During the 2024-2025 Christmas holidays, I had the opportunity to spend about ten days in Dubai for New Year’s Eve, and among the various experiences I absolutely wanted to have, there was one at the top of my list: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. As a huge fan of Formula 1 and a Ferrari supporter, I couldn’t miss the world’s first theme park dedicated to the Prancing Horse.

So, on 2 January 2025, I took a day to travel from Dubai to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi to spend a whole day enjoying record-breaking roller coasters, simulators and everything else a speed fan could dream of.

Where is Ferrari World and how to get there

Ferrari World is located on Yas Island, a small artificial island near Abu Dhabi, which has become a real entertainment mecca in the Emirates. In addition to the park dedicated to the Prancing Horse, the island is also home to other large theme parks such as Warner Bros. World, Yas Waterworld and the brand new SeaWorld Abu Dhabi – which, unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to visit.

If you are staying in Dubai, as I was, the park is about an hour away by car or taxi, but there is a very convenient alternative: if you buy your ticket online in advance, Yas Island parks provide free shuttles reserved for visitors, departing from several strategic points in Dubai. We left from a stop in Dubai Marina, in front of a hotel, and the shuttle took us directly to the park entrance.

Important tip: arrive first at the stop and queue on the pavement. The shuttles are in high demand, especially during peak periods such as the Christmas holidays, and seats are limited. Arriving late may mean being left behind or having to wait for the next shuttle, which is not guaranteed at some stops.

When to go and how long to stay

I visited Ferrari World on 2 January, right in the middle of the Christmas holidays, and it’s no surprise to say that the park was very crowded. It’s definitely one of the peak seasons for international visitors, especially for those in Dubai or Abu Dhabi for New Year’s Eve.

That said, the park is completely indoors, which is a key feature that makes it visitable at any time of year: it is also perfect during the summer months, when the heat in the Emirates can be unbearable. The air-conditioned, spacious and modern environment is definitely one of its strong points.

As for the length of the visit, I would say that a full day is more than enough to explore the park, even if you visit the main attractions, try a few simulators and take a lunch break. Ferrari World is not as huge as other international parks, but it offers enough to keep you busy all day long.

One less positive aspect, however, at least in my experience, was the management of queues: although waiting times were not “impossible” on paper, the efficiency of the access organisation left something to be desired. I noticed, for example, that many rides only allowed one carriage to depart at a time or processed visitors slowly, which made the wait much longer than necessary. In other parks with the same number of visitors, the queues were managed much more quickly.

So, if you go during peak season, be prepared for the possibility that you may only be able to visit a few attractions, unless you choose to purchase the Express Pass.

Ferrari World itinerary

Given the huge crowds during the Christmas period, I wasn’t able to see all the attractions in the park during my visit, but I did manage to cover the main ones that are not to be missed. Here’s how my day went.

  • The first attraction we managed to visit was Mission Ferrari. The attraction was scheduled to open at 12:00, so we strategically chose to queue up early to avoid having too many people in front of us. This proved to be a good decision: we got on in a reasonable amount of time and I have to say that the attraction is really beautiful and definitely worth trying, with a mix of effects, accelerations and dark ride sections.
  • Right after that, we headed to Flying Aces, one of the park’s iconic coasters. This roller coaster is amazing in every way: military theme, speed, record-breaking loops, and intense thrills. But here came the low point of the day: we spent over two and a half hours in line because of slow management and low train frequency.

After the adrenaline rush, it was time to eat… or at least try to. Here too, we found long queues in the restaurants and, despite there being several places to eat, it took us about an hour to order and eat. Part of the problem was obviously the crowds, but the slow staff and poor management of the flow of customers also had a negative impact on the experience.

  • After lunch, we rushed to try Formula Rossa, Ferrari World’s signature attraction and, rightly so, one of the most popular with visitors. For those who don’t know, it is the fastest roller coaster in the world, with acceleration that takes you from 0 to 240 km/h in less than 5 seconds: an extreme, adrenaline-fuelled experience and a real thrill. When we went, in early January 2025, Formula Rossa had reopened just a few days earlier after a long technical closure lasting over a year. As a result, the attention on this attraction was even higher than usual.
  • Fiorano GT Challenge – a double-track coaster with parallel runs, inspired by the Ferrari 430 Spider. It’s not the most adrenaline-fuelled ride in the park, but it’s fun and exciting, especially if you ride with friends or in pairs: the challenge between the two trains adds a touch of track-style competition.
  • Turbo Track – a vertical launch that catapults you towards the ceiling of the park and then brings you back down in free fall. The idea is original, and the start is definitely intense, but the attraction lasts very little, so I recommend it only if the queue is less than 30 minutes. Otherwise, it’s better to spend your time elsewhere.

Practical tips for visiting Ferrari World

Here are some tips based on my personal experience, which are especially useful if you visit the park during peak season.

Access to Formula Rossa: booking required with QR code

Formula Rossa, the park’s main attraction and the fastest roller coaster in the world, requires advance booking via QR code. The system is simple: at the park entrance, you will find a sign with a QR code to scan, which allows you to choose a time slot to ride the attraction.

Please note: places are very limited and sell out quickly, especially during peak season.

As soon as you enter the park, book Formula Rossa via QR code. It’s the attraction that everyone wants to try, and those who arrive late risk seriously not finding availability for the entire day.

Without a reservation, there was supposed to be a separate queue, but when I got there, it was kilometres long, slow and with no guarantee of entry, even after hours of waiting.

Luggage storage

If, like us, you arrive from Dubai with suitcases or trolleys, you should know that Ferrari World offers a luggage storage service, even for large items. We left three cabin and hold suitcases for the whole day, paying around €40 in total. A very convenient solution, especially if you have planned your visit between other trips.

Gluten-free restaurants and options

There are several places to eat within the park. I had the opportunity to try a dish of gluten-free pasta, which was of average quality but certainly appreciated by those with special dietary requirements. The park seems quite attentive to offering alternatives for those with intolerances or specific diets.

Ferrari Store: exclusive souvenirs

At the park exit, there is a large Ferrari Store, perfect for those who want to take home an exclusive souvenir. There are T-shirts, caps, magnets, mugs, models and collectibles, many of which are only available in the park’s official shop. Ideal for fans and collectors.