Race weekend for Russian groups in Dubai

One hour apart, and more inside Russia

Moscow and St Petersburg are on UTC+3. The UAE is on UTC+4 all year and does not change its clocks. In December that means the UAE is one hour ahead of Moscow, so a 09:00 pickup in Dubai is 08:00 on a Moscow phone.

Russia is wide, though, and the gap changes with the city. Yekaterinburg is on UTC+5, so it is one hour ahead of the UAE, and Novosibirsk is on UTC+7, three hours ahead. When one group is made up of friends from several cities, somebody always confuses the time. We write every pickup in UAE local time on the quote, and we suggest you repeat it that way in your own group chat.

Flights from Moscow and what time you land

The flight from Moscow to Dubai is about 5 to 6 hours. Whether there is a direct flight on your date depends on the airline and the day, so check your airline when you book. Departures from Moscow in the evening tend to land in the small hours or early morning in Dubai, which is before most hotels will give you a room.

That matters for race weekend. If your group lands at 04:00 on Thursday 3 December and the first session you want is that afternoon, you have a very short night. Tell us the flight number and we plan the airport pickup at Dubai airport around the real arrival, not the timetable. Larger groups should read our note on big group arrivals at DXB, because passport control with twenty people takes longer than with two.

The drive: Dubai hotel to Yas Marina

Many families and fan groups choose Dubai Marina, JBR, the Palm or Downtown, because the beach, restaurants and shopping are there. The drive to Yas Marina Circuit is the part to plan.

On race day the road is slower, and the last stretch near the circuit slowest of all. The route has Salik gates and the Darb gate at Ghantoot, and both are listed as lines on the written quote, so there is no surprise at the end. Our page on the Dubai to Yas Marina transfer has the day-by-day detail.

Two worked examples

Six friends from Moscow, Dubai Marina hotel

Six adults with cabin bags and a couple of flags fit a Mercedes V-Class with room to spare, or a Sprinter if you also carry a cool bag and jackets. Leave the Marina around 11:00 for a mid-afternoon session, agree one meeting point with the driver at the circuit, and set the return time after you have seen how the crowd is moving. The driver waits for the hours on the quote.

Three families, 22 people, Downtown hotels

A 30-seater mini coach collects from two hotels, and every family keeps its own stroller space at the back. Because Downtown is further than the Marina, we pencil in an earlier start. If the group splits on Sunday, with some staying for the podium and others heading back with young children, we can add a second smaller vehicle for the early leavers. Tell us at the start that you expect a split, since it is simpler to quote than to rearrange on the day.

Writing the pickup note in Russian

Our drivers work in English, and we do not claim otherwise. What we can do is take a written briefing in Russian from you and translate the pickup note, so the driver gets the hotel name, the entrance, the passenger count, the flight number and your phone number in clear English.

The details worth putting in that note: the exact hotel entrance, because many Dubai resorts have two; a mobile number that works on a UAE SIM or roaming; the name the driver should look for at arrivals; and whether the group includes anyone who needs more time getting into the vehicle. If you would like the final confirmation in a message you can show to friends, ask and we send it plainly.

Winter coats, flags and the Grand Prix then GITEX

Travellers from Russia arrive in December with winter coats, and the Dubai afternoon is warm. A coat folded in a bag takes up room, so tell us the number of bags and any large items such as flags on poles or a folding chair. A 13-seater van with the back row removed for luggage is a different booking from a van with every seat used.

Some people also plan to stay for the technology show. The race ends on Sunday 6 December and GITEX Global opens on Tuesday 8 December at Expo City Dubai, which leaves Monday free. If that is you, read Grand Prix weekend then GITEX week and ask for one quote that covers both. Coaches for larger parties are described on the 30-seater mini coach and 50-seater coach pages.

Entry rules and tickets

We do not give visa advice. Entry rules change, so check with your airline and the official UAE immigration sources (ICP or GDRFA) before you book flights. We also do not sell race tickets. Buy them from the official channels and check the official schedule for session times, because we cannot confirm start times for you.

Send us the details for a fixed quote

Send the dates, the number of people, the hotel area, your flight numbers and how many bags you carry. We reply with a fixed written quote that lists the vehicle, the hours, Salik and Darb tolls, and the pickup times in UAE local time. Start on the booking form. To compare vehicle types first, see the Sprinter and the bus rental price guide.

Related: Dubai to Yas Marina · Grand Prix then GITEX · Grand Prix chauffeur from Dubai · Big group arrival at DXB · Get a quote

Keep reading

• Grand Prix from Dubai, Kenya: Race weekend transport from Dubai for Kenyan families and friends.
• Grand Prix from Dubai for India visitors: A Dubai base and a race day at Yas Marina for Indian families and groups.
• Grand Prix chauffeur from Dubai: A private car and driver from your Dubai hotel to Yas Marina Circuit and back: timing, cars and the late return.
• Grand Prix from Dubai for Saudi visitors: A Dubai base and a race day at Yas Marina for Saudi families and groups.
• Grand Prix then GITEX: Plan one visit around the Grand Prix and GITEX Global.
• Dubai to Yas Marina: Private transfer from Dubai hotels to Yas Marina Circuit.