Disney Abu Dhabi: The A.I. Princesses We've Imagined Might Be There
Excited that a Disney theme park is opening in Abu Dhabi? We asked Omani A.I. artist and self-proclaimed 'visual poet' Mujahid Jamal (aka Sard Visuals) to reimagine some of our favourite MENA tastemakers as princesses
What happens when the ultimate land of make believe crosses paths with A.I.? We put the question to Mujahid Jamal, asking the Oman based image-maker what he (and artificial intelligence, of course), thought that our very own MENA princesses would look like through a Disney lens. The results? As whimsical as you would imagine.
With a new Disney theme park announced for Yas Island Abu Dhabi, in partnership with His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, there will be plenty of fans waiting for the park doors to open; whether you're young or just young at heart, Disney's fairy dust is still as potent – and as feelgood – as ever.
Razane Jammal as Snow White
'I love Disney for its joyful, iconic soundtracks and how it bonds people together through a collective memory. All it takes is for you to start humming the first few notes of a Disney classic for the person next to you to smile and start singing along. My sister and I used to watch The Lion King on loop and still cry every time Simba loses his father.'
Balqees as Princess Jasmine
'Disney is engraved in our memories and helped pave both the way we think and how we make decisions, based on the characters we grew up with. I was hooked on Pocahontas, Cinderella and, of course, Princess Jasmine who appeals to us as Arabs. People used to say I looked like her with my wide Arabian eyes and long hair.'
Tara Emad as Belle
'My first introduction to Disney was through Aladdin. It felt magic every time I would watch it as a kid and I was completely swept away by every detail in it. I would regularly watch it before bed and to this day it is still my favourite.'
Cynthia Samuel Bakri as Cinderella
'When I first encountered Disney, it felt like I was introduced to enchantment by life itself. It not only fuelled my dreams, but continues to do so today. I deeply appreciate the films from my childhood and the inspiring princesses who embodied kindness, empathy, romance, and strength. I believe these qualities have become integral to my character. Today, I still hold on to the magic of Disney, and I hope my future children will too.'
Mai Omar as Esmerelda
'Disney holds a special place in my heart and always evokes feelings of nostalgia. For me, it's a vacation and an escape from the stressful life we live, into a world of fantasy and magic. Cinderella is one of my all-time favourites – I love the message of the movie which is if you never lose hope and faith, one day you'll be rewarded for enduring. Who knows, you can even become a queen…'
Huda El Mufti as Ariel
'My favourite Disney movie? The Little Mermaid – both old and new versions. I love Disney because I grew up with it, and it has a knack of creating characters that you dream of becoming. When we were little, a fast food restaurant offered a Disney princess video with every family meal – my father use to buy one every Friday so we could all gather infront of the TV and watch it together.'
A.I. Artwork by Mujahid Jamal
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
What's On
15 hours ago
- What's On
Circus 1903 is coming to Dubai for the very first time this June
Roll up! Roll up! Looking for a performance the whole family will enjoy? The critically acclaimed Circus 1903 is coming to Dubai for the very first time this June. Taking place for three-days only, Circus 1903 and it's a dazzling show you don't want to miss. It takes place from June 20 to 22, 2025 with a limited five-show run. And tickets are already on sale on for a starting price of Dhs125. Why you shouldn't miss it? Circus 1903 is by the same creators of The Illusionists, and so you can expect a show packed with plenty of daring acts, and classic thrills. Credit: pmeworld You will teleport back in time to the gold age of circus and watch acrobats, knife throwers, contortionists, high-wire daredevils during this thrilling 90-minute show. In total, 30 world-class performers will take to the stage, leaving you and your little ones with vivid memories. And if your wondering about elephants… Credit: pmeworld Yes, Circus 1903 does feature elephants… but, in the form of life-sized puppetry. It is bought to life by the award-winning puppeteers behind War House. In fact, the show explains itself as 'The Greatest Showman meets War House' in one dazzling treat. Show details: Friday, June 20, 2025 – 7.30pm Saturday, June 21, 2025 – 3.30pm and 7.30pm Sunday, June 22, 2025 – 11am and 3.30pm Ticket prices There are six prize categories to pick from Bronze: Dhs125 Silver: Dhs199 Gold: Dhs299 Diamond: Dhs599 Platinum:Dhs799 VIP (as close as you can get to the stage): Dhs999 Circus 1903, Coca-Cola Arena, Citywalk, Dubai, June 20 to 22, prices from Dhs125, Want more? Disney on Ice – Into The Magic This September, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are heading to Dubai with all of their friends for a performance at Coca-Cola Arena. The Walt Disney characters will take audience members, both young and the… well, not so young, on an expedition across raging seas, snow-covered mountains, and the marigold bridge in Disney On Ice. Expect to see Disney's Moana, Frozen, Coco, and Beauty and the Beast with other beloved Disney characters on ice skates in an action-packed extravaganza. Read more here. > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Khaleej Times
19 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
From Labubus to Disney's Stitch: How UAE cafes create pop culture-inspired merch
From Labubu matcha to Stitch schoolbags, businesses across the UAE are capitalising on popular culture to boost their sales, with today's market often rewarding the fastest to ride trends. MEET Café, a coffee shop situated in Muwaileh, Sharjah, started selling Labubu-style matcha drinks around two weeks ago, and already saw a spike in sales of around 20 to 30 per cent, the founder of the café told Khaleej Times. The Labubu is a trendy plush toy that took the UAE by storm, with some customers lining up for hours to get their hands on them. Ahmed Al Harmoodi, founder of MEET Café, said that the drink became an instant hit, and the coffee shop started seeing more customers by the day. 'The Labubu drink helped attract a large number of new customers, in addition to increasing visits from existing customers who wanted to try the new product,' he said. The café even introduced a loyalty card that, once fully stamped, can get you a free Labubu toy. 'We believe that trend-based promotions can create temporary buzz, but they also present an opportunity to build long-term customer loyalty by offering a high-quality product and a distinctive experience,' Al Harmoodi said. Unexpected bestseller Maryam Hamad, an artist who sells merchandise with her own hand-drawn designs, didn't expect the Disney character Stitch from Lilo & Stitch to be her bestselling item. It all started with a request from one of her customers to create a Stitch-inspired hoodie, and after posting an image of the final product to her Instagram account, orders for other Stitch-inspired merchandise started to pour in. She said even the schoolbags that she usually sells, which have a drawing of a generic boy and girl character, didn't get many orders before her daughter asked for the Disney character to be drawn alongside the original design. Maryam then uploaded a picture of the final product and said that more and more orders started to pour through for the Stitch schoolbags. However, the work and effort put in takes up much of her time, so she sometimes has to opt out of some trends. 'It sometimes takes an entire day to paint, especially Stitch, because the drawing needs to be perfected,' she said. Maryam added that this is why she decided not to upload any 'Labubu' doll products as she knew the demand would be high. 'I already got requests from people to draw the Labubu on different items, especially on wallets for Eid. But because of the pressure, I didn't want to add pictures of it on my Instagram,' she said. Internet sensations Even influencer breakups are not spared from some businesses' marketing efforts. The Lebanese restaurant Allo Beirut uploaded a TikTok post joining in on the 'Thewizardliz' bandwagon. Lize Dzjabrailova, also known as Thewizardliz, recently was in the internet's spotlight after she accused her husband Landon Nickerson of extramarital affairs. Allo Beirut uploaded a TikTok post with the caption 'Landon is NOT allowed to come to Allo Beirut', teasingly referring to the breakup and siding with Lize. This became their most-liked video as of yet on the platform, but whether it gained them more profit is unknown. What is clear, though, is that businesses stand to gain more than just profit when they capitalise on pop culture and trends. 'Trend-based promotions can also create an opportunity [for businesses] to build long-term customer loyalty,' Al Harmoodi said.
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
MAMMA MIA! brings romance, comedy and iconic ABBA music to Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena this week
9 June 2025 00:04 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Book your tickets and pack your bags. You're heading off to an idyllic Greek island wedding, where you'll be treated to romance and comedy - all to the iconic music of 70s supergroup ABBA. That's right, the hit musical MAMMA MIA! is being staged right here at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, in Abu Dhabi from June 11 to by Proactiv Entertainment in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Miral, MAMMA MIA! follows the story of a young woman, Sophie Sheridan, on the verge of marriage, as she tries to uncover the identity of her father. The plot unfolds through a series of interactions between Sophie, her mother Donna, and three men from Donna's past-told through a soundtrack of ABBA's popular cast features Steph Parry as Donna Sheridan and Ellie Kingdon as Sophie. They are joined by Richard Standing (Sam Carmichael), Stuart Reid (Harry Bright) and William Hazell (Father Alexander). The show is directed by Phyllida Lloyd and produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn than 30 cast and crew members will bring the story to life, with music including well-known ABBA songs such as Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, Voulez-Vous, and Thank You for the its debut in London's West End in 1999, MAMMA MIA! has celebrated 25 years of success, captivating more than 65 million people across the 2008, MAMMA MIA! was made into a feature film. The cast included Amanda Seyfried, Dominic Cooper, Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. In 2018, the sequel MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again! was released. The cast included Cher, Lily James, Jeremy Irvine and Hugh Skinner.
