Swathed in thousands of LED lights, this futuristic building by U.S. architects Asymptote is edgy, aerodynamic, and all about spectacle. Straddling Abu Dhabi’s Formula One racetrack, its striking exterior is matched by a seamless white lobby punctuated by plush purple lounge chairs, and a sleek rooftop pool shaded by the building’s glass canopy. The 499 gray and tan guest rooms are just as high tech, with a remote control to operate gadgets and generous bathroom amenities by Ohné. Situated on man-made Yas Island, the hotel is well outside the city, but right in the thick of the island’s US$40-billion development, which counts among its tenants the fire-engine red Ferrari World theme park and a 296,000-square-meter mall. With 14 lounge and dining options, including Levantine restaurant Atayed, Yas is a destination unto itself

Yas Mariner Circuit; 971-2/656-0000; theyashotel.com; doubles from US$490

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