How Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island and Saadiyat Island won over 195 global awards in 2025
Miral portfolio praised across leisure, culture and guest experience
DUBAI – Miral has announced that attractions and experiences across Yas Island and Saadiyat Island received more than 195 regional and international awards and recognitions in 2025, underlining Abu Dhabi’s growing status as a global tourism and lifestyle destination.
The honours cover theme parks, cultural sites, hotels, dining venues, sporting facilities, marketing campaigns and sustainability initiatives. The scale of the recognition reflects the diversity of offerings across both destinations.
According to Miral, the awards highlight performance across guest experience, innovation, environmental education, integrated leisure, and destination marketing. Senior leadership said the recognitions align with Abu Dhabi’s long-term tourism ambitions and ongoing destination development strategy.
Dr Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, said the accolades reflect the collective efforts of teams and partners in positioning Yas Island and Saadiyat Island among the world’s leading destinations for culture, entertainment and tourism.
Theme park wins
Yas Island retained major global titles in 2025, including the ‘World’s Leading Theme Park Destination’ at the World Travel Awards and ‘Best Integrated Leisure Destination’ at the MENALAC Awards. Its flagship attractions collected multiple top-tier honours across global and regional platforms.
Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi was named both ‘World’s Leading Theme Park’ and ‘Middle East’s Leading Theme Park’. Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi secured the title of ‘Middle East’s Leading Water Park’, while Warner Bros. World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi was recognised as ‘Middle East’s Leading Tourist Attraction’. CLYMB Yas Island continued its run as ‘Middle East’s Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction’.
SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi gained international recognition for its ‘Draw Me the Sea’ campaign. The initiative earned Best Education Campaign and Best Strategic Communications at the PRCA MENAT Awards, alongside Gold honours at the International Business Stevie Awards and SABRE Awards. The campaign focused on marine life awareness, conservation education and community engagement.
Leisure and events
Yas Island’s wider leisure and entertainment infrastructure also recorded strong award performance. Yas Bay Waterfront collected more than 20 wins across local dining and lifestyle awards. Venues at the waterfront were recognised at the What’s On Abu Dhabi Awards, Time Out Abu Dhabi Restaurant Awards and FACT Dining Awards. Among the named winners were Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar, Bushra by Buddha-Bar, Barbossa and Cafe del Mar, with the latter winning Favourite Pool and Beach Day.
Yas Marina received the Gold Anchor Platinum Award, strengthening its position among leading international marinas. Etihad Arena earned top honours at the Eventex Awards and Middle East Event Awards 2025, highlighting its standing as a major global indoor venue.
Yas Marina Circuit, host of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, secured 16 awards recognising sporting excellence, fan engagement and sustainability. These included Favourite Sporting Event at the What’s On Awards, Gold for Middle Eastern Event at the Eventex Awards, Best Sports Venue and Excellence in Sustainability at the SPIA Awards.
Yas Links added 12 accolades in 2025, including ‘Abu Dhabi’s Best Golf Course’ at the World Golf Awards.
Saadiyat honours
Saadiyat Island recorded more than 20 major recognitions as a beach and luxury destination. It was named Best Beach Destination, Middle East and Best Luxury Destination, Middle East at the CEO Destinations Travel Awards, and Middle East’s Leading Beach Destination at the World Travel Awards. The island also won Best Luxury Wedding Destination in the UAE from the Luxury Lifestyle Awards and double Gold at the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards.
Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island was recognised as Middle East’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort and Abu Dhabi’s Leading Family Resort at the World Travel Awards. Jumeirah Saadiyat Island Resort received Best Beach Club from Time Out Abu Dhabi and earned a Michelin Key, while Tean Restaurant achieved Michelin Select recognition.
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club received 59club Global Awards in both Signature and Eminent Collections and collected Gold Flag Destination honours at the 59club MEA Service Excellence Awards.
Marketing and loyalty
Destination marketing and brand campaigns from Yas Island also performed strongly at regional and global award platforms. The Chief Island Officer campaign won Gold at the Effie Awards MENA. Additional Effie and Smarties Awards recognised campaigns including the Shaquille O’Neal collaboration and the Zindagi Ko Yas Bol campaign in India across performance, seasonal and social media categories.
Yas Island’s Annual Pass programme earned Gold awards from MENALAC, the CX and Loyalty Summit and Awards, and the Marketing Society Awards GCC. The destination also received recognition for partnerships and business engagement, including the Strategic Collaboration Partner award at the Fliggy Awards, Best Marketing Destination at the MICE China Awards, and Most Popular Family Destination at the Tongcheng Awards in China.