering yesterday for a tour of this motor-racing arena as they were given a glimpse of the finished track on a bus tour of the site.

The bus drove at a fraction of the speed the current championship title leader Jenson Button and his rivals will reach when they hurtle down the 1,173-metre main straight at a top rate of about 317kph.

But the snail’s pace was ideal to get a feel of the place in a single lap and imagine what a spectacle it will be for up to 50,000 fans, who will throng to the sparkling, covered stands, which apart from the grandstand on the main straight offers a view of 40 per cent of the action.

A frightening but innovative run-off area, that runs underneath the grandstands at the end of the long back straight, was never going to needed by the meandering tour vehicle, but could be a factor come race day when 20 cars come charging down towards the corner on the first lap.

The run-off is the first of its kind in the sport and will add another element of uniqueness to what will already be an event of many firsts – most notably being the inaugural day-night race in F1 history.

When the race begins at 5pm local time, rows of high-tech floodlights will allow the racing to continue once darkness sets in on the Yas Marina site, as will the lights in the 500 rooms of the Yas Marina Hotel, which is an appealing integral feature of the facility.

Equally iconic for F1 aficionados watching all over the world is the Shams Tower, a hospit-ality haven for the very rich and famous who can also moor yachts as long as 90 metres in the adjacent marina.

That feature at the top of the finishing straight promises to become as big a Grand Prix landmark as the famous Monaco tunnel in Monte Carlo.

The pit-lane and paddock area behind are also ready for operation. Significantly the only two garages so far claimed were those of the Renault team, possibly in a display of relief that they are still eligible to compete after the disgrace of the race-fixing scandal exposed by their former driver Nelson Piquet Junior.

Banners proclaiming the impending arrival of Fernando Alonso and rookie Romain Grosjean were marking the territory for the team who are under threat of expulsion for the next two years.

The pride of place in the pit-lane will go to the McLaren Mercedes of the defending world champion Lewis Hamilton and Button, the current favourite to succeed him in his Brawn GP car as he leads teammate Rubens Barrichello by 14 points going into Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix.

Both drivers are excited by the prospect of breaking new ground in Abu Dhabi when the F1 fraternity roll into town.

“I can’t wait to get out there,” said Hamilton. “We couldn’t have asked for a better venue for the conclusion of our season.”

Button, his British compatriot, visited the venue after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix in April and commented: “It’s always fun to try out a new race track for the first time so I’m looking forward to the first Grand Prix there.”

The sales pit-ch for the track, which varies in width from 12-16 metres, was that “something new” will be introduced to Yas Island in time for for each anniversary of the YMC joining the F1 Circus.

Ferrari, who have strong links with Abu Dhabi through Mubadala and the Grand Prix’s title sponsors Etihad Airways, will increase their association with the UAE when a special theme park in their name opens next year.

Supplementary facilities also nearing completion include the YMC Raceway, a driving academy and a karting centre. The red letter day of November 1 will just be the start.

YMC intend to be a vibrant centre for motorsport all year round and promises to provide wonderful entertainment for every type of enthusiast.

wjohnson@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090925/SPORT/709249906/1043

has the mist cleared away yet ???

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Grand Prix concerts to start with Beyoncé
Loveday Morris
Last Updated: September 22. 2009 11:15PM UAE / September 22. 2009 7:15PM GMT
Beyoncé is one of the performers confirmed to play during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Kevin Winter / Getty Images / AFP

Abu Dhabi // The American R&B singer Beyoncé will kick-start a weekend of entertainment during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, performing for tens of thousands of race ticket holders on October 29.

Those who have bought tickets for the Formula One racing are guaranteed free access to stage performances on the days for which they hold tickets, said John Lickrish, managing director of Flash, the concert organiser.


http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090923/NATIONAL/709229867
The 25,000 people with three-day tickets will also be able to attend the opening concert. Relatively few people who have not bought race tickets will be able to attend any of the concerts; a limited number of show tickets will be given to members of the public. After Formula One stars such as Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and the world championships leader Jenson Button leave the track for the day, the entertainment will be far from over.

Beyoncé, a multi-Grammy Award winner, has been confirmed to play the opening night, sources close to the organisers have said.

Aerosmith, the rock band known for hits including Walk This Way and I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, will perform the grand finale for the festivities, after Formula One’s first day-night race on November 1.

The 22,000 people who have bought Saturday and Sunday passes will be able to attend the evening events on both days, organisers said. “We are aware of the confusion, but it is simple: if you are able to get on to the racetrack on any given day, you can come to see the artist that evening,” Mr Lickrish said.

To accommodate all ticket holders, the concerts will have a capacity matching that of the circuit – which seats more than 41,000.

“It is very likely on the Saturday and Sunday we will have the vast majority of people who are at the race coming to see the gig. We will be able to get them all in,” Mr Lickrish said.

“If people have read something saying it will only be a few thousand who can see the concerts, it is totally wrong. It will be more like 40,000 plus.”

A huge stage has been constructed opposite the Yas Island track’s North Grandstand at the Ferrari World Concert Arena.

Sources close to the organisers dismissed media reports that the US band No Doubt, headed by the singer and fashion designer Gwen Stefani, and the Canadian singer Nelly Furtado would perform on October 30 and 31.

Organisers have also denied that the Australian rockers AC/DC or the Irish band U2 will play, as had been rumoured. Two more acts will be announced early next week, they said. A stage is also being constructed on the Corniche, where events will be held in tandem with the Formula One entertainment.

Last week, the developer Aldar Properties handed the Yas Marina Circuit over to the organisers of the Grand Prix, two and a half years after construction began and six weeks before the track’s first race.

The race weekend is expected to attract almost 60,000 fans, and organisers said 90 per cent of the tickets had already been sold.

great structure just wish the second skin was more geared towards shading or power generation, instead its just for a light show...beautiful but unsustainable

I can see you are an architecture "student".....you are talking like one....in real life money talks!!!

This product could have easily bin used to cover the skin, its cost effective, and can be used for a similar lighting effect. http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/09/18/colored-solar-panels-dont-need-direct-sunlight/

I was told by ADMM that its still not official, although there is a chance that UAE will loose the finale to brazil.

So, Persian Girl, Yas Island is better than Brazil . . . . Yas Island is better than brazil :nuts: *hypnotizing voice* :nuts:


:lol:

Better than INTERLAGOS.

Better than Brazil? NEVEEERRRRRR!!!!! :lol::lol::lol::lol:

simply stunning. looking better everyday, I hope landscaping will be completed by then.

whats the grandstand in the 3rd picture that Adam posted? it looks like the main track granstand but smaller. is it the drag trace/ Karting track?



PS: That's Parisian Girl, thank you! ;) :lol:

oops, Je suis desole :)

watching qualifying at the singapore circut was really impressive, its going to be a real hard act to follow, going to take Abu Dhabi a while to get there aswell

whats the grandstand in the 3rd picture that Adam posted? it looks like the main track granstand but smaller. is it the drag trace/ Karting track?

Yes correct. There the grandstands for the 1km drag strip along side the race track.

has the mist cleared away yet ???

Actually, it has! :)

I think Abu Dhabi will suit Brawn, their set-up, etc, so I'll go with Button or Barrichello to win the race, or at least make it on to the podium. But more importantly though I think, Button will win the drivers title, NOT because he has a healthy 15 point lead, but because he has had the edge over everyone this year. His second place at Monza (absolutely crucial IMO) and finishing ahead of Barrichello at Singapore have put him in a fantastic position in the points. Anything can happen in F1, of course, we've seen championships lost from the front (Raikkonen came from behind and won by one point in Brazil in 2007) but my gut says Button will step up now and do just enough to secure the title. :2cents:

Bottom line, head-to-head, Button will beat Barrichello (avoiding crash, engine failure, etc) for the drivers championship in 2009! :cheers:

(hope I don't end up eating my words :lol: I'm sure there are some here who will remind me too :D)

watching qualifying at the singapore circut was really impressive, its going to be a real hard act to follow, going to take Abu Dhabi a while to get there aswell

Totally agree, I think Abu Dhabi will be better next year - and better again in the following few years once all the dust has settled. I think once they get a few races under their belts and the fans get used to it...basically bond with this circuit then it will be pretty awesome! Really looking forward to this race! :)

simply stunning. looking better everyday, I hope landscaping will be completed by then.

Stunning indeed. Incredible what they've done here. My respect to all involved with this amazing project. :cheers:

http://i34.tinypic.com/29fe8mw.jpg

oops, Je suis desole :)

Pas de problème :)

Fast start to Grand Prix volunteer search

http://i36.tinypic.com/34rtwg5.jpg
Coloured lights illuminate the Yas Hotel on the Formula One racetrack. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National

Hassan Hassan
* Last Updated: September 28. 2009 5:10PM UAE / September 28. 2009 1:10PM GMT

ABU DHABI // A scheme to recruit up to 900 Emirati volunteers to help out during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has had a strong reponse, organisers said yesterday.

Even before the publicity campaign started, said Takatof, the volunteer organisation of the Emirates Foundation, it had had many calls from people offering to participate in the Formula One event, scheduled for October 30 to November 1 on Yas Island. The volunteers will work in airports and hotels to welcome visitors and provide information, and inside the Yas Marina Circuit during the event.

Takatof officially launched its campaign yesterday to recruit volunteers. At least 600 are needed, but the organisation set a target of 900. Takatof said earlier this month that more than 300 people had already volunteered.

Volunteers must be UAE nationals, more than 18 years old and should have a strong command of Arabic and English. Applicants will be interviewed by Takatof officials.

Recruitment is expected to finish by the end of this month, with October reserved for training.

The volunteers will be trained in customer service, ceremony and hospitality, as well as health safety, security, traffic control and firefighting. The goal, in addition to making the event run smoothly, is to present visitors with a positive image of the country, Takatof officials said.

“Our role is to make sure everyone is comfortable,” said Mohammed al Mansouri, a Takatof supervisor. “Every volunteer, male and female, will be required to wear national dress and will be tasked to give a positive image of the country.

“A lot of visitors will come from outside the country and for a short period of time, so it is important they do not get the wrong image.”

Maytha al Habsi, the head of Takatof, said volunteers would benefit from the experience.

“Participating in this event has several advantages for young Emiratis, such as improving their skills and self-confidence,” she said. “This is a chance for them to get in contact with people from a variety of cultures, which would improve their ability to better represent their country in international forums in the future.”

Mr al Mansouri said Takatof had finished recruiting and assigning leaders and captains, and was now seeking volunteers and setting up training. Volunteer groups will consist of a leader, four captains and 20 volunteers.

“No one would work in airports Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports hotels and the circuit unless they are fully trained,” he said. “In addition to being a national duty, participation will provide us with a very good experience.”

Humaid al Hamadi, another Takatof supervisor, said volunteers would be positioned at 15 hotels, two airports and six stands inside the racing circuit.

He said 100 volunteers would work in two or three shifts at Abu Dhabi International Airport, and an unspecified number will be at Dubai International Airport. Volunteers would be responsible for welcoming guests, providing first aid and information, and even organising traffic, he said.

Last April, the organisers of the Grand Prix said a plan was in place to have Emiratis trained to fill most of the marshalling positions at the circuit in the next five years.

Among the most demanding jobs will be working alongside F1 officials as scrutineers, assessing the cars after the race to ensure they meet international regulations.

Most of the marshalling volunteer positions this year are being filled by experienced staff from the UK, as well as from the circuits in Bahrain and Doha. Some marshals will also be recruited from the Dubai Autodrome.

hhassan@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090928/NATIONAL/709279832

Remember last years final race, I actually thought Hamilton never won the title, didn't notice one of the cars infront of him blew a tire on the final lap, and Hamilton ended up passing him for that extra point. It actually happened on the final corner before the finish line.

Honestly, Button has the title secured, well 99 %, so I dont expect any real suspence at Abu Dhabi.

Singapore was great, notice the skyline in the back ground, landscaping with lots of vegetation, high way going threw the circut, ocean, casino's. condo's on the island aswell ( The Sail ), Singapore Sling, etc. Going there is always fun.

One of my dreams is to do all the circut's one year, why not

Some light effects on the Marina Hotel and on the Sun Tower (facing towards Start/Finishing line)

Yas Marina Hotel:
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1849/marinahotelnight.th.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/marinahotelnight.jpg/)

Sun Tower:
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4354/suntowernighty.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/i/suntowernighty.jpg/)

Remember last years final race, I actually thought Hamilton never won the title, didn't notice one of the cars infront of him blew a tire on the final lap, and Hamilton ended up passing him for that extra point. It actually happened on the final corner before the finish line.

To my knowledge, Glock didn't blow a tire, he basically said that he had lost almost all grip on that final lap (probably because he hadn't changed to wet tires earlier on) and unfortunately (for Massa) went wide at the last corner allowing Hamilton to pass and take the title from under Massa's feet. Unbelievable! That must have hurt Massa more than we'll ever know... BUT, the incident in the pit lane (fuel rig) at last year's Singaporean Grand Prix ultimately cost Massa the title IMO.

Anyways, I think the Yas circuit has the longest straight in the world right ??


PS: Nice shots, Ro.Bi. The light effects are quite stunning! :cheers:

:D Suzuka Grand Prix this weekend! Always been one of my favourites! :banana:

‘Keep trying’ if you want Yas tickets

http://i35.tinypic.com/14szd5l.jpg http://i33.tinypic.com/se2c1z.jpg
Announcements on entertainment at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has caused an increase in demand for tickets. Sammy Dallal / The National

Anealla Safdar
* Last Updated: September 30. 2009 12:08AM UAE / September 29. 2009 8:08PM GMT

ABU DHABI // The availability of tickets for the capital’s inaugural Formula One Grand Prix seems to be changing faster than tyres at a pit stop, with some seats that were previously unavailable coming up for sale again.

Confirmation that concerts featuring Beyoncé and Aerosmith on Yas Island will be open only to race ticket-holders has increased the demand, although would-be ticket buyers have encountered various difficulties.

Customers have reported conflicting information from salesmen at the official hotline and limited availability from Etihad Airways outlets. Problems booking via the Yas Marina Circuit website have also been reported.

When The National telephoned the official Yas Marina number on Monday and yesterday morning to inquire about tickets, the sales staff said they had sold out. By yesterday afternoon, however, they were saying several had become available.

“I am having the same kind of problems,” said Hasan Gulistan, a banker from Abu Dhabi. “I really wish I had not left it so late. I am booking now because I also really want to see Beyoncé perform at the concert.

“I have tried the website, which isn’t working, and also tried calling yesterday. I am now banking on the Etihad shops having some available so I can guarantee some good seats.”

Sales are picking up at the Etihad outlets across the capital, according to Abdullah, an assistant in the Al Wahda Mall branch. The majority of seats had been snapped up when the tickets first went on sale, after which they had slowed to about 50 a week. In recent days, however, there had been more customers and availability was falling fast.

Seats in the most expensive Main, North and South Grandstands had all been sold out at the Etihad outlet yesterday afternoon but some were for sale in the cheaper West Grandstand and Support Pit. The West Grandstand was previously said to have been sold out soon after booking opened in March.

A spokesman for Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management (ADMM), which manages the circuit, said the evidently contradictory advice on availability had arisen because some companies were returning tickets from their allocations.

“It is a day-to-day situation, so people shouldn’t assume that if they can’t get hold of tickets in the morning, that they can’t in the afternoon. Keep trying.”

It was possible that more tickets would become available from the middle of October, the deadline for returning tickets allocated to companies, tour operators or government bodies that were not sold on.

On Monday, Richard Cregan, the chief executive of ADMM, told the media that “a number” of seats were available and that the organisation was happy to investigate any reports of problems customers might have.

He added that people who had already bought tickets should start to receive them in the coming days.

“They are going out now. When everyone gets their ticket, I don’t think there is any event in the world that will give you as good value as that.”

A formal announcement would be made to the public once the race was sold out, the ADMM spokesman added.

After that, fans will have few options and the prices are likely to be higher than face value as third-party companies try to cash in.

A Norwegian online company named Euroteam, for example, has seats available in all areas, but at a much higher price. Those for the Main Grandstand, with a face value of Dh2,500, are on offer for as much as €1,000 (Dh5,350).

“We have not sold as many tickets as we wanted, fewer than 50 between fewer than 10 customers,” said the Euroteam chairman, Andreas Gyrre. “We are a third-party ticket supplier, and not an official distributor.”

Many tickets are for sale on auction websites such as eBay and souq.com, some at inflated prices.

Souq.com had seats in the South Grandstand at Dh3,500, an increase of Dh 1,500 on their face value. On eBay, some South Grandstand tickets were priced at $545 (Dh2,000), in line with their face value.

“I don’t know which option to take,” said Mohammed Ajaib, a 55-year-old engineer from Abu Dhabi, even though tickets are still officially on sale via official channels. “It seems odd that one day tickets are available and the next they are not.

“I just don’t want to pay a high price to find out more may become available at a later date. My worst nightmare is that people are buying them up in hope of selling them at a premium.”

Even at face value, the price of tickets coupled with booking difficulties has put some people off. Ayub Dosani, a 24-year-old F1 fan from London, said he was keen to visit the UAE but had problems with the official website. He said he would have made more of an effort had they been “more in line with international prices, like £120 (Dh700) for example.”

asafdar@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090930/NATIONAL/709299868/1010

Stunning indeed. Incredible what they've done here. My respect to all involved with this amazing project. :cheers:
+1

1 month today till qualifying starts!! :banana:

Some aerial pictures 27th September.
Anyone spot the first yacht already in... :D

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/2668/img4084a.jpg

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/4960/img4085qk.jpg

Jamiroquai announced for the F1

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090930/NATIONAL/909309981/1001

+1

1 month today till qualifying starts!! :banana:

Some aerial pictures 27th September.
Anyone spot the first yacht already in... :D

Yacht has gone again, one of the Sheiks kindly lent it to us for practice.

very nice aerial shots, nice to see the track getting greener everyday, they planted alot of palm trees. I like the "ابوظبي" sign in the grass :)

by the way, ALL Etihad Airlines crafts fly above Yas island before landing now, as a promotion for the events :D

you know, now that I think about it, the race tickets is actually kinda cheap lol.

paying between $436 - $681 depending on which stand, and you get access to the:

F1 Grand Prix,

3 support races,

4 concerts and acts performed by known singers.

and not forget an awsome opening cermony/fireworks (we all know how awsome and well budgeted openings are in UAE, aka atlantis, bowling tournement, etc. we just love to over spend in that department :D). thats 3 days of so much entertainments. all for one low price. maybe they should print a Wall-Mart smiley face on the tickets hehehe

^^ Don't forget yer camera for when Beyonce takes to the stage shakin' her booty! :lol: :D


1 month today till qualifying starts!! :banana:

I'm almost paralysed with enthusiasm already. :D

Awesome shots btw, Adam! Just imagine this same view in another 3-4 years..:)

Fleet of 300 buses to run F1 shuttles

http://i38.tinypic.com/xgktpz.jpg
New public buses will carry Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders to events free of charge. Ryan Carter / The National

Matthew Chung
* Last Updated: October 01. 2009 12:28AM UAE / September 30. 2009 8:28PM GMT

ABU DHABI // About 300 buses will carry Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders to events free of charge during the capital’s inaugural race weekend, a high-ranking transport official said yesterday.

The buses, some of which will be going into service for the first time, will help race-goers to get on and around Yas Island for both the race and its concurrent events. And when the Formula One cars and the crowds have gone, many of the buses will go into regular service on the capital’s streets, according to Saeed al Hameli, the general manager of the public bus office at the Department of Transport. Buses will be added to some existing routes, he said, and four new routes will be added.

The department is working closely with Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management (ADMM) and the police to run services from the car park on Yas Island to the event.

“We will also be running services from Abu Dhabi Island to Yas Island from various locations,” Mr al Hameli added.

The park-and-ride locations have not been finalised, but he said there would be various spots where Grand Prix attendees would be able to park their cars and ride buses to Yas Marina.

Richard Cregan, the chief executive of ADMM, said on Monday that locations for park-and-ride facilities were still being drawn up and that the full transport plan for the Grand Prix was likely to be announced next week.

The race preparation is a huge undertaking for transport planners as 60,000 people a day are expected to flock to the island from October 29 to November 1.

Police plan to make travel announcements in the week leading up to the event, including road closures and detours. They are also setting up a website to provide travel updates and advice on routes.

About 70 per cent of the buses that will serve the Grand Prix will be new, German-manufactured vehicles, part of the 500 ordered from the firms MAN and Mercedes, Mr al Hameli said. Deals were struck last year for MAN to provide 250 city buses and 150 coaches, while Mercedes provided 100 city buses. The first 25 MAN city buses are running on routes Seven and Five in Abu Dhabi, while 50 Mercedes buses are plying four routes in Al Ain. About 70 buses are in use on the island’s streets at present.

More of those buses have arrived and will take to the streets for the race weekend, Mr al Hameli said, without specifying a number. They will then be integrated into the island’s bus network.

The 12-metre, air-conditioned buses can seat 34 passengers and carry about 65 altogether. Each bus has a wheelchair ramp and five closed-circuit television cameras.

By the end of the year four new routes would be added on Abu Dhabi Island, taking the total number to 13, Mr al Hameli said. The department is on track to have 21 routes serving Abu Dhabi by the end of next year, he said.

The routes have not been finalised but the Department is considering to have buses run to and from Khalidiya Mall, as well as creating new links from the al Bateen area. Mr al Hameli said the new routes would help provide better connectivity through the network.

“Now we need to enter within the blocks, within those existing routes to make it more accessible,” he said.

“We are planning on exchanging old buses with the new buses,” he said. “Then we need to make some express route links to shorten the journey and to distribute the crowds and to provide more comfort in the long journey. The buses carry about 88,000 passengers on the island daily, more than half the department’s goal of 150,000.

“New buses give people confidence,” Mr al Hameli said. “A lot of people have started using the bus now from the Tourist Club to Marina Mall. It has become reliable and better comfort than a car itself where you don’t find parking.”

The department has also launched new routes for the suburb of Shahama, linking it with Samha and Rahba.

New routes are also planned for Al Ain before the end of the year.

The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, meanwhile, plans to open six visitor centres around the capital to offer information about the grand prix, the state news agency, WAM, reported.

One will open in the arrivals hall of Abu Dhabi International Airport on October 4, and one each at the Yas Marina Circuit, Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and Al Wahda Mall on October 24. The final centre will be part of an “arrivals experience” serving the cruise ships at Mina Zayed, with immigration services, duty-free shops included in an Arabian tent structure.

Also, touch-screen kiosks will be installed at Al Bawardi Mall in Al Ain and the Shangri-La hotel at Qary’at al Beri, bringing the number of kiosks in the emirate to 26. Two more are planned for Yas Island and the Qasr al Sarab retreat in the Liwa Desert early next year.

“Ease of access to destination information can lift the entire visitor experience, particularly in the lead-up to, during and the immediate post period of an important event,” Saeed al Dhaheri, the tourism authority’s visitor information manager, said in a statement.

mchung@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091001/NATIONAL/709309851/1139

In the F1.....web page ....they say that the GP...its gonna be the last one!

Sorry all, moving away from the track and GP, any news on the proposed mall on the island is it still on or has it been delayed.

For those interessted in new/actual pictures:

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/7366/dscf6201.th.jpg (http://img96.imageshack.us/i/dscf6201.jpg/)
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9183/dscf6184.th.jpg (http://img205.imageshack.us/i/dscf6184.jpg/)
http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/43/dscf6187.th.jpg (http://img2.imageshack.us/i/dscf6187.jpg/)
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/3521/dscf6189.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/i/dscf6189.jpg/)
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/8419/dscf6192.th.jpg (http://img245.imageshack.us/i/dscf6192.jpg/)
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/8140/dscf6193.th.jpg (http://img29.imageshack.us/i/dscf6193.jpg/)
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/9972/dscf6194.th.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/dscf6194.jpg/)
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/1955/dscf6195.th.jpg (http://img257.imageshack.us/i/dscf6195.jpg/)

As somebody mentioned before it´s nice to see it become greener!

Another nice yacht arrived as shown in the pictures. Probably for testing if the access into the Marina is deep enough. Anyway, looks fantastic. Just imagine the whole Marina fully packed with luxury yachts!! :nuts:

What can I say, stunning...
I'm sure Yas Marina will be of the F1 calendar for a veryyy long time. And it will keep getting better. Imaging this track with the rest of Yas Island completed and with the back drop of Raha Beach, Masdar City, etc. And I'm still completly stunned on how fast this has come together, less than a month ago I was having serious doubts if everything would be ready in time. Now Im confident that this will be one of the most spectacular venues of the season!

One month today till race day!!! :banana:

I'm seriously thinking about putting some money aside to go next year..

It's looking really good, think the roller coaster will be finished, and running by the time of the race ? The landscaping is really making the track feel alive. Who thinks the Dubai yaucht will be there aswell ?

IS anyone going? I am seriously considering it....

IS anyone going? I am seriously considering it....

OF COURSE!!! :banana:

05/October/2009

Cityscape 2009 , Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

http://i38.tinypic.com/30kdmv7.jpg

http://i38.tinypic.com/5x9aqd.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/jkuah1.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/34j6r2g.jpg

http://i38.tinypic.com/eqe1de.jpg

http://i37.tinypic.com/1zdu9vb.jpg

Euh! those huge lighting poles are all over the place. I can't wait to see the result on TV.

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/9972/dscf6194.th.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/dscf6194.jpg/)

Really looking forward to it bought my ticket back on 30/3/09 the day they first came out :) Will be sitting in South Grandstand Upper level unless I get a press pass for access all areas!

IS anyone going? I am seriously considering it....

OF COURSE!!! :banana:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8u7px_GzWQ

Now whenever you need it to passionately proclaim those words, you have someone to help.

Lots of activity on the track this week, there is a big press junket going on. David Coulthard and Martin Brundle have been going round the track.

Hotels should open for business within 10 days. Track is fully lit most nights now, Marina Hotel has all its fancy lights cycling through the colours.

All in all its looking spectacular.

First yacht at Yas Marina

http://i36.tinypic.com/alnuc7.jpg
The 73m MY Rabdan was described in a statement as a royal yacht. Courtesy Aldar

Jen Gerson
* Last Updated: October 07. 2009 12:05AM UAE / October 6. 2009 8:05PM GMT

ABU DHABI // Another piece of the preparations for the capital’s first Formula One Grand Prix drifted into place yesterday as the first yacht moored at Yas Marina.

The 73m MY Rabdan was the first vessel to be berthed, with more expected to arrive this week.

Ousama Ghannoum, the marketing and media director at Aldar, which built the F1 track and facilities, said the excitement among staff was palpable.

“They were very excited, especially the people who operate the marina. You have no idea,” he said. “They were jumping up and down, literally. It was a celebration. [The staff] waited for them and greeted them.”

Mr Ghannoum did not disclose the owner of the private vessel, which was described in a statement as a royal yacht, but said its arrival would herald the beginning of the marina’s soft launch.

“You can’t just open this thing two or three days before. This is a test launch,” he said.

The Yas Marina was flooded in June and is expected to berth 143 yachts for the race, which will take place on November 1.

Aldar said it expected 5,000 people to view the race from the decks of vessels moored in the marina.

“If the boat is low, they probably won’t be able to see the whole race,” Mr Ghannoum said. “If there is a deck, probably yes, because the cars pass through the marina.”

He said the marina would become an integral part of the race. At the Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, where spectators also can view the action from their yachts, captains often beep their boat horns as the race begins. “I hope they will do it here.”

The marina holds 150 million gallons of water, which were pumped into the six-metre-deep basin at a rate of up to 30cm a day.

Seven hotels are due to open on the island ahead of the race on November 1, which is expected to attract some 50,000 tourists.

jgerson@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091007/NATIONAL/710069857/1139

CNN's Inside the Middle East will have Yas Marina F1 track on this week's episode. From what I noticed they have what it's like driving on the track, and what's ready.

No tickets left! Looks like lots of music fans bought up all the remaining tickets, so there are none left for f1 fans unless you want to pay crazy money!

Unless anyone here has a ticket ;)

Especialy if you are a sponsor, i have an f1 blog so i can plug you to your hearts content ;)

i think they're getting the golf coarse ready before race day