Yas Island gears up Q4 growth with high-yield events; records 44 mn visits in 2025
Yas Island
In 2025 Yas Island achieved 84% average hotel occupancy.
Yas Island Abu Dhabi is preparing itself to welcome visitors from across the world for a standout season of world-class sport, live entertainment, music and comedy.
The Q4 schedule is anchored by high-yield global draws, including the Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026, the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship (DP World Tour), UFC 333, and the Abu Dhabi Comedy Season. The integrated Yas Island ecosystem, spanning luxury hospitality, theme parks, dining venues, and transport networks, is operationalised to support cross-selling and packaging for trade intermediaries.
Following a record year, Yas Island welcomed over 44 million visits in 2025, up 16% year-on-year, the destination is preparing for another busy season ahead. Theme parks across the island recorded 10% annual growth, while hotels achieved an average occupancy rate of 84%, reaching peaks of 90%, alongside a 17% increase in ADR compared to 2024.
As Yas Island prepares for another busy season ahead, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment venues and transport networks are working in sync to ensure every element of the guest journey is ready to welcome increased visitation and deliver a seamless destination experience.
Jonathan Brown, Chief Portfolio Officer, Miral, said, “Our vision is to continue strengthening Yas Island’s position as a global destination for world-class events, with sport playing a central role our vision for the island. Major sporting events bring people together, inspire audiences and create opportunities to showcase the breadth of experiences across the island. This upcoming season reflects our ambition to turn the excitement of live sport into lasting destination appeal and unforgettable memories, giving visitors more reasons to stay, explore and return.”
“From premier sport events such as UFC, Power Slap and RAF, headline Etihad Arena concerts Hans Zimmer and Andrea Bocelli and into a week of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix entertainment in December, with the season finale for F1 and headline music and entertainment all the way through the week as part of the Yasalam festival. There is more to see and do here than ever before,” added David Powell, Chief Portfolio and Strategy Officer, Ethara Live.
Katherine Palethorpe - Managing Director, Middle East (Commercial & Partnerships) & Director of Partnership Management, DP World Tour, said, “The Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship is a highlight of the DP World Tour calendar, and Yas Links Abu Dhabi on Yas Island provides a spectacular setting for fans to enjoy world-class golf. As the opening event of the season-ending Play-Offs, the Championship brings added excitement to Yas Island’s packed programme of sport and entertainment.”
From global sporting moments and concerts to some of the big names in comedy, the final months of 2026 will bring a diverse line-up to Yas Island, creating even more reasons to visit, stay longer and experience more across the destination.
