Yas Island Hotel

The otherworldly lights that appear off the coast of Abu Dhabi belong to the newly-built Yas Viceroy Hotel. The hotel is part of one of the city’s major investment projects, Yas Island. The star attraction of Yas Island is the new F1 Yas Marina Circuit, which the hotel is built over.

Two elliptical hotel towers are connected by bridges spanning directly over and above the F1 race circuit. Both towers are covered in a 217-meter curving, semi-transparent canopy, called the Grid Shell, which harbours the world’s largest LED lighting system.

This LED lighted color-changing canopy is the key feature of the luxury hotel, and is visible from several kilometers away. Inside, the hotel features an equally modern design in its 499 rooms, and twelve dining and lounging venues. Even more spectacular, the hotel hosts a fascinating light show at night.

The F1 circuit has been in operation since the 2009 season, and after the track in Bahrain is the second F1 circuit in the Middle East. When no races take place, the circuit gives everyone the possibility of experiencing the exhilarating speed given on an F1 circuit, either as a driver or a passenger experience. Close to the hotel and the race track is the motorsports-themed amusement park Ferrari World, the world’s first theme park by the sports car manufacturer.

Once the Yas Island development project is completed, it will hold another theme park, a water park, two marinas, several hotels and two golf courses. In 2009, the World Travel Awards announced Yas Island to be the world’s premier tourism project.