Disney Is Building A Brand-New, State-Of-The-Art Theme Park In The United Arab Emirates

When people associate the word Disney with a location, the first places to come to mind are usually adorned with palm trees and endless sunshine. Although Disney has expanded its ventures from the U.S. to include both Europe and Asia, the company isn't finished with its global expansion. No, what may come as a surprise to fans of the popular franchise is that a new theme park, the seventh of Disney's resorts, will be making its way to the Middle East. Partnering with development company Miral (which will build, fund, and operate the park), The Walt Disney Company is setting sights on its newest park location on Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates.

The island is already a large hub in the world of entertainment, playing host to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi (featuring the world's fastest rollercoaster), Yas Waterworld, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, and the Formula 1 Yas Marina Circuit, making it an easy choice for Disney's new theme park location. According to Disney CEO Bob Iger in a press release, "This is a thrilling moment for our company as we announce plans to build an exciting Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, whose culture is rich with an appreciation of the arts and creativity. It will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting-edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways."

While specific details about the park and its designs and attractions are still under wraps, early reports suggest that the Abu Dhabi location will differ from Disney's traditional resorts by incorporating advanced technologies and a distinct regional flair. However, the park will still maintain the storytelling magic and illusions that have defined Disney for nearly a century. 

What to know about Disney's Abu Dhabi location

In keeping on theme with Disney magic, Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, detailed that the park will be "showcasing groundbreaking technology and visionary architecture (but also) a modern castle unlike anything we've ever created." According to a press release put out by Disney, aside from unique, technologically advanced rides and incredible designs, upon completion, the park will also "offer signature Disney entertainment, themed accommodations, unique dining and retail experiences, and storytelling in a way that celebrates both the heritage of Disney and the futuristic cultural essence of Abu Dhabi."

The UAE is already a leading tourist destination (as well as a top destination for digital nomads), with its airports seeing one billion passengers pass through between 2015 and 2024. This played a large part in Disney's decision to expand its endeavors to this location, as D'armaro mentioned in a Q&A at the MoffettNathanson Conference that Abu Dhabi sits within a four-hour flight of nearly one-third of the world's population. Yas Island being less than 30 minutes from Abu Dhabi and an hour from Dubai, also makes its location a top choice.

D'Amaro also stated that "this is a crossroads for the world essentially ... The numbers were clear. This is a part of the world we wanted to be operating in." On top of all that, the Abu Dhabi Transport Company recently announced its plans for Abu Dhabi Tram Line 4, which would connect travelers from the airport straight to Yas Island, making access to the parks even easier. In an interview with CNBC, Iger discussed the anticipated timeline for the project. "We're not pinning down a date yet," he said. "It typically takes us between 18 months and two years to design and fully develop, and approximately five years to build, but we're not making any commitments right now." 

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The Walt Disney Company And Miral Announce Plans For Disney Theme Park And Resort On Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

The Walt Disney Company and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, announced an agreement to create a landmark Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The waterfront resort will be located on Yas Island, a world-class destination for entertainment and leisure, connecting travelers from the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond. This seventh Disney theme park resort will combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture.

“Abu Dhabi is a place where heritage meets innovation, where we preserve our past while designing the future,” His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman at Miral, said. “The collaboration between Abu Dhabi and Disney demonstrates the remarkable results of combining visionary leadership and creative excellence. What we are creating with Disney in Abu Dhabi is a whole new world of imagination — an experience that will inspire generations across the region and the world, creating magical moments and memories that families will treasure forever. Through the development of unique attractions and experiences, Abu Dhabi continues to be a destination of choice for the world.”

The new resort will be fully developed and built by Miral. Disney and its legendary Imagineers will lead creative design and operational oversight to provide a world-class experience. Miral, which has developed a number of family entertainment destinations on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in collaboration with American and European brands, will operate the resort.

“This is a thrilling moment for our company as we announce plans to build an exciting Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, whose culture is rich with an appreciation of the arts and creativity,” said Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “As our seventh theme park destination, it will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways. Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati – an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world that will bring to life our timeless characters and stories in many new ways and will become a source of joy and inspiration for the people of this vast region to enjoy for generations to come.”

The UAE is located within a four-hour flight of one-third of the world’s population, making it a significant gateway for tourism. The UAE is home to the largest global airline hub in the world, with 120 million passengers traveling through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year.

“This groundbreaking resort destination represents a new frontier in theme park development,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences. “Our resort in Abu Dhabi will be the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio. The location of our park is incredibly unique – anchored by a beautiful waterfront – which will allow us to tell our stories in completely new ways. This project will reach guests in a whole new part of the world, welcoming more families to experience Disney than ever before. Ultimately, it will be a celebration of what’s possible when creativity and progress come together.”

“Bringing a Disney theme park resort to Yas Island marks a historic milestone in our journey to further advance the island’s position as a global destination for exceptional entertainment and leisure,” said Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO, Miral. “Together, we are creating a place of boundless innovation, where the vision of our leadership continues to inspire the world.” The development of unique experiences will support sustained economic growth in Abu Dhabi and beyond.

Upon completion, the new theme park resort will offer signature Disney entertainment, themed accommodations, unique dining and retail experiences, and storytelling in a way that celebrates both the heritage of Disney and the futuristic and cultural essence of Abu Dhabi.