F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Charter a Private Jet to the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The twilight-run Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix is one of the biggest international sporting events in the Middle East.

Located on Yas Island in the Persian Gulf, the Yas Marina Circuit joined the Formula One lineup in 2009. Cars travel counter-clockwise on the circuit that has nine right turns and 11 left turns, high-speed straightaways, tight corners for passing and a street-circuit type section. It’s a demanding track that results in close races.

The scenic waterfront circuit winds around a marina filled with super yachts, on which spectators gather to watch the race. A five-star hotel, the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, straddles the circuit.

If you’d like to watch the race from a yacht but don’t own one, don’t worry. You can rent a yacht and a berth to see all the glamour and excitement in the lap of luxury.

Or, to watch the race in luxury on dry land, the Paddock Club, located above the driver garages overlooking the pit lane, gives you a great view of the race while enjoying a gourmet meal with wine and champagne.

Temperatures in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, a country with rich oil preserves, can reach 118 in the summer, but during the cooler months in which the Grand Prix is held, temperatures are about 75 degrees in the day and 56 at night. And, it’s almost always sunny so the grandstands, which seat more than 40,000 fans, are covered and the racing pits air-conditioned.

Racing fans can also take in four nights of VIP parties and concerts by international stars like Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, and Enrique Iglesias.

We Can Get You There

Sound like a great way to see a Formula One race? Paramount Business Jets can arrange a flight for you into the nearby Abu Dubai airports of:

• Abu Dhabi International Airport, OMAA, AUH, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (4 miles)
• Bateen Airport, OMAD, AZI, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (9 miles)
• Al Dhafra Airport, OMAM, DHF, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (16 miles)
• Al Maktoum International Airport, OMDW, DWC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (45 miles)
• Al Ain International Airport, OMAL, AAN, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (65 miles)
• Dubai International Airport, OMDB, DXB, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (72 miles)
• Sharjah International Airport, OMSJ, SHJ, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (83 miles)
• Zirku Airport, OMAZ, Al Zarqa Island, United Arab Emirates (99 miles)
• Sirri Island Airport, OIBS, SXI, Sirri Island, Iran (100 miles)

Sebastian Vettel at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2010. Picture Source.

When the race is over, there is a lot to do in Abu Dhabi. You can:

• Go into the desert: It was only 50 years ago – before its oil riches – that Abu Dhabi was a fishing village surrounded by empty desert. While that is hard to believe when canvassing the modern city streets, you will find distinctly Arabian tradition if you check out the backstreets of the city that dates to 3000 BC. It has a much different flavor than its cosmopolitan neighbor, Dubai.
• Go on an evening safari: Navigate the sands in a 4-by-4. You can watch the sunset, take a camel ride, go sandboarding and be entertained by belly dancers as you eat dinner.
• Visit Heritage Village: The Nomadic life is mostly gone, but most Emiratis remain proud of their desert past. This village has the main elements of traditional pre-oil life. The barasti houses are designed with palm fronds to catch the breezes. There is a fort, a mosque, and a place where residents gather to do things like trade goats. The most popular area is where the camels race.
• Visit the Manarat Al Saadiyat. Meaning “a place of enlightenment,” this cultural center has galleries filled with exhibitions from around the world. There are also restaurants and theaters for visitors.

Hungry? You might want to try some traditional dishes of the UAE (or maybe not):

• Stuffed camel: Traditionally served by wealthy families at wedding feasts, a whole camel is stuffed with a lamb, 20 chickens, boiled eggs, fish, and rice.
• Al Harees: Wheat and meat and a pinch of salt are mixed and cooked in boiling water until turning into a paste that is then roasted in a clay pot over coals all night.
• Shawarma: The most popular food in the country, can be made with lamb or chicken placed in a roti (an Arabic pita) and covered with different toppings, including garlic sauce, pickles, fries, and tomatoes.
• Al Machboos: Rice, meat, onion, dried lemon and spices are combined in this popular dish.
• Hummus: A food so popular, we can buy it in grocery stores everywhere. Chickpeas, olive oil, lemon juice and tahini paste give this dip its distinctive flavor.

Picture Source