Key Business Benefits: 



• Accessibility: Direct flights from major global hubs 
• Infrastructure: State-of-the-art conference facilities across all major venues 
• Climate: Year-round events possible (October-April optimal) 
• Business-friendly: Straightforward visa processes for most nationalities 
• Time zone: GMT+4 works well for Europe, Asia and East Coast US meetings 

The W Hotel Yas Island: A Hotel with the W(ow) Factor

Night one and two were spent at an iconic hotel, the W Yas Island. Arriving after the sun had set our first impression of the hotel was its amazing LED lit façade which can be fully branded with your company logo or event branding. The design details here are beautifully inspired by the local culture from the oil trade-inspired black ceiling to racetrack lines reflecting the Yas Marina Circuit beneath the hotel and reception decorated with 3D pearl divers with nose clips. 



Conference Facilities:  

• The Great Room: 250 pax banquet style 
• Breakout spaces: 7 studios and 4 boardrooms 
• Bridge connection: Links to Yas Marina Circuit Conference Centre for groups 250+ 
• Private entrance: Separate access with cloakrooms and facilities

Accommodation:  

• 499 bedrooms across various room types and suites 
• Yas Marina or Yas Circuit views 
• 7 onsite restaurants including The Garage for breakfast 

Personal Highlights:  

• Watching an F1 car training on the track from my room’s balcony. 
• Enjoying breakfast at the Garage restaurant looking out over the Yas Marina Harbour, this restaurant had one of the largest, most culturally inclusive breakfast spreads I've ever seen. 

Abu Dhabi's crown jewel served as our base for nights three and four. Upon arrival to the Mandarin Oriental Emirates Palace, we were treated to a cup of their luxurious 24 carat gold coffee. Top tip: hold your breath when you take the first sip, or you’ll blow gold flakes everywhere (some of our group learnt the hard way). 

Conference Facilities:  

• The Ballroom: 1,200 pax banquet with dedicated reception and pre-function areas 
• Auditorium: 1,090 pax theatre across 4 levels, with attached meeting room, green room, and storage 
• Additional meeting spaces: Conference Centre, Island Centre, Emirates Centre with 14 boardrooms and 3 meeting rooms 
• Outdoor terraces: 4 spaces accommodating up to 800 banquet 

Accommodation & Dining: 

• 394 guest rooms across various categories 
• 12 restaurants featuring international cuisines 

For dinner, we enjoyed a 12-course tasting menu at ‘Strawfire by Ross Shonhan’ a Japanese restaurant. the private dining room for a 12-course taster menu featuring a seasonal sushi and sashimi platter, Japanese Wagyu, Crispy confit duck and the most amazing Caesar salad to name a few.

Food is a big part of the culture in Norway and Bergen is an UNESCO city of gastronomy.

Photos speak a thousand words so here you are… 

Another cool option for corporate meetings or incentives is the Yas Marina Circuit an iconic venue in Yas Island with so much potential. 



Conference Facilities: 

• Conference Centre: 1,200 pax standing with 3 built-in screens and sound system 
• Luna Lounge Rooftop: Overlooks racetrack and marina 
• 18 Villas: Each accommodates 2 groups of 20 for breakout sessions 
• Sky bridge connection: Direct link to W Hotel 
• Branding opportunities: F1 car wrapping in company colours, F1 countdown clock, podium, screens around the circuit 

Evening Events: 

• Evening events: Pre-dinner drinks in pitstop area, dinner on the actual track with food trucks, entertainment and DJ from the podium 
• No noise restrictions: Party late with optional fireworks display from behind Shams Tower 
• F1 entertainment: have a driver experience around the track 

Our group took on the Pitstop Challenge, where in teams of 3 we competed to replace an F1 wheel the fastest. I’m sure it will come as no surprise that I was part of the winning team with a time of 25.1 seconds which felt very impressive until we realised the record is 1.80 seconds. F1 won’t be headhunting us any time soon!

The 4X4 Sand Dune Safari and Desert Camp was an experience I will never stop raving about. After an adrenaline filled drive, racing across the desert and dropping down the steep sand banks we arrived at our evening camp feeling like we’d just stepped into a fairy tale, with soft festoon lighting, low U shape seating and greeted with a glass of prosecco, dates and olives. 

What Works for Corporate Groups: 

• Cultural elements: Local falcon trainer demonstration and history talk 
• Interactive activities: Henna tattooing, camel rides 
• Dining: BBQ-style feast with grilled specialties, fresh salads, hummus, seasonal fruit 
• Entertainment Options: Tanoura Dancer, belly dancer, fire dancer/breather, DJ for dancing under the stars 

This informal dinner sparked so many conversations and helped us to build new relationships in a relaxed environment. I even had a go at the Tonoura Dancing; the costume is surprisingly heavy, and I lasted about 5 spins before nearly falling over.

One of my absolute favourite activities was TeamLabs Phenomena, an interactive and art exhibition that takes you through different rooms and immersive displays. My favourites were the 360-degree bungee cord room and the pink balloon room. I spent the whole time in awe of what was around me and felt very relaxed I would have loved to have spent more time here. 

Planning Considerations: 

• Some rooms may trigger motion sickness—provide advance warning 
• Require loose-fitting trousers or skirts/dresses for wet areas 
• No heeled shoes (removed for entry, some flooring uncomfortable barefoot) 

For cultural immersion, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is an absolute must! The lovely team at Gulf Circle DMC arranged for each of the women to have their own beautiful abayas and we took a guided toured to learn the mosques design and history. As a very special treat, we were able to walk across the carpet and stand beneath the grand chandeliers. 



Planning Considerations: 

• The route from security to mosque is quite long, add golf cart transfers if budget allows 
• Special access: With government permission, groups can walk on the carpet beneath the grand chandeliers (most tourists view from outside the grand room only)