The Yas Island Masterplan

Benoy set about developing the ground breaking Yas Island masterplan by establishing the contextual relationship between the key leisure components and the Retail Hub that serves as a community destination for the region. Water and theme parks to the west, stadia and performance arena to the east, residential parks and community spaces to the north, and Benoy’s Ferrari World Abu Dhabi to the south, all align with the masterplanning of the track facilities to create the world’s most amazing and intensive island destination.

The central highway is a key feature for orientation, as was Aldar’s requirement for phase 1 elements to be sited to the south. Large format facilities will not only be obviously visible from ground level but also from the neighbouring flight path, a fairly unique chance to exploit some pure geometric forms. A landmark shopping centre is located as the visible central community hub of the island, with spiral arms of associated retail and leisure radiating out into the landscape to meet the surrounding hotel and golf developments.

The southern marina village links to the key track-side urban edge through a strong matrix of streets and squares. This connects with a string of active waterfront piazzas, full of cafés, restaurants and boutique hotels along a waterfront promenade. A huge marina with yacht havens cluster against the promenade, flanked east and west by iconic resort hotels that exploit key views and waterfronts.

Running up the west side of the island is a links golf course in a naturalised landscape; creating a buffer against the nature conservation area. Further north the golf development dovetails with lagoon resort hotels, arranged on the beach or golf frontage opposite the picturesque mangrove reserves.

The northern part of the island, beyond the central highway, contains beach resort hotels, an equestrian centre, desert golf course, northern marina and business areas, all with dramatic views out to the Arabian Gulf.

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