Abu Dhabi Grand Prix first-timer guide: shuttles, gates and what to bring
How to reach Yas Marina Circuit, get around race weekend and clear the bag checks before the season finale on 6 December.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix closes the 2026 Formula 1 season at Yas Marina Circuit, with race day on Sunday 6 December. If it is your first time, the advice below comes from the circuit guidance Formula1.com published for the 2024 race, so check the official app or website for changes closer to the weekend.
Tickets are valid only for the days printed on them and cannot be switched between days. Your ticket also shows which gate is best for your seat, and the Abu Dhabi GP app or the official F1 Race Guide app has a circuit map with every entrance. There are bag checks at all gates, so packing light gets you in faster.
Free shuttles run around the circuit for ticket holders. In 2024 the Circuit Circular Shuttle stopped at the South, Marina, West and North grandstands every 15 minutes, and the Yas Courtesy Shuttle linked the Main, North and West grandstands, both running until 1am. For the Abu Dhabi Hill area, Formula1.com advised parking at Yas Mall and taking the shuttle from the main entrance to stop C7, about 15 minutes, then walking in through Gates 17 and 18.
Taxis and ride-hailing cars can drop you close to the gates, and the pick-up points for leaving have been near Ferrari World and Yas Mall. Buses 102 and 190 run between the Abu Dhabi bus terminal and Yas Island in about an hour, and the Dubai Metro does not reach the island. Leaving is the slowest part of the day, so staying for the after-race concert lets the crowds thin out first.
Bring comfortable shoes, sun protection and a light jacket, because early December days can reach about 26°C and the nights cool down. Outside food and drink are not allowed apart from baby food and medical items, and the banned list includes umbrellas, large backpacks, selfie sticks, chairs, prams, drones, flags and banners. Alcohol is sold only in set areas to guests aged 21 and over.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026Race day Sun 6 Dec · Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi See ticketsSource: Formula1.com: How to get to and from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Formula1.com: Helpful information when visiting Yas Marina Circuit, Formula1.com: Getting to Abu Dhabi Hill, YallaMotor
