The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix poses a challenge for F1 drivers, yes, but the giant space that is the Yas Marina Circuit also possesses its own set of tests for the visitor on such a busy weekend.
This is the eighth year that I’ll be covering the big race weekend, and I am glad to say that with each successive year, I have got smarter, and more able to make the most of the experience.
This is all born out of the insights gleaned from social faux pas, sage advice from those who regularly attend and unexpected discoveries. Like all grand festivals, the key to a great Abu Dhabi F1 weekend relies on a hefty dose of common sense and patience: but to make it easier for you, here are five tips gleaned from nearly a decade reporting trackside.
#1: Go as a group
First and foremost, go to the race with your friends. Plenty of Abu Dhabi cab drivers have warned me that they will be exclusively deployed to Yas Island throughout the weekend, hence the potential dearth of silver vehicles in the city. Therefore, save yourself the time and waiting anguish by booking a mini-van taxi with a group.
#2: Bring comfortable footwear
es, it does seem simple enough, but this is key: each day of the weekend brings its share of sporting activities, family events and partying, and unless you pay a hefty amount to spend the weekend in one of the nearby Yas Island hotels so that you can have a power nap, chances are that you will spend the whole day and night at the Marina. Therefore, bring a big enough bag to carry a second set of evening shoes if you want them. For the day, wear good sports shoes because your daily walks will likely involve varied terrain, ranging from pavement and soft grass to steep stairs.
#3: Carry cash
The organisers have informed me that there will be plenty of ATM machines across the site. I urge you to use them early and collect your daily allotted budget – the queue for cash payment at food outlets is almost half of those paying with plastic.
#4: Hear Guns N’ Roses or Sam Smith before their shows.
Many artists rehearse on stage before their big show, and, if you’re lucky, you may get to hear them. You need to be crafty about this. You will require a ticket to the northern stand, which is the closest to the du Arena. Within that area, there is small bit of space that gives you a clear view of grass field that is the du Arena. Between midday and late afternoon, you will see the stage being used by the After-Race Concert artists for their technical rehearsals, which also means the testing of the venue’s mammoth video screens. Last year, I heard Pink putting her voice through its paces at about 4.30pm, and then I knew we were in for a killer concert later in the day.
#5: Be patient and remember you are not the only one who wants to get home
My last piece of advice is for those going home after the evening concerts: be patient. If you want to go home or to the toilet, chances are about 10,000 other people have the same idea at that same time. So, whether you are coming home by driving, or in a taxi, there is virtually no way to avoid a queue. Go with the flow.
Now, this is where your mobile phone charger and headphones are useful. With plenty of juice left in your phone, this is the ample time to listen to The National's smooth jazz or '90s rock playlists on Apple Music. If you're too tired to wait in line, then hang back at The Village at du Arena and chill with a hot beverage. If that option is also galling, it's best to leave the concert at the halfway mark, at 10.15pm, to catch your cab with relatively minimal fuss. By then, you would have sampled a respectable selection of six songs.
But most importantly, enjoy the weekend. Follow these simple tips and you are guaranteed to have a blast. Best thing of all, you will be constantly surrounded by thousands of international visitors who will marvel at the great weather we have month-after-month, here in the UAE. Their infectious enthusiasm serves as annual reminder to be grateful for this beautiful and safe city that we call home.
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Read more:
From Guns N' Roses to Craig David: the ultimate guide to this year's Abu Dhabi F1 music gigs
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Everything you need to know about tickets and the 2018 race weekend
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2018: What's at stake for the Formula One season finale at Yas Marina Circuit
F1 brunches to get revved up about ahead of the big race
After party Amber Lounge will feature DJ Sigala and sparkling crystal theme
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MATCH INFO
Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
TOUR DE FRANCE INFO
Dates: July 1-23
Distance: 3,540km
Stages: 21
Number of teams: 22
Number of riders: 198
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
The Greatest Royal Rumble card
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v Kalisto
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Manchester City, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match is on BeIN Sports