By I have always had a healthy interest in cars and racing. Now I don’t claim to know anything about either of these things but the interest is there. So when the possibility of attending the 2016 Formula One finals in Abu Dhabi presented itself, it was a no brainer that I would make sure I was there.
First was a quick stop over in Dubai. Staying at the amazing Jumeirah Beach hotel with unobstructed views of the Arabian Gulf and 7* Burj Al Arab, I could not wish for a better pit-stop.
With obligatory visits to the Burj Khalifa at sunset, Dubai fountains at Dubai Mall after dinner and drinks at the Burj Al Arab (Gold on 27), our one night stay in Dubai was crammed with excitement.
After a quick one hour drive on to Abu Dhabi, a desert Safari was next on the agenda. Dune bashing, camel rides, quad biking, sand surfing, all with the flawless desert back drop, I felt like a regular Indiana jones off on my little adventure. What followed was an evening of traditional dancing, delicious food and shisha…what more could you want from this sand pit life!
Next, on to the main event. From pit stop crew time trials, to autographs with the drivers, live music, F1 simulators and some stunning cars, Yas Marina Circuit was buzzing!
Not yet knowing which team I was supporting, I had come prepared with all 3 of my team shirts, Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari. The camaraderie regardless of your team choice is uplifting, I can honestly say that racing has the most welcoming spectators of any sport I have encountered so far. Having Grand Stand tickets we of course had true perks of all inclusive food and drinks with shaded seats and a perfect view of the start/finish line and garages and I would 100% recommend these tickets to all first time attendees so that you can get the full throttle feel of the racing spirit.
From practice, to qualifying, to race day, I began to learn more about the ins and outs of formula 1 and more about the drivers and cars. You do not need to be a petrol head to get involved and I will certainly be attending further races in future, if only for the fact that it is an excuse to travel to a few places I have not yet been, Singapore and Monaco to say the least.
The pre-race jet display and after race concerts, cannot be missed! On top of everything we got to see, the Chemical Brother Lionel Richie and Rihanna at Du Arena, now who can say no to that!?!
After all the excitement it was time to get back to the more cultural side of Abu Dhabi. A trip to the famous Grand Mosque was something I had been looking forward to since booking the trip. The Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is one of the most architecturally stunning buildings I have ever seen. The brilliant white stone is a beacon in the desert sun. A fairly new construction, finished in 2007 by Syrian architect Yousef Abdelky, the mosque can accommodate up to 40,000 worshipers.
To enter the Mosque women need to be covered, they will supply a tourist style abaya with a hood, however living in Saudi Arabia, I had taken my own with me. Men also need to dress conservatively with no vests or shorts.
The interior of the Mosque is just as stunning as the exterior. Make sure you take one of the guided tours at 10am, 11am or 5pm if you would like to learn about the history and significance, and be aware that Friday mornings entrance is for worshipers only.
For a very short trip, Abu Dhabi ticked all of the boxes. There is still so much I need to see and do here however as an introduction, the F1 was a great place to start.
Tip – Head to Ferrari World for adrenaline thrills for all ages including the fastest rollercoaster in the world!
Life Wandered Not Lost 