An exhibition of the Yas Marina Circuit currently under construction on Yas Island was unveiled last month at the Emirates Hotel, Abu Dhabi, by General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi crown prince and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The exhibition is at the Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi, where it will remain until November 30.
The circuit will host the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 15 next year, the final race of the season. Shaikh Mohammad, along with a delegation of top officials, visited the exhibition for the state-of-art circuit.
The exhibition features a selection of images of Yas Marina Circuit’s facilities that have been transformed into pieces of art. Philippe Gurdjian, CEO of ADMM and the project’s creative director, guided guests through distinctive features of a track that is set to become a highlight of the Formula 1™ race calendar from 2009.
Highlights of the exhibition include the Yas Marina Hotel with the track running right through it, the Sun Tower 60 metres above the track allowing VIP guests to see the action and the Marina with a yacht club. The circuit is being developed by Aldar Properties as part of the overall development of Yas Island.
Speaking at the event, His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of ADMM said, “Yas Marina Circuit represents a significant investment in leading edge sporting infrastructure. It is a state-of-the-art piece of engineering, design and construction.The circuit and its surrounding footprint join an expanding collection of home grown initiatives that will positively change the shape of Abu Dhabi in the months and years ahead. It has therefore been conceived, designed, and is currently being built according to the particular needs and features of the city in which it will belong.”
The centrepiece of the display is an interactive scale model of the track. The model also showcases Yas Marina Circuit’s many other facilities such as the karting track, dragstrip, business Park, team building area and the grandstands.
Speaking on behalf of Aldar Properties, chairman Ahmed Al Sayegh said, “The Yas Marina Circuit is a cornerstone of the development of Yas Island. The unique tourist destination will complement scores of residential, business, retail, and other community-oriented projects that will contribute to Abu Dhabi’s longterm development. The Yas Marina Circuit is a particularly exciting project for Aldar to deliver, because of its global significance and its innovative and intricate design.” Commenting on the launch, Philippe Gurdjian, ADMM CEO, said: “Yas Marina Circuit took over my life more than a year ago, and now I’m very proud that Abu Dhabi can present one of the most sophisticated Formula 1™ race tracks in the World. A hotel which spans the track, a marina with a beautiful yacht club and with grandstands which are 100 per cent completely covered – this has never been seen before.”