Disney Announces A New Theme Park And Resort In Abu Dhabi: Disney has just announced some amazing news that’s going to bring a little bit of magic to the Middle East. On Wednesday, Disney revealed plans to build a brand new theme park and resort on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, its seventh global theme park.
A New Chapter for Disney in the UAE
Disney is partnering with Miral, an immersive destination and experiences company, to bring this project to life. Miral will develop and build the park while Disney’s Imagineers will lead the creative design and operational excellence.
Disney won’t be investing capital into the build but their Imagineers will lead the creative design and operational oversight. In return they will get royalties from the park. This is a way for Disney to expand globally without diverting funds from their $60 billion investment in existing parks over the next 10 years.
Bob Iger Shares His Thoughts
Disney CEO Bob Iger spoke with CNBC’s David Faber about the project. “This is a big day for our company as we announce a new Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi,” he said. “This will be our 7th theme park and it will rise from this land in a spectacular way, blending modern architecture with technology to bring guests immersive entertainment in new and modern ways.”
Iger said Imagineers have already started designing the park but didn’t give a opening date. He said the typical timeline is 18-24 months for design and development and 5 years for construction but no commitments have been made at this time.
Why Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi is the perfect location for Disney’s new venture. Strategically located in the UAE, the region has a thriving tourism industry with a third of the world’s population within a 4 hour flight radius. The UAE gets 500 million visitors a year making it an ideal market for Disney’s new attraction.
Disney has been building a presence in the UAE through retail locations and touring entertainment shows like Broadway’s The Lion King and Disney on Ice. Iger said discussions about expanding into the region started as early as 2017 or 2018 but the global pandemic and leadership changes delayed the plans until now.
What Guests Can Expect?
Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, called the new resort “a new frontier in theme park development”. He said the Abu Dhabi location offers something unique: a waterfront setting where Disney can tell their stories in ways never seen before.
The resort will feature themed accommodations, distinctive dining options, and exclusive retail experiences that seamlessly blend Disney’s rich storytelling heritage with Abu Dhabi’s futuristic and cultural essence. D’Amaro hinted that the scale of the project will surpass anything currently available in the region, saying, “It’ll be much larger than anything that’s currently here.”
Yas Island: A Playground of Fun
Yas Island is already a hot spot, with world-class attractions like Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. It also has the Formula 1 Yas Marina Circuit, the biggest mall in Abu Dhabi, and an award-winning golf course. A Disney theme park and resort will cement Yas Island as a global entertainment capital.
A Smart Move for Disney
Disney’s move into Abu Dhabi fits with their overall strategy to grow their experiences division, which accounted for 37% of the company’s total revenue in 2024 and 60% of their operating income. Despite macro headwinds, Disney is confident in their parks and resorts business as seen in their strong Q2 results and robust bookings for Walt Disney World.
“This will reach guests in a whole new part of the world, more families than ever before will get to experience Disney,” D’Amaro said. With this announcement, Disney is positioning itself as a global entertainment leader and introducing their magic to new markets.