Mission Ferrari review: Abu Dhabi's new roller coaster with world's first sideways drop


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

Most adrenaline-seekers are familiar with Ferrari World Abu Dhabi’s high-octane, record-breaking rides and roller coasters.

From Flying Aces, which scales 63 metres at a 51-degree incline and has the world’s highest loop, to the Fiorano GT Challenge, which pits race cars against each other on twisting parallel tracks at a speed of up to 95kph, there are plenty of ways to get your heart racing.

The park's latest attraction, Mission Ferrari, is billed as an “immersive mega coaster” and is the world’s first to feature a sideways drop.

“We have more than 40 rides and attractions, which is great. But this particular ride, being the first 5D mega coaster, adds a whole new dynamic to the park,” says Ferrari World Abu Dhabi general manager Deana Taylor.

Mission Ferrari opens to the public on Thursday, and The National's Evelyn Lau went along to find out what visitors can expect and how it compares to the park's popular Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest roller coaster.

Mission accepted

As I queue up for Mission Ferrari, it’s clear the ride is different than the others. It feels immersive from the get-go, as riders step into a dimly-lit building with screens and sounds playing against concrete-looking walls meant to resemble the inside of a Ferrari factory. There are even “secret agents” who wait outside (and will be there for the first month of the roller coaster’s launch) and play into the ride's spy narrative.

Each car can hold 10 people with two rows of five seats. As I am safely buckled in with a seat belt and an overhead harness, I am told to hold onto the handle in front of me at all times, while also being reminded to lean my head back against the seat. As the ride begins, I learn that the “mission” is to safely deliver a top-secret Ferrari spy car to the carmaker's factory in Maranello, Italy.

Without giving away too many surprises, the four-minute ride is filled with so many turns, twists and drops I really can't tell what was coming next. There are multiple screens and impressive theatrics inside the ride.

It feels very much like a fun guessing game about where the car will go next. I also find the Mission Ferrari roller coaster more gentle compared to Formula Rossa.

Surviving Formula Rossa

The world’s fastest roller coaster goes from 0 to 240kph in under five seconds. Riders are given a pair of plastic goggles to protect their eyes. As I get closer to boarding, I feel myself getting nervous.

The Formula Rossa is the world's fastest roller coaster. Reuters
The Formula Rossa is the world's fastest roller coaster. Reuters

Right from the start, it’s clear Formula Rossa is going to be intense. I am in one of the last two seats of the eight-row roller coaster, and feel the 1.7g-force immediately. I try my best to force my head to lean back against the chair, but have some difficulty doing so owing to the high speed we are moving at.

There are loops that make my stomach drop, and I'm glad for the outdoor portion of the ride as the cool evening air makes me feel better.

Although the ride is only one-and-a-half minutes long, I feel a little dizzy and wobbly after getting off when we finally arrive back at the platform.

Final thoughts

The two rides attest to Taylor's claim that Ferrari World has something for everyone. Formula Rossa is great for those who want to get their blood pumping and don’t mind doing so in just under 90 seconds. It’s ideal for the ultimate thrill-seeker.

Mission Ferrari, however, is more intriguing with its sudden shifts and movements, as well as its immersive screens that tell a story. Don’t be fooled, however, this is still one for adrenaline-seekers. It goes on for a little more than four minutes, which may not be enjoyable for some. This also means the queueing up time is likely to be longer.

Although most of Mission Ferrari takes place inside the building, there is a twisting loop that extends outside of the park, enabling bystanders to watch and wave as the roller coaster goes screaming by.

“This ride is one of the most immersive attractions we have in the park. It is full of surprises, and you never know which way it's going to turn or twist next,” says Taylor. “It keeps you on the edge of your beautiful Ferrari seats throughout.”

I couldn't agree more.

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Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press

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THREE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)

Date started: August 2021

Founder: Nour Sabri

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace

Size: Two employees

Funding stage: Seed investment

Initial investment: $200,000

Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East) 

The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Power: 190bhp

Torque: 300Nm

Price: Dh169,900

On sale: now 

PROFILE OF STARZPLAY

Date started: 2014

Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand

Number of employees: 125

Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners

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THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright

MATCH INFO

Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)

Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, kick-off 10.45pm
Live: On BeIN Sports HD

Profile Box

Company/date started: 2015

Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif

Based: Manama, Bahrain

Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation

Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads

Stage: 1 ($100,000)

Investors: Two first-round investors including, 500 Startups, Fawaz Al Gosaibi Holding (Saudi Arabia)

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte

Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000

Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8

Transmission Eight-speed automatic

Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm

Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm

Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands

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 Championship AJ 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 Chris Jericho

Singles match John Cena v Triple H

Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba

 

New Zealand squad

Tim Southee (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner

If you go...

Flying
There is no simple way to get to Punta Arenas from the UAE, with flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi requiring at least two connections to reach this part of Patagonia. Flights start from about Dh6,250.

Touring
Chile Nativo offers the amended Los Dientes trek with expert guides and porters who are met in Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino. The trip starts and ends in Punta Arenas and lasts for six days in total. Prices start from Dh8,795.

How to help

Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

2289 - Dh10

2252 - Dh50

6025 - Dh20

6027 - Dh100

6026 - Dh200

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How to register as a donor

1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention

2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants

3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register. 

4) The campaign uses the hashtag  #donate_hope

About Okadoc

Date started: Okadoc, 2018

Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Healthcare

Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth

Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February

Investors: Undisclosed

Updated: January 12, 2023, 11:06 AM