Danny
TS Contributor
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
I've never been in an immediate rush to visit the parks in the Middle East, nor did I ever consider that I would eventually end up visiting. With a work visit to the KSA, however, connecting via Dubai meant making sense to bolt the UAE parks on as an extension to the trip.
The TLDR top-down summary:
Day One - Land in UAE, drive down to Yas Island // Ferrari World
Day Two - Warner Bros World // SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
Day Three - Day Eight - Travel to KSA, return from KSA to UAE // Storm Coaster
Day Nine - IMG Worlds of Adventure
Day Ten - Motiongate / Real Madrid World / Legoland Dubai // Return to UK
After an overnight flight on an A380 from Manchester to Dubai, the trip began in earnest. I picked up a hire car and swiftly left the UAE’s most populous city behind, heading south down the smooth highways toward Abu Dhabi.
Yas Island has been in the spotlight following the announcement of the Disney project set to arrive in the coming years. Miral, the operator behind the island’s attractions, makes that vision hard to miss; billboards line the route as you cruise down the coast of the Arabian Gulf. With only two days in the region (including my arrival day), driving gave me the flexibility to make the most of my time.
Upon arriving, the attractions on Yas Island were clearly signposted, though Google Maps did its best to throw me off course by directing me to a Carrefour car park instead of my intended destination. A bit of improvisation later, I found myself in the Grand Prix car park of Yas Mall, which seemed fitting for my first stop: Ferrari World.
From the air, Ferrari World’s sprawling red roof and iconic prancing horse logo are unmistakable. It’s visible from space and looks genuinely impressive. But from ground level, it’s slightly less awe-inspiring than anticipated. Still, it’s a bold and ambitious statement from one of the world’s most prestigious automotive brands.
After wandering through the eerily quiet yet spotless Yas Mall, I reached the entrance. Entry was straightforward. A quick sidestep around a group struggling with their QR codes and I was in. The vast entrance hall is dominated by the central spire that contains Turbo Track, multiple glistening display cars, and a Ferrari merchandise shop, which also doubles as the park’s exit. You won’t be leaving without passing racks of Ferrari-branded goods.
With the park freshly opened and practically empty, I took the chance to explore at a relaxed pace. The park is circular in layout, with offshoots leading to some of the outdoor attractions. After a full circuit, I kicked off with a quick cred run on Formula Rossa Junior. This Zamperla family coaster, opened around the time of Covid, is surprisingly fun. It has a slight rattle towards the end and a rather abrupt brake run/station platform, but it’s otherwise smooth and zippy, a great introduction for younger guests.
Then it was time for the big one: Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest roller coaster. I happened to visit during a rare window when both Formula Rossa and the park’s latest major addition were operating simultaneously; lucky timing, as I’d have missed either side of that week.
The approach to the ride is dramatic, passing between massive paddock trucks into the queue area. I took a detour to the observation balcony to admire the sun-drenched launch track. Despite having no other guests around, I was fortunate to witness a final test launch to see the raw power of the train being jettisoned out into the scorching heat.
The queue line is basic: an unthemed cattle pen winding toward the station. The platform itself is fairly standard fare for a racing-themed coaster. After donning the mandatory goggles, I took my seat in the front row, staring down the barrel of that legendary launch track.
This was, without doubt, one of the most surreal coaster experiences of my life. It had been six years since I’d last ridden Kingda Ka or Top Thrill Dragster, and nothing since had come close. Formula Rossa launches in what feels like three stages: a sharp initial burst, a secondary surge past 100mph, and a final push to its record-breaking 149mph. Whether it’s psychological or physical, the acceleration is electrifying and addictive.
Though the train brakes significantly atop the first hill, it still delivers a moment of airtime. From there, the layout becomes a high-speed ballet of sweeping curves and bursts of grey-out-inducing turns, ending with a series of airtime hops into the brakes. At one point, the ride temporarily closed for 20 minutes while staff cooled the wheels with water jets. a fascinating moment, though my phone was locked away, so no footage, sadly.
No, it’s not the best coaster in the world, but it’s a landmark attraction that’s earned its status. Even once Falcon’s Flight opens in Qiddiya, it’s hard to imagine anything matching Formula Rossa’s sheer power and presence. And with Miral’s appetite for expansion, Ferrari World is inevitably aiming to reclaim its record soon.
Next up was Turbo Track, the short shuttle coaster more known for its dramatic appearance than for delivering any real thrills. It’s clearly been designed to handle large crowds with alternating load platforms, but that wasn’t on show today, as I was the only rider. The launch is slightly awkward, but it does pack a final punch just before you hit the vertical spike. On the return, the train loses so much momentum that it needs a noticeable boost just to make it back to the station. It’s an eye-catching centrepiece for Ferrari World, but not something I’d queue long for. Even with no queue, one ride in each direction felt sufficient.
From there, I made my way to Flying Aces. Skyrush still firmly remains in my Top 10; its aggressive lift and relentless layout are standout moments, so I was curious to see how this ride would compare.
Before even boarding, the queue line deserves a mention. It’s one of the more thoughtfully themed areas in Ferrari World, transitioning between atmospheric scenes that completely remove you from the rest of the park. It’s easy to imagine this being one of the more bearable queues on a busy day, if there ever were such a thing. However, dispatches were slow, and trains were only sent out once they had around 75% of seats filled. I waited at the batching gates for over 15 minutes before enough guests arrived. All the while, I could see the train ready to go on the other side of the wall.
As for the ride itself, Flying Aces doesn’t quite match Skyrush’s sheer prolonged intensity, but it stands confidently in its own lane. The lift hill is fast and exciting, particularly in the back row, where you’re whipped over the crest and practically lifted out of your seat on the drop. Thankfully, the restraints are far more forgiving than Skyrush’s, offering a thrilling but comfortable ride.
Flying Aces offers a more varied experience: from near-ground transitions to its signature non-inverting loop, it mixes elements well. Midway through, it lost momentum slightly, and I feared the ride would fizzle out. But just as that thought settled in, it launched into a dynamic final act: a low roll, a sharp transition, and a speedy dash back into the station that reignited the adrenaline. It may not have slipped into my Top 10 (although it came damn close), but it’s undeniably fun and well worth multiple re-rides, despite the frustratingly slow train fills.
Then there’s Fiorano GT Challenge, the duelling launched coasters from Maurer. This attraction is tucked away from the park’s main flow, requiring a stroll past a mix of themed facades and carnival-style game stalls. The queue isn’t anything to write home about, and the extended queue area looks like it could become unbearable in peak heat or crowds.
That said, the concept is excellent. Two coasters racing side by side, with a genuine sense of unpredictability about which will cross the line first. The trains are comfortable, the dispatch process is efficient, and the ride itself delivers something unique. Many of the turns are unbanked, giving a jarring but oddly satisfying sensation, like you're flinging a Ferrari around a tight corner on a racetrack. While some may find it rough, it captured the essence of racing far more accurately than most other coasters that claim to do the same. It’s perhaps not a standout in thrill terms, but it’s a fantastic bit of fun.
And now to the elephant in the room: Mission Ferrari.
This ride became infamous for taking years to open, so long, in fact, I doubted it ever would. A hybrid of dark ride, simulator, and coaster, it promised the world. While it may not fully deliver on every front, what it does offer is genuinely intriguing.
The theme is a campy spy-thriller, skewed toward a family-friendly tone, which carries through the visuals and story. The experience starts smoothly with a dark ride section, transitioning quickly into the first launch. The launch room itself is a strange mix, loud, flashy, and very much leaning into style-over-substance. Still, it does the job.
Then you hit the outdoor section, the iconic part of the ride visible from outside the building during the construction. The corkscrew here is fast and punchy, offering the best moment of the ride before you shoot back inside, where things go off the rails (figuratively, not literally).
A large dome projection screen provides a media sequence that feels a bit outdated, likely due to how long ago it was produced. Despite this, the synchronisation between screen movement and ride platform is fairly well executed. The ride’s final act features a backwards drop, a satisfyingly forceful reverse loop, and some intense transitions, though it ends on a sour note with a final tilted drop that feels horrendously rough as it awkwardly judders down the sideways incline.
Is it perfect? No. Is it trying to do too much? Absolutely. But as a full-package experience, Mission Ferrari is unlike anything else out there. It’s chaotic, ambitious, and oddly charming in its messiness. It’s a shame it played a part in Dynamic Attractions’ financial troubles, because with a bit more polish and a stronger budget, this kind of ride could genuinely change the game. It opened 90 minutes later than the rest of the park and remained temperamental throughout the day, hardly surprising given its complexity. Amusingly, the Miral senior team happened to be riding the car in front of mine; I’d have loved to hear their take on it.
After years of watching this project drag on, simply getting to ride Mission Ferrari felt like a personal achievement. It did only operate for roughly an hour after opening much later than the rest of the park, before plunging into downtime for the remainder of my visit.
There’s plenty of other Ferrari-based experiences dotted throughout the park to extend your stay. The main driving ride through the core of the building is perfectly adequate enough for the younger guests, whilst there’s multiple opportunities to take a real Ferrari out of the building and around the roads of Yas Island. There’s plenty of nods to the lengthy nostalgic history of this powerful and iconic brand also, with plenty of things to do for the smallest of visitors in tiny go-kart tracks through to themed play areas.
Comparing Ferrari World to its European cousin, Ferrari Land in PortAventura, offers some interesting contrasts. Ferrari Land arguably has stronger external theming. its Italian façades and stylised streetscapes feel more cohesive, even if the build quality isn’t always convincing. Ferrari World, by comparison, benefits from being more stylised and purpose-built, but doesn’t always commit to its theming consistently. You’ll find impressive efforts in places, like the Flying Aces queue and the Il Podio Italian restaurant, but other areas feel unfinished or under-ambitious.
Where Ferrari World excels is in its scale and ambition. It isn’t just a brand extension, it’s a statement. The rides, particularly Formula Rossa and Mission Ferrari, showcase a willingness to push boundaries. While not every attraction sticks the landing, the sheer variety and uniqueness on offer far surpasses what Ferrari Land currently delivers. You get the sense that Ferrari World is a living, evolving project, whereas Ferrari Land feels more like a one-and-done installation. As you walk through the park, the glistening, well-kept nature reflects the brand positively, with a pleasant, crafted cologne-like scent lingering on the nose.
That said, both parks reflect their environments. Ferrari Land is designed for European family tourists with limited time. Ferrari World feels more like a flagship destination, a prestige project meant to impress and endure. With the arrival of Disney looming and Miral’s ambitions to draw visitors to the UAE over Saudi’s efforts with Qiddiya, Ferrari World is very much only in its first incarnation. There’s certainly more bold efforts to come from the seemingly bottomless money pit that is in place for parks in this region, even if it is struggling to attract visitors in the first place.
Is it somewhere I’d visit again? Absolutely. As both a car and coaster enthusiast, it ticks many of the boxes. The quiet nature of the park is great for those who are short on time, whilst there’s plenty of attractions for the whole family to make a meal of it as a full day visit.
TLDR -
Ride count:
Formula Rossa - 10
Formula Rossa Jnr - 1
Turbo Track - 2
Flying Aces - 6
Fiorano GT Challenge - 4 (2 on each side)
Mission Ferrari - 1
Bell Italia - 1
Turbo Tower - 1
The TLDR top-down summary:
Day One - Land in UAE, drive down to Yas Island // Ferrari World
Day Two - Warner Bros World // SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
Day Three - Day Eight - Travel to KSA, return from KSA to UAE // Storm Coaster
Day Nine - IMG Worlds of Adventure
Day Ten - Motiongate / Real Madrid World / Legoland Dubai // Return to UK
After an overnight flight on an A380 from Manchester to Dubai, the trip began in earnest. I picked up a hire car and swiftly left the UAE’s most populous city behind, heading south down the smooth highways toward Abu Dhabi.
Yas Island has been in the spotlight following the announcement of the Disney project set to arrive in the coming years. Miral, the operator behind the island’s attractions, makes that vision hard to miss; billboards line the route as you cruise down the coast of the Arabian Gulf. With only two days in the region (including my arrival day), driving gave me the flexibility to make the most of my time.
Upon arriving, the attractions on Yas Island were clearly signposted, though Google Maps did its best to throw me off course by directing me to a Carrefour car park instead of my intended destination. A bit of improvisation later, I found myself in the Grand Prix car park of Yas Mall, which seemed fitting for my first stop: Ferrari World.
From the air, Ferrari World’s sprawling red roof and iconic prancing horse logo are unmistakable. It’s visible from space and looks genuinely impressive. But from ground level, it’s slightly less awe-inspiring than anticipated. Still, it’s a bold and ambitious statement from one of the world’s most prestigious automotive brands.
After wandering through the eerily quiet yet spotless Yas Mall, I reached the entrance. Entry was straightforward. A quick sidestep around a group struggling with their QR codes and I was in. The vast entrance hall is dominated by the central spire that contains Turbo Track, multiple glistening display cars, and a Ferrari merchandise shop, which also doubles as the park’s exit. You won’t be leaving without passing racks of Ferrari-branded goods.
With the park freshly opened and practically empty, I took the chance to explore at a relaxed pace. The park is circular in layout, with offshoots leading to some of the outdoor attractions. After a full circuit, I kicked off with a quick cred run on Formula Rossa Junior. This Zamperla family coaster, opened around the time of Covid, is surprisingly fun. It has a slight rattle towards the end and a rather abrupt brake run/station platform, but it’s otherwise smooth and zippy, a great introduction for younger guests.
Then it was time for the big one: Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest roller coaster. I happened to visit during a rare window when both Formula Rossa and the park’s latest major addition were operating simultaneously; lucky timing, as I’d have missed either side of that week.
The approach to the ride is dramatic, passing between massive paddock trucks into the queue area. I took a detour to the observation balcony to admire the sun-drenched launch track. Despite having no other guests around, I was fortunate to witness a final test launch to see the raw power of the train being jettisoned out into the scorching heat.
The queue line is basic: an unthemed cattle pen winding toward the station. The platform itself is fairly standard fare for a racing-themed coaster. After donning the mandatory goggles, I took my seat in the front row, staring down the barrel of that legendary launch track.
This was, without doubt, one of the most surreal coaster experiences of my life. It had been six years since I’d last ridden Kingda Ka or Top Thrill Dragster, and nothing since had come close. Formula Rossa launches in what feels like three stages: a sharp initial burst, a secondary surge past 100mph, and a final push to its record-breaking 149mph. Whether it’s psychological or physical, the acceleration is electrifying and addictive.
Though the train brakes significantly atop the first hill, it still delivers a moment of airtime. From there, the layout becomes a high-speed ballet of sweeping curves and bursts of grey-out-inducing turns, ending with a series of airtime hops into the brakes. At one point, the ride temporarily closed for 20 minutes while staff cooled the wheels with water jets. a fascinating moment, though my phone was locked away, so no footage, sadly.
No, it’s not the best coaster in the world, but it’s a landmark attraction that’s earned its status. Even once Falcon’s Flight opens in Qiddiya, it’s hard to imagine anything matching Formula Rossa’s sheer power and presence. And with Miral’s appetite for expansion, Ferrari World is inevitably aiming to reclaim its record soon.
Next up was Turbo Track, the short shuttle coaster more known for its dramatic appearance than for delivering any real thrills. It’s clearly been designed to handle large crowds with alternating load platforms, but that wasn’t on show today, as I was the only rider. The launch is slightly awkward, but it does pack a final punch just before you hit the vertical spike. On the return, the train loses so much momentum that it needs a noticeable boost just to make it back to the station. It’s an eye-catching centrepiece for Ferrari World, but not something I’d queue long for. Even with no queue, one ride in each direction felt sufficient.
From there, I made my way to Flying Aces. Skyrush still firmly remains in my Top 10; its aggressive lift and relentless layout are standout moments, so I was curious to see how this ride would compare.
Before even boarding, the queue line deserves a mention. It’s one of the more thoughtfully themed areas in Ferrari World, transitioning between atmospheric scenes that completely remove you from the rest of the park. It’s easy to imagine this being one of the more bearable queues on a busy day, if there ever were such a thing. However, dispatches were slow, and trains were only sent out once they had around 75% of seats filled. I waited at the batching gates for over 15 minutes before enough guests arrived. All the while, I could see the train ready to go on the other side of the wall.
As for the ride itself, Flying Aces doesn’t quite match Skyrush’s sheer prolonged intensity, but it stands confidently in its own lane. The lift hill is fast and exciting, particularly in the back row, where you’re whipped over the crest and practically lifted out of your seat on the drop. Thankfully, the restraints are far more forgiving than Skyrush’s, offering a thrilling but comfortable ride.
Flying Aces offers a more varied experience: from near-ground transitions to its signature non-inverting loop, it mixes elements well. Midway through, it lost momentum slightly, and I feared the ride would fizzle out. But just as that thought settled in, it launched into a dynamic final act: a low roll, a sharp transition, and a speedy dash back into the station that reignited the adrenaline. It may not have slipped into my Top 10 (although it came damn close), but it’s undeniably fun and well worth multiple re-rides, despite the frustratingly slow train fills.
Then there’s Fiorano GT Challenge, the duelling launched coasters from Maurer. This attraction is tucked away from the park’s main flow, requiring a stroll past a mix of themed facades and carnival-style game stalls. The queue isn’t anything to write home about, and the extended queue area looks like it could become unbearable in peak heat or crowds.
That said, the concept is excellent. Two coasters racing side by side, with a genuine sense of unpredictability about which will cross the line first. The trains are comfortable, the dispatch process is efficient, and the ride itself delivers something unique. Many of the turns are unbanked, giving a jarring but oddly satisfying sensation, like you're flinging a Ferrari around a tight corner on a racetrack. While some may find it rough, it captured the essence of racing far more accurately than most other coasters that claim to do the same. It’s perhaps not a standout in thrill terms, but it’s a fantastic bit of fun.
And now to the elephant in the room: Mission Ferrari.
This ride became infamous for taking years to open, so long, in fact, I doubted it ever would. A hybrid of dark ride, simulator, and coaster, it promised the world. While it may not fully deliver on every front, what it does offer is genuinely intriguing.
The theme is a campy spy-thriller, skewed toward a family-friendly tone, which carries through the visuals and story. The experience starts smoothly with a dark ride section, transitioning quickly into the first launch. The launch room itself is a strange mix, loud, flashy, and very much leaning into style-over-substance. Still, it does the job.
Then you hit the outdoor section, the iconic part of the ride visible from outside the building during the construction. The corkscrew here is fast and punchy, offering the best moment of the ride before you shoot back inside, where things go off the rails (figuratively, not literally).
A large dome projection screen provides a media sequence that feels a bit outdated, likely due to how long ago it was produced. Despite this, the synchronisation between screen movement and ride platform is fairly well executed. The ride’s final act features a backwards drop, a satisfyingly forceful reverse loop, and some intense transitions, though it ends on a sour note with a final tilted drop that feels horrendously rough as it awkwardly judders down the sideways incline.
Is it perfect? No. Is it trying to do too much? Absolutely. But as a full-package experience, Mission Ferrari is unlike anything else out there. It’s chaotic, ambitious, and oddly charming in its messiness. It’s a shame it played a part in Dynamic Attractions’ financial troubles, because with a bit more polish and a stronger budget, this kind of ride could genuinely change the game. It opened 90 minutes later than the rest of the park and remained temperamental throughout the day, hardly surprising given its complexity. Amusingly, the Miral senior team happened to be riding the car in front of mine; I’d have loved to hear their take on it.
After years of watching this project drag on, simply getting to ride Mission Ferrari felt like a personal achievement. It did only operate for roughly an hour after opening much later than the rest of the park, before plunging into downtime for the remainder of my visit.
There’s plenty of other Ferrari-based experiences dotted throughout the park to extend your stay. The main driving ride through the core of the building is perfectly adequate enough for the younger guests, whilst there’s multiple opportunities to take a real Ferrari out of the building and around the roads of Yas Island. There’s plenty of nods to the lengthy nostalgic history of this powerful and iconic brand also, with plenty of things to do for the smallest of visitors in tiny go-kart tracks through to themed play areas.
Comparing Ferrari World to its European cousin, Ferrari Land in PortAventura, offers some interesting contrasts. Ferrari Land arguably has stronger external theming. its Italian façades and stylised streetscapes feel more cohesive, even if the build quality isn’t always convincing. Ferrari World, by comparison, benefits from being more stylised and purpose-built, but doesn’t always commit to its theming consistently. You’ll find impressive efforts in places, like the Flying Aces queue and the Il Podio Italian restaurant, but other areas feel unfinished or under-ambitious.
Where Ferrari World excels is in its scale and ambition. It isn’t just a brand extension, it’s a statement. The rides, particularly Formula Rossa and Mission Ferrari, showcase a willingness to push boundaries. While not every attraction sticks the landing, the sheer variety and uniqueness on offer far surpasses what Ferrari Land currently delivers. You get the sense that Ferrari World is a living, evolving project, whereas Ferrari Land feels more like a one-and-done installation. As you walk through the park, the glistening, well-kept nature reflects the brand positively, with a pleasant, crafted cologne-like scent lingering on the nose.
That said, both parks reflect their environments. Ferrari Land is designed for European family tourists with limited time. Ferrari World feels more like a flagship destination, a prestige project meant to impress and endure. With the arrival of Disney looming and Miral’s ambitions to draw visitors to the UAE over Saudi’s efforts with Qiddiya, Ferrari World is very much only in its first incarnation. There’s certainly more bold efforts to come from the seemingly bottomless money pit that is in place for parks in this region, even if it is struggling to attract visitors in the first place.
Is it somewhere I’d visit again? Absolutely. As both a car and coaster enthusiast, it ticks many of the boxes. The quiet nature of the park is great for those who are short on time, whilst there’s plenty of attractions for the whole family to make a meal of it as a full day visit.
TLDR -
Ride count:
Formula Rossa - 10
Formula Rossa Jnr - 1
Turbo Track - 2
Flying Aces - 6
Fiorano GT Challenge - 4 (2 on each side)
Mission Ferrari - 1
Bell Italia - 1
Turbo Tower - 1