Getting to (and Into) SeaWorld™ Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Have you heard about Malquot, the “one who has been saved but whose owner is not known?” He is a dugong whom the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) found when he was but a one-month-old calf. After nurturing him carefully so he would survive even without sustenance from his mother, EAD turned him over to Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center. Today, you can meet and hear all about him at SeaWorld™ Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, a marine water theme park in the UAE and the first of its kind in the Middle East.
About SeaWorld™ Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is one of the four Yas Island Abu Dhabi theme parks. It is home to approximately 65,000 marine species. Its animal residents are spread across eight realms, which have been engineered to mimic natural marine habitats.
At SeaWorld Yas Island, you can go on underwater walking tours, ride a sea-sub, swim with the fishes, and scuba dive. There are animal encounter packages to meet dolphins, penguins, sea otters, seals, sea lions, and walruses. You can enjoy animal presentations, get the chance to feed animals and, of course, gaze into the depths of the multi-species aquarium, visit and experience first-hand the marine habitats, and even meet more than 30 species of tropical birds.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi also has one of the best rollercoasters in Yas Island and the region. Manta Coaster will take you through 17 airtime moments, including a zero-gravity flip, and the bioluminescent ecosystem of Ray Reef.
SeaWorld Yas island is so much more than an amusement park, however. With an attached research and rescue center, it is committed to helping conserve marine habitats and educating the public about aquatic life. You can visit the Animal Care Center to observe veterinarians and experts providing life-sustaining care to animal residents.
How to Get to SeaWorld Yas Island
You can get to SeaWorld Yas Island by free bus or private car. The latter is a good option if you are comfortable driving around the United Arab Emirates and have an international driving license. The former is recommended if you’re staying at a hotel (inside or outside Abu Dhabi) that has a designated Yas Island shuttle pick-up point.
By Car
If traveling by car from Dubai or any of the northern emirates, follow E11 (Sheikh Zayed Rd) south to Abu Dhabi, merge onto E10 (Al Shahama – Abu Dhabi Rd/Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan St) and take the exit towards Al Maha St. Next, travel to Al Ibreeq St and turn left onto Al Rimal St. At the roundabout, take the first exit to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi.
If traveling from Downtown Abu Dhabi or an upper Gulf country, you can follow E10 north to Yas Island and do as above: exit to Al Maha St., drive through Al Ibreeq and Al Rimal Sts., and take the first exit from the roundabout to reach SeaWorld Abu Dhabi.
By Free Bus
The free shuttle bus service has routes from:
- Dubai
- Ras Al Khaimah
- Sharjah
- Ajman
If you’re coming from the above emirates, you need to download the Yas Island App and book your bus seats there. You must also have theme park tickets for the day of your trip; you may be asked to show them when you board the bus.
The bus has several pick-up points, typically hotels and malls. For instance, the Dubai to Yas Island buses pick up passengers from various places, including:
- Deira City Center
- Sheraton Malls of the Emirates Hotel
- Raffles at The Palm
- Millenium Places Marina
- Rixos JBR
- Hilton Doubletree JBR
- Millenium Plaza Sheikh Zayed
- Trade Center The H Hotels
- Sheraton Grand Hotel
- Towers Rotana
- V Hotel Dubai
There are also free shuttle buses from Abu Dhabi City. They pick up passengers from various points, including:
- Vogo Abu Dhabi Golf and Spa Resort
- Marriott Al Forsan Hotel
- Al Raha Beach Hotel
- Park Rotana
- Marriott Hotel Downtown
- Grand Millenium Al Wahda
- Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island
- Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas
- Saadiyat Rotana Resorts & Villas
- Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort
- Dusit Thani
- Anantara Eastern Mangroves Abu Dhabi Hotel
- Aloft Abu Dhabi Hotel
- Premier Inn Abu Dhabi Capital Centre
- Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana
- St. Regis Corniche
- Radisson Blu Corniche
- Le Royal Meridien
- Hawthorne Suites by Wyndham
- Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort
- Kingsgate Hotel Abu Dhabi by Millenium
- Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi
- Park Rotana
- Jannah Burj Al Sarab
- Ramada Corniche
- Rosewood Abu Dhabi
- Le Meridien Abu Dhabi
The shuttle buses from Abu Dhabi have four stops: SeaWorld, Yas Waterworld, Ferrari World, and Warner Bros. World™, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Are you staying at a Yas Island hotel? It becomes even more convenient. You can take the free shuttle bus that goes around Yas Island and drops off passengers at major attractions.
The FacePass
FacePass is a contactless entry option you can use to enter the theme parks in Yas Island, including SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. It requires the Yas Island App to work, so be sure to download that from the App Store or Google Play.
Once you have created a Yas Island App account, enroll your FacePass. This requires you to use your phone camera to register your facial biometric data. Next, link your facial ID to your theme park ticket and add a payment method, too. Once that’s done, you can use the facial recognition system to enter theme parks without needing to present your ticket. You can also use FacePass to pay for food and services; FacePass users even get a discounted rate.
Plan Your SeaWorld Abu Dhabi Trip
Are you ready for the water rides at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi? Download the Yas Island App, buy your SeaWorld Yas Island ticket online, enroll your FacePass, link your tickets and payment method to your FacePass, and then book a seat at a free Yas Island shuttle bus. After that, wait for the big day and have a fun time at the marine theme park.