Room rates for hotels on Yas Island are surging as much as 800 percent as demand builds for the highly anticipated Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Along with massively increased room rates, hotels are also requiring customers to book for a minimum of three nights during the race weekend.
Renowned as a haven for tourists, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi boasts iconic entertainment venues like SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World, and Warner Brothers. It is also home to one of the world’s most iconic Formula 1 race tracks, making Abu Dhabi the host city for the season’s final race. This year’s mega event is set to take place from November 24-26 with thousands of visitors expected from around the world.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the final event of the F1 season and draws visitors from around the globe to the capital. There is an immense surge in demand, specifically for hotels, as fans eagerly anticipate the climax of the racing season, converging on Yas Island to witness the most significant race of the year.
Arabian Business conducted independent research on room rates for the F1 race weekend in comparison to the weekend before to determine an approximate percentage of the price hike. Values were taken from the official hotel websites and could vary based on various factors, and third-party websites.
Here is a breakdown of the hotels and the exorbitant rates set for the race weekend:
- Park Inn by Radisson: 855.8% increase
- Normal Rate (18th – 19th November): AED480
- Race Weekend Rate (minimum three-night stay): AED4,588 per night
- Radisson Blu: 460.8% increase
- Normal Rate (18th – 19th November): AED955
- Race Weekend Rate (minimum three-night stay): AED5,356 per night
- Yas Island Rotana: 638.6% increase
- Normal Rate (18th – 19th November): AED708.05
- Race Weekend Rate (minimum three-night stay): AED5,230 per night
- Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi – Yas Island: 188.5% increase
- Normal Rate (18th – 19th November): AED1,455
- Race Weekend Rate (minimum three-night stay): AED4,198 per night
- Hilton Abu Dhabi: 456.9% increase
- Normal Rate (18th – 19th November): AED1,203
- Race Weekend Rate (minimum three-night stay): AED6,700 per night
- Centro Yas Island: 495.1% increase
- Normal Rate (18th – 19th November): AED640.80
- Race Weekend Rate (minimum three-night stay): AED3,814 per night
- DoubleTree by Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Residences: 236.9% increase
- Normal Rate (18th – 19th November): AED1,325
- Race Weekend Rate (minimum three-night stay): AED4,465 per night
- The WB Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton: 200.6% increase
- Normal Rate (18th – 19th November): AED1,106
- Race Weekend Rate (minimum three-night stay): AED3,325 per night
- W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island – Yas Marina Circuit: 398.6% increase
- Normal Rate (18th – 19th November): AED1,805
- Race Weekend Rate (minimum three-night stay): AED9,000 per night
Abu Dhabi’s F1 weekend: Exponential hotel surge
The research highlights an average increase of over 400 percent, with some hotels surpassing 800 percent during the F1 weekend.
W Abu Dhabi commands the highest nightly rate, basking in its distinction as the world’s only hotel built directly on the race track offering unobstructed views from the rooms, suites and venues located within the establishment. Notably, a segment of the race track runs directly beneath the hotel, making it an unequivocal hotspot for F1 enthusiasts.
Despite the lavish rate hikes, hotel occupancy in Abu Dhabi is projected to hit new highs, industry experts told Arabian Business earlier this month. This surge is attributed to the mounting anticipation surrounding the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which drew over 160,000 attendees last year. Notably, this year’s demand is already surpassing the previous edition, underlining the event’s growing popularity.
Beyond the thrill of the race itself, the post-event concerts featuring global artists contribute significantly to the popularity of the event. This year’s lineup boasts global names such as Chris Brown, Shania Twain, Ava Max, and Tiesto, attracting fans to the island for these performances.
In an exclusive interview with Arabian Business last month, Saif Rashid Al Noaimi, the CEO of Ethara, noted that during the 2022 race weekend, over 70 percent of attendees at the Yas Marina Circuit traveled from overseas to be part of the event.
“Our focus has been on ensuring that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is more than just a race weekend,” he said.
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