Abu Dhabi's Yas Island Awarded Leading Tourism Development Project in 2009

---

(ABU DHABI, UAE) -- Aldar Properties' new Yas Island leisure and entertainment destination was selected as the World's Leading Tourism Development Project at the World Travel Awards held earlier this week in London.

Launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognize excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry, the World Travel Awards are regarded as one of the highest achievement in the market. Thousands of votes are cast by travel professionals from 183,000 travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organizations in over 160 countries across the globe. Votes are also cast globally by fellow industry professionals in 919 different categories.

Yas Island, surrounded by the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf, was the host venue for the inaugural Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which took place on 1st November. As well as the state-of-the-art Yas Marina Circuit that will host a full calendar of motorsports event throughout the year, Aldar was responsible for the delivery of 7 brand new hotels, the custom made Yas Marina and all the infrastructure and race-related facilities.

The Yas Hotel is the flagship location for Aldar Hotels & Hospitality, a new division that aims to become a significant force in hospitality in the region. The first hotel to span a race track, The Yas Hotel has an extraordinary 5,000 LED panel gridshell that drapes the structure in a vibrant shroud of lights.

Yas Marina, which hosted over 100 yachts across the race weekend, will see the completion of the Yas Yacht Club and retail centre later this year and has already established its place as a major new yachting destination in the region.

A number of new entertainment destinations will also open to the public over the next year.

Yas Links Golf Course, the first of its kind in the region will welcome its first players early in 2010.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi will become the world's largest indoor theme park and the first ever Ferrari theme park in the world when it opens in 2010. The park will host over 20 state-of-the-art attractions, each designed to bring to life a different part of the Ferrari story.

Beyond that a major retail complex, additional leisure parks and residential developments have also been planned for Yas Island.

Commenting on the award, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman of Aldar Properties, said: "It is a great honor that Yas Island has been recognized at the World Travel Awards. This is a fitting reward to everyone who has been responsible for delivering this incredible project. The recent Formula 1TM Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix held at Yas Island was a fantastic showcase of the remarkable evolution that is taking place in Abu Dhabi as part of the 2030 plan spearheaded by the government. With awards for Etihad, ADTA, Emirates Palace, Royal Jet, and Yas Island, it is great demonstration that Abu Dhabi is fast becoming an outstanding, globally recognized and sustainable tourism destination."

---