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 ABU
DHABI // Work on the new Formula 1 circuit is
due to be completed “well before” the city hosts
its first Grand Prix next year, says the
developer.
The new track, which will host its first race on
Nov 15 2009, will be complemented by a host of
attractions on Yas Island, putting it at the
forefront of the city’s tourist attractions.
While alterations to the layout of the track
will continue over the next 18 months, Aldar,
the developer, says the first stage of building
should be completed on schedule.
Aldar yesterday revealed its plans for building
work on Yas Island and Ronald Barrott, the
company’s chief executive, said the rate of
progress on the island so far had been
“exceptional”.
“Yas Island is set to become a world-famous
tourist attraction for Abu Dhabi and it will
contribute to the tourism industry of the United
Arab Emirates,” he said.
The main pit building will be completed by 2009,
although work is already at an advanced stage,
with installation of the electrical
infrastructure under way.
While work on the Dh1.46 billion (US$400
million) track is continuing, even more
construction is taking place around it, on a
site totalling 25 square kilometres.
Aldar said more than 30 per cent of building
work on the first phase of the project was now
complete, meaning that work was well on
schedule.
Steve Worrell, the project director, said: “Yas
Island infrastructure will be ready for the
expected visitors for this inaugural event.
“The development team and workforce have worked
with exceptional efficiency and we are very
pleased with their efforts.”
The island will be linked to the nearby mainland
by two bridges, with a third connecting it to a
neighbouring island.
“With three vehicle entrances to Yas Island for
the race day, racegoers will experience easy
traffic flow through these access points,” said
Mr Worrell.
Some of the most exclusive views of the race
next November will be from the new Royal Yas
Marina. Excavation of the marina and
construction of its supporting wall is 90 per
cent complete and work on a canal linking the
marina to the sea has begun. Flooding of the
marina, which is currently dammed, is expected
to take place during the second quarter of 2009.
In addition to the race track, the island will
also be home to Ferrari World – the world’s
first Formula 1 theme park – and a Warner
Brothers film park.
Luxury homes, 356,000 square feet of retail
space, three marinas, a water park and a large
golf course will also be built.
About 12,900 construction workers are living on
the island in accommodation provided by Aldar at
a cost of Dh260m. The village will eventually
house 42,000 workers.
Abu Dhabi will host the final race of the 2009
F1 season, in what will be the first of at least
seven races in the UAE capital.
Work on the track will have to be completed
several months before the race date to allow
substantial testing to take place.
Philippe Gurdjian, the chief executive of Abu
Dhabi Motorsport Management, the company running
the Grand Prix, confirmed in May he would be
making a number of alterations to the circuit
drawn up by Hermann Tilke, the renowned German
track designer.
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