Yas Island

Yas is a leisure island with neighbourhoods on it, in that order. The circuit, the theme parks, the mall, the arena and the links course came first, and the residential enclaves — apartments on the water, townhouses, villas backing the golf — were placed around them. Residents get amenity no other Abu Dhabi community can match, plus quick access to the airport and the Dubai road. Two things to weigh against that. Event weekends belong to the island, and the Grand Prix in particular brings road closures, crowds and a long build-up; residents either enjoy it or plan around it. And the enclaves are separate pockets rather than one connected neighbourhood, so day-to-day life means driving between them, and street-level retail outside the mall is limited. It suits families who value what is on the island and do not need to be on the main island every day.