Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The place Yas Marina
The date 1 November 2009
THE EVENT
This year's highly controversial F1 season culminates in the sport's first-ever day/night race, hosted by its newest track. Costing £250m, the spectacular Yas Marina has taken almost three years to build, with 50,000 seats in its six grandstands, all covered. Race ticket-holders can attend free on-track gigs by Beyoncé and Aerosmith.
THE PLACE
Capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is the Washington to Dubai's New York: less showy and much, much richer. It sits atop roughly 10% of the world's oil and has recently thrown itself into redevelopment, including a metro scheme, a planned eco-city, and starchitect-designed Guggenheim and Louvre museums.
THE LOCALS
Billowing white kandoura robes – national dress for Emirati men – will be much in evidence in the VIP areas, but four in five of the population are from outside Abu Dhabi so expect to run across expats of all kinds. Ticket prices starting at £250 will ensure that the audience is of the wealthier variety.
WHERE TO STAY
The 498-room Yas Hotel (theyashotel.com) built between turns 18 and 19 – cars race under a bridge that links two wings of the hotel – is, of course, fully booked, as are most of Abu Dhabi's hotels – though formula1.com has flight and hotel packages from £753pp. Dubai has a wider range of accommodation, otherwise aim for Al-Ain, 140km east of Abu Dhabi, where the Hilton and InterContinental have rooms on race weekend for under £100.
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK
There are refreshments and hospitality facilities around the circuit – useful, since it's stuck on an island 35km east of Abu Dhabi city centre.
WHAT ELSE TO DO
Visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, left, one of the largest in the world, completed in 2007 with vast expanses of white marble. Gawp at the Emirates Palace, the world's most expensive hotel, or retreat to Al-Ain, a desert city built around a date-palm oasis.
HOW TO GET THERE
Etihad Airways (etihad.com) and BA (ba.com) fly from Heathrow, Etihad also flies from Manchester. Dubai, less than two hours drive away, is served by Emirates, BA, Virgin, Royal Brunei and Biman Bangladesh.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Say, "Isn't it a pity Dubai didn't get the nod?"
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