In May 2007, Yas Island was little more than a desert island dissected by a few strips of tarmac.
Just 30 months later and the island would be unrecognisable, having transformed into a venue for royalty, rockstars, film stars and 60,000 other fans who had come to Yas Island for one of the world’s most prestigious car races, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The calm waters around Yas Island were developed into marinas where F1 fans met for late night parties on superyachts. Bugattis and Lamborghinis rolled up to the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, its amorphous silhouette covered in a grid of 5,000 glass panels and shimmering lights that caste colours across the marina and over the racetrack.
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In another year, the island would become home to Ferrari World, an indoor theme park devoted entirely to the Italian sports car company. The island has grown as an entertainment destination for the UAE, with Yas Waterworld opening in 2013 and Warner Brothers World Abu Dhabi opening in July of this year.
To mark the tenth Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit has released photos of the remarkable construction of the racetrack so fans can relive this modern piece of Abu Dhabi history.