History of Yas Island in Timeline
Yas Island, located in Abu Dhabi, UAE, spans 25 sq km and gets its name from the Bani Yas Tribe. Known for its leisure offerings, it stands as one of Abu Dhabi's largest tourism projects.
2006: Yas Island Development Begins
The development of Yas Island was initiated in 2006, with the goal of transforming it into a comprehensive leisure, shopping, and entertainment destination.
November 2009: World Travel Awards
Yas Island was recognized as the world's leading tourism project at the World Travel Awards in November 2009.
2009: Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
In 2009, the Yas Marina Circuit hosted the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for the first time.
2009: Yas Marina Circuit
Since 2009, the Yas Marina Circuit has been the venue for the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
2009: du Arena Opens
The du Arena, an open-air concert venue in Yas Bay, opened its doors in 2009. The venue can host up to 35,000 attendees depending on the seating configuration.
November 2010: Ferrari World Opens
Ferrari World opened its doors to the public in November 2010.
2010: UFC 112: Invincible
Yas Island hosted UFC 112: Invincible in 2010.
March 2011: First du World Music Festival
The inaugural du World Music Festival took place from February 26 to March 25, 2011, at the Burj Khalifa Steps in Downtown Dubai and The Walk in JBR. The festival showcased a diverse lineup of international artists, including Tamer Hosny, Mona Amarcha, Janet Kapuya, Mashrou' Leila, Amit Chatterjee Alliance, Sponge Cola, and Wust el Balad.
March 2012: Second du World Music Festival
The second edition of the du World Music Festival was held from March 7 to 16, 2012, at the Burj Khalifa Steps in Downtown Dubai. The festival featured free and ticketed performances by renowned artists such as Gabrielle, The Gipsy Kings, Amr Diab, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Stanley Clarke, Salif Keita, Sarah Geronimo, and George Benson.
June 2012: Flash Forum Renamed du Forum
Flash Forum was renamed du Forum in June 2012. The indoor events venue has a seating capacity of up to 4,500.
June 2012: Yas Arena Renamed du Arena
In June 2012, Yas Arena was rebranded as du Arena.
June 2012: Madonna's MDNA Tour
The newly rebranded du Arena hosted Madonna's MDNA Tour on June 3 and 4, 2012, marking her first concert in the Arab region. The venue underwent significant upgrades for the event, including the construction of a new stage and an advanced pyrotechnic and lighting system.
2012: Yas Waterworld Receives Leading Edge Award
In 2012, The World Waterpark Association bestowed the Leading Edge Award upon Yas Waterworld in recognition of its innovation and excellence.
March 2013: Third du World Music Festival (Part 1)
The third du World Music Festival took place from March 22 to April 6, 2013, featuring a stellar lineup of artists, including Andrea Bocelli, Natalie Cole, Guns N' Roses, Kadim Al Sahir, Amr Diab, Eraserheads, Sonu Nigam, Train, Frank Gambale, and Papon.
April 2013: Third du World Music Festival (Part 2)
The festival spanned multiple venues across the UAE, including the du Arena in Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre in Dubai, and a location in Ras Al Khaimah, showcasing the UAE's growing presence as a hub for international music events.
May 2013: Yas Waterworld Ranked Among Top Water Parks
The Los Angeles Times recognized Yas Waterworld as one of the top 20 water parks globally in May 2013.
July 2013: Yas Waterworld Earns International Recognition
CNN listed Yas Waterworld among the top 12 water parks worldwide in July 2013, solidifying its status as a premier aquatic destination.
2014: UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Nelson
Yas Island hosted UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Nelson in 2014.
March 25, 2016: Middle East's First KCON Event
The du Arena hosted the Middle East's first-ever KCON event on March 25, 2016, featuring popular K-pop artists such as BTS, Taeyeon of Girls' Generation, Cho Kyuhyun of Super Junior, Monsta X, Ailee, SS301, and Spica.
January 2017: Forbes Recognition
In January 2017, Forbes recognized Yas Mall on Yas Island as one of the top five shopping malls in Abu Dhabi.
July 25, 2018: Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi Opens
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, the world's third Warner Bros. theme park, officially opened its doors to the public on July 25, 2018.
2018: Cinesplash Debuts at Yas Waterworld
A significant highlight of 2018 was the introduction of Cinesplash at Yas Waterworld. This groundbreaking attraction marked the region's first and only 5D water adventure, further enhancing the park's appeal.
2018: Yas Links Ranked Among World's Greatest Golf Courses
In 2018, Golf Digest recognized Yas Links, designed by Kyle Philips, as the 44th best golf course outside the USA in its "World's 100 Greatest Golf Courses" ranking.
2018: Multi-Stage Development Plan
The planned investment for Yas Island's transformation was structured as a multi-staged project, with phases unfolding until 2018. Stakeholders envisioned the potential for further expansion by introducing new attractions and enhancing existing facilities.
August 2019: Troon International Assumes Management of Yas Links
In August 2019, Troon International took over the management of Yas Links Abu Dhabi.
November 2019: CLYMB Abu Dhabi Opens
CLYMB Abu Dhabi opened in November 2019, featuring the world's tallest indoor climbing wall at 43 meters (141 feet) and the world's widest vertical wind tunnel at 10 meters (33 feet).
2019: UFC 242: Khabib vs. Poirier
Yas Island hosted UFC 242: Khabib vs. Poirier in 2019.
July 2020: UFC Fight Island
In July 2020, Yas Island began hosting UFC events impacted by U.S. COVID-19 travel restrictions, branded as "Fight Island". These events were held behind closed doors at the du Forum.
January 2021: UFC with Limited Spectators
In January 2021, the UFC began hosting events with a limited number of spectators at the new Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
January 2021: Etihad Arena Opens
January 2021 marked the opening of Etihad Arena, an 18,000-capacity indoor arena located in the Yas Bay district.
December 13, 2022: SeaWorld Abu Dhabi Partnership Announced
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment unveiled a partnership with Miral on December 13, 2022, to bring a groundbreaking SeaWorld experience to Yas Island.
May 2023: SeaWorld Abu Dhabi Opens
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, spanning over 183,000 square meters, opened in May 2023, becoming the first SeaWorld park without orcas. It features eight immersive zones and is home to more than 100,000 marine animals.