Ferrari World Abu Dhabi opened on Yas Island on November 4, 2010, as the first Ferrari-branded theme park in the world. Owned by Miral Group and operated under license from Ferrari, the park sits beneath an enormous red roof shaped like the Ferrari GT racing badge, enclosing roughly 86,000 square meters of mostly indoor attractions designed to shield visitors from Abu Dhabi’s desert heat.
The park’s headline attraction is Formula Rossa, an Intamin-built hydraulic launch coaster that catapults riders to 240 km/h (149 mph) in under five seconds. Formula Rossa held the title of world’s fastest roller coaster from 2010 until Falcon’s Flight opened at Six Flags Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia on December 31, 2025, reaching 250 km/h. Formula Rossa still holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest 0-to-top-speed launch acceleration of any roller coaster. Beyond that record-holder, Ferrari World blends thrill rides, simulators, and Italian hospitality into a single motorsport-themed destination.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Operator: Miral Group (licensed by Ferrari)
- Opened: November 4, 2010
- Size: About 86,000 sq m (930,000 sq ft) indoor park
- Roof: Largest space-frame structure ever built, over 200,000 sq m
- Signature attraction: Formula Rossa (Intamin, 240 km/h top speed, fastest launch acceleration on record)
- Coaster count: Six roller coasters
Formula Rossa and the Ride Lineup
Formula Rossa remains the park’s centerpiece: an Intamin Accelerator Coaster that reaches about 52 meters in height and runs roughly 2,074 meters of track, using a hydraulic launch to push riders from a standstill to 100 km/h in about two seconds. Protective goggles are required on board to guard against the wind force at top speed. Guinness World Records has recognized its 4.9-second launch to 149.1 mph as the fastest acceleration of any roller coaster, a distinction it retains even after losing the outright top-speed crown.
The park has expanded its coaster roster well beyond Formula Rossa, adding Flying Aces in 2016, Turbo Track in 2017, the family-friendly Formula Rossa Junior in 2020, and Mission Ferrari, a story-driven launch coaster that opened in 2023. Other attractions include Fiorano GT Challenge, driving simulators, karting, and a 4D flying theater.
An Engineering Landmark
Beyond its rides, Ferrari World is notable as a piece of engineering: its aluminum-clad roof spans more than 200,000 square meters and roughly 700 meters in diameter, assembled from about 172,000 parts using a MERO space-frame system, making it one of the largest roof structures ever constructed.
The park was built by Aldar Properties with construction handled by BESIX Group’s Six Construct, following a foundation-laying ceremony in November 2007. It has since been repeatedly recognized as the Middle East’s leading theme park at the World Travel Awards.
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Ferrari World Abu Dhabi FAQs
Is Ferrari World Abu Dhabi indoors?
Yes, the vast majority of the park sits beneath a giant enclosed roof shaped like the Ferrari badge, keeping rides climate-controlled year-round.
Is Formula Rossa still the world’s fastest roller coaster?
No. Formula Rossa held the top-speed record from 2010 until Falcon’s Flight opened at Six Flags Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia on December 31, 2025, reaching 250 km/h versus Formula Rossa’s 240 km/h. Formula Rossa still holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest launch acceleration of any coaster.
Who owns Ferrari World Abu Dhabi?
The park is owned by Miral Group, Abu Dhabi’s destination developer, and operates under a license agreement with Ferrari.
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Photo: Floness / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.