Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 airport guide
Yas Marina Circuit · Abu Dhabi
Date:
The Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 runs at Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, with the organiser’s four-day window from 3–6 December and F1 sessions from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December. The race starts at 17:00 local time on Sunday. With AUH and DXB handling international arrivals around a UAE National Day holiday stretch, live airport boards help travellers spot delays before committing to road transfers.
AUH and DXB live boards for Yas Marina
Getting to Yas Marina Circuit from AUH and DXB
AUH (Zayed International Airport) is the main gateway: about 11 km from Yas Marina Circuit, normally 10–15 minutes by car. DXB is a fallback secondary gateway, roughly 125 km away and about 1h15–1h30 by car in normal conditions. Options include regulated Abu Dhabi silver taxis, Uber, Careem, Yas Express shuttles on Yas Island, public buses, the AUH arrivals to Yas hotel shuttle for eligible guests, and Yas Mall park and ride.
Flying home after the twilight race
After the Sunday 6 December race, departures tend to bunch because the 17:00 local start finishes in the evening and Monday is a working day. The fly-home peak is late Sunday night and especially Monday 7 December at AUH and DXB. Yas Island access roads and drop-off areas are the pinch points, and previous editions saw long taxi waits after the chequered flag, so arrive earlier than usual and check live departures before leaving for the airport.
Race-week airport travel tips
Build in extra road time during the 2–6 December holiday and race-week overlap. If using DXB, treat the Dubai–Yas trip as a long transfer, not a nearby airport hop. Abu Dhabi has no metro to the circuit; plan taxis, ride-hailing, buses, shuttles or park and ride. Keep baggage, hotel check-in and post-race transport queues in mind.
Organiser & tickets
Not affiliated with the organiser, venue or performer. Tickets are sold by the organiser.