Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s premier leisure and leisure hub, is charging forward in its pursuit of turning into a globally recognised tourism capital, recording over 38 million visits in 2024 alone. On the heart of this transformation is Miral Destinations, and its CEO Liam Findlay, who shared in an unique dialog with ETTravelWorld how the vacation spot is redefining tourism — with India taking part in a key position in that journey.
From asserting daring new theme park sights and hospitality expansions to unveiling tech-enabled visitor experiences and cultural collaborations, Miral Locations is positioning Yas Island as greater than only a vacation vacation spot — it’s crafting a completely immersive, multi-sensory playground the place leisure meets know-how, and journey meets personalisation.
A progress engine fueled by experiences
“The momentum we’re constructing is rooted in a quite simple concept — creating unforgettable experiences,” stated Findlay. “In 2024, we hit over 38 million visits to Yas Island, with double-digit progress in theme park footfalls, pushed by marquee launches like SeaWorld Yas Island and international campaigns with personalities like Ryan Reynolds.”
India, Findlay revealed, stays one of many top-performing supply markets for Yas Island. Miral Locations’s campaigns like ‘Zindagi Ko Yas Bol‘ have struck a cultural chord with Indian audiences, tapping into nostalgia and the celebration of life’s memorable moments. Theme park visits from India alone surged by 44 per cent in 2024, indicating a robust upward trajectory.
New sights & expansions on the horizon
Wanting forward, Yas Island is gearing up for a few of its most formidable expansions but. At Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, followers can count on the area’s first-ever Harry Potter themed land, whereas Ferrari World is getting ready to launch a brand new rollercoaster set to interrupt 4 world information. These developments align with Miral Locations’s long-term technique to ship “signature experiences” that stand out globally.
Within the waterpark section, Yas Waterworld is getting into a brand new chapter with a large growth that includes 12 new rides and slides. “This contains the world’s first blaster journey for youths and immersive zones underneath a brand new ‘Misplaced Metropolis’ theme,” stated Findlay, emphasising how the intention isn’t just so as to add rides however to deepen storytelling and prolong the customer journey.
Miral Locations’s method to extending customer stays is simply as experiential. The present common keep on Yas Island is 1.9 nights, and Findlay is concentrated on transferring that needle. “We’re not merely including extra; we’re creating higher causes to linger,” he defined. Bundled choices comparable to Yas Keep & Play and curated occasion packages like live shows and sports activities weekends are already gaining traction in India and the GCC.
There may be additionally important funding in nightlife, wellness, and eating to spherical out the “day-to-night” expertise, making Yas Island engaging for weekenders, households, and enterprise vacationers alike.
Abu Dhabi’s tourism authorities have actively sought to match these choices to Indian household preferences. In 2025 DCT Abu Dhabi launched a “Youngsters Beneficial” marketing campaign, underpinned by analysis on what kids need. Working with youngsters as “co-creators,” DCT has printed a seven-day household itinerary mixing theme parks, museums, zoos and seashores.
Strategic hospitality progress & the metaverse play
Miral Locations has introduced plans to extend lodge room stock on Yas Island by 30% over the subsequent 5 years. Whereas particulars on model partnerships are underneath wraps, the transfer aligns with rising enterprise tourism and MICE demand. In 2024, enterprise occasions on the island grew by 17%, and room nights by 7%.
One of many extra forward-thinking improvements is the launch of the Yas Island Metaverse — developed in collaboration with e& enterprise — which permits customers to discover sights and plan visits by means of a completely immersive digital surroundings. “This brings the vacation spot alive even earlier than the journey begins,” stated Findlay.
Supporting Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Imaginative and prescient 2030
Yas Island isn’t just driving footfalls; it’s additionally integral to Abu Dhabi’s wider tourism ambitions. Lodge occupancy on the island peaked at 90% in August 2024, and common every day charges rose by 17%. Miral’s locations are central to the emirate’s purpose of attracting 39.3 million annual guests and contributing AED 90 billion to GDP by 2030.
“Together with our neighbours on Saadiyat Island — dwelling to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the soon-to-open Pure Historical past Museum — we’re proud to assist Abu Dhabi’s evolution into a worldwide cultural and experiential tourism hub,” Findlay added.
The launch of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi is a key milestone providing an immersive artwork house that sparks curiosity by means of know-how and creativity. “We’re additionally aligned with the imaginative and prescient of the Saadiyat Cultural District, supporting Abu Dhabi’s progress as a worldwide vacation spot for each cultural and experiential tourism,” he additional added.
India technique: Metro & past
India continues to be a strategic focus. “By means of our devoted India workplace, we’ve co-created culturally resonant campaigns and FAM journeys. Our intention is to maintain Yas Island prime of thoughts for Indian travellers,” stated Findlay. That outreach now contains tier 2 and three cities with localized activations, regional influencer partnerships, and multilingual campaigns.
The Indian journey commerce can be deeply built-in into Miral Locations’s distribution and engagement technique. Initiatives like “Yas Hai Khaas” are supported by curated itineraries, journey commerce workshops, and a rising give attention to wedding ceremony tourism, premium household journey, and MICE.
The highway forward?
Findlay and the staff at Miral Locations have clearly outlined a roadmap that extends far past amusement. From rollercoasters and Harry Potter lands to AI-powered planning instruments and cultural collaborations, Yas Island is shaping as much as be a vacation spot the place each go to tells a brand new story.
“With strategic investments, significant partnerships, and personalised engagement, we’re not simply sustaining momentum — we’re scaling aspiration,” concluded Findlay. “And India will stay central to that journey.”
