I am the parent of a ‘rollercoaster junkie’. At age 13 my daughter has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the rollercoasters of the world, their location, dimensions, speed and the companies that design them. So during a recent stopover in Abu Dhabi, we couldn’t not visit Ferrari World, the home of the FASTEST rollercoaster in the world.
And it was. Fast. Formula Rossa has a hydraulic launch which takes you from 0 mph to 239.5 kph in 4.9 seconds. You experience G-Force of 4.8 and actually it was OK! Speaking as a non rollercoaster enthusiast I really enjoyed the ride. You wear goggles (which ironically made me feel safer) and although incredibly fast the ride was very smooth, long enough to settle into and had no inversions. In a direct comparison Flying Aces was horrendous! Too much airtime and lots of twists and turns – my daughter loved it!
Ferrari World is mostly inside a massive Ferrari branded dome in Yas Island, about 15 min drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport. The air is climate controlled so is a good way to get out of the sun. The park itself is not huge so can easily be visited in half a day.
The park has 3 extreme rides Formula Rossa, Flying Aces and Turbo Track with the new ride Mission Ferrari opening later in 2022.
There are also a number of thrill/family rides making the park attractive to those with younger aged children.
In addition, for those who enjoy F1 there is the Tyre Change Challenge. Ferrari World also offer’s driving experiences (at extra cost).
Within Ferrari World there is Little Italy. We ate at Mamma Rossella, which provided quality pizza and pasta and a chance to get our breath back!
On the same day that we visited Ferrari World, we also went to Yas Waterworld. This waterpark is about 10 min drive from Ferrari World. It has over 40 rides, slides and attractions. I was able to find a seat in the shade by the wave pool and relax whilst the kids experienced the rides and slides. The park had a very relaxed atmosphere, the lifeguards were plentiful and very friendly.
Wave Pool at Yas Waterworld, Abu Dhabi
There are a number of different ticket options that combine visits to the Yas Island theme parks (including Warner Bros. World.) For more information visit YasIsland.com.
COVID Restrictions: Always look up the entry requirements prior to visiting. At time of publishing, a PCR test taken within 48 hours is required for tourists entering Abu Dhabi attractions.
