Latest news with #MohamedAlZaabi
Time Out Abu Dhabi
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi's new ride will break four world records
Buckle up, thrill-seekers – Abu Dhabi's iconic Ferrari World is about to unleash a record-breaking roller coaster that promises to shake up the global theme park scene. According to developer Miral (the company behind the island's mega attractions, including the upcoming Disney Abu Dhabi), this jaw-dropping new ride will set four world records. Yes, four. Roller coaster fans, this one's for you. Mohamed Al Zaabi, group chief executive of Miral, said to reporters during the recent Arabian Travel Market that the new 'significant and signature ride in Ferrari World will have four records worldwide and roller coaster fans will be very excited to hear that news soon'. But that's just the beginning of the Yas Island glow-up. Over at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, two brand-new signature rides are being added to the roster and phase two of Yas Waterworld's big expansion is making waves with 12 new rides dropping this summer. If your summer plans weren't sorted yet, they are now. Looking even further into the future, a Disney theme park was just announced. As well as being the most advanced version yet, it's also expected to boost house prices in the area and create thousands of jobs. Talk about a glow-up. Theme park visits alone surged 20 percent last year, helping drive Yas Island to a whopping 38 million visits. Hotels are also smashing it – occupancy hit 82 percent, with guests staying longer and shelling out more. The average hotel rate jumped 17 percent and Miral is now planning to add 30 percent more hotel rooms over the next five years to keep up with demand. Culture lovers, you're in luck too. Over on Saadiyat Island, The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is on track to wrap up construction by the end of the year and teamLab Phenomena has already been pulling in crowds. Still to come? The hotly anticipated Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Oh and for Potterheads: work on the magical Harry Potter attraction inside Warner Bros. World is underway – so hold on to your broomsticks. This all feeds into Abu Dhabi's ambitious Tourism Strategy 2030, which aims to pull in nearly 40 million visitors a year, create 178,000 new jobs and contribute Dhs90 billion to the local economy. With 1.4 million overnight guests already clocked in Q1 2025 alone and hotel revenues surging to Dhs2.3 billion, the capital is cruising toward its goals. From blockbuster rides and cultural icons to next-level hotel stays, Yas Island is fast becoming a destination where you can do it all – and then some. More in Abu Dhabi… Everything happening in Abu Dhabi in 2025 From new openings to big events, this is shaping up to be quite a year It's official: Abu Dhabi Comedy Season is returning for a second edition with some huge names Wow, look at this line-up The 2025 concert line-up in Abu Dhabi just keeps getting better and better So many big names coming to the capital
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
New Disney theme park to be fully indoors – and could open in seven years
DISNEY'S new theme park that could open by the early 2030s - and will be fully indoors in a first for the brand. This week The Walt Disney company announced that it will be opening a seventh park and resort on Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates. 7 The park will be created by immersive destination and experiences company Miral and will feature accommodations, unique dining experiences, retail opportunities and integrated storytelling throughout. However, the park will be completely indoors - a first for Disney. Miral Group CEO Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi told a local radio station, the Dubai Eye, that the park will be indoors. He said: "As you know, all of are theme parks are indoors." Miral is the owner of Yas Island, where all the other attractions are indoors. Temperatures often surpass 37C in the Emirates and even 48C in the peak summer season. As a result, parks in the country that are outdoors often have to close when it is too hot. And Disney imagineers have already started to design the park. The park will be located on Yas Island, which is a hub of entertainment and retail experiences. It is already home to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterwold, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. Let Kevin Hart show you around Yas Island, the world's biggest indoor theme park The Formula 1 Yas Marina Circuit is also on Yas Island and the area hosts Abu Dhabi's largest mall and an award-winning golf course. Al Zaabi also shared that the new Disney park would be the most advanced in the portfolio. He commented: "I would say it's too early to share details about the design, but I will say it'll be the most advanced Disney theme park in the world. "Expect local tech companies to be involved, as well as Disney's experience from around the world. "It's a resort, so it'll include many features and so many elements." Abu Dhabi has developed heat management tech, for example, in March the capital unveiled what it dubbed as the world's first air-conditioned street, reports Skift. In Dubai, a resort has also claimed to have built the first outdoor street where it can make rain on command. When Al Zaabi was asked whether Yas Island would have to be expanded to fit a Disney park, he couldn't give a firm answer. 7 "That will be considered. There will be an upgrade to services and infrastructure," he said. Disney Parks chairperson Josh D'Amro said, in an interview on CNBC that Miral will fully fund this project, including eventually operating it with oversight from Disney. Disney CEO Bob Iger, said: "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." Iger added that they do not yet have a pinned date for the opening of the park, as it usually takes "between 18 months and two years to design and dully develop and approximately five years to build", reports CNBC. So this means the park could open in around seven years, following the design and building. 7 7 Disney has slowly been entering the UAE in recent years, with retail locations and touring entertainment show sin particular. Iger told CNBC that the company firsts tarted considering the region for a new resort back in 2017/2018. D'Amaro shared that the "groundbreaking" resort destination represents "a new frontier in theme park development". He added that the resort will be the most advanced and interactive destination in the portfolio. He said: "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." Here's ev erything we know about the park so far. Plus, the small English castle with ancient woodlands that people say looks just like a Disney film. 7
Skift
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Skift
'Disney Will Be Indoors': Abu Dhabi Developer Confirms Plan for New Theme Park
Many visitors to a Disney park will know the magic of walking down that path towards the castle. In Abu Dhabi, it'll have to be indoors. Disneyland Abu Dhabi was announced on Wednesday, and one big question Skift had about the project was how it would manage heat. The answer is that it will be Disney's first indoor theme park. Miral Group CEO Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi told local radio station Dubai Eye that the park would be indoors. "Disney will be indoors," he said Thursday. "As you know, all of our theme parks are indoors." Miral is a local developer in Abu Dhabi and the owner of Yas Island, the location of the eventual Disney park and many other attractions. Its other parks, all indoors, include Ferrari World, SeaWorld, and Warner Bros World. Disney has other parks in hot climates, such as Orlando, but the emirate is on another level. Temperatures often surpass 100°F in the emirates, and can even reach 120°F in the summer months. Many outdoor parks in the country, such as Global Village in Dubai, have to close during these hotter periods. Al Zaabi explained that this Disney would be the most advanced in the portfolio. "I would say it's too early to share details about the design, but I will say it'll be the most advanced Disney theme park in the world. Expect local tech companies to be involved, as well as Disney's experience from around the world. It's a resort, so it'll include so many features and so many elements.' On the topic of heat management, Abu Dhabi does have some tech. In March this year, the capital unveiled what it dubbed the world's first air-conditioned street. In Dubai, a resort claims to have built the first outdoor street where it can make rain on command. Asked whether Yas Island would have to be expanded to fit a Disney park, Al Zaabi couldn't give a firm answer. 'That will be considered. There will be an upgrade to services and infrastructure,' he said. 'Miral will fully fund this project. They will build the project…. And then ultimately, when it's fully built out, they'll operate it, with oversight from us,' said Disney Parks chairperson Josh D'Amaro in an interview on CNBC when the project was unveiled. No timeline or budget has been given for the project yet, but Disney chief Bob Iger told CNBC that once construction begins, it would take at least five years.
Trade Arabia
30-04-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Yas Island records over 38 million visits in 2024
Miral has announced record-breaking visitation numbers across Yas Island and Saadiyat Island in 2024, reflecting strong year-on-year growth and reinforcing Abu Dhabi's global positioning as a leading tourism destination. Unveiled at Arabian Travel Market 2025, Yas Island recorded over 38 million visits in 2024, a 10 per cent increase over 2023. Hotel occupancy reached 82 per cent, peaking at 905 in August, with a 9 percent year-on-year increase and a 17 per cent rise in average daily rate. Saadiyat Island also achieved a 10 per cent increase in hotel and museum visitation, reported WAM. Dr Mohamed Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, said the performance reflects the company's alignment with Abu Dhabi's Tourism Strategy and its focus on sustainable growth and economic diversification. 'These results highlight the strength of our strategic partnerships and our ongoing commitment to elevating Abu Dhabi's global appeal,' he said. Yas Island's theme parks and CLYMB recorded a 20 per cent rise in visitation, with GCC traffic up 56 percent and international visits up 40 per cent, driven by growth from India (44 per cent), China (81 per cent), the UK (40 per cent) and Russia (29 per cent). Attendance at consumer events rose 10 per cent, supported by a year-round calendar of concerts and shows including Hamilton, UFC, Formula 1, NBA, Disney on Ice and the Wireless Festival. Business tourism also grew, with a 17 per cent increase in events and a 7 per cent rise in room nights. To support this growth, Miral unveiled the Yas Island Metaverse project in collaboration with e& enterprise, offering virtual experiences of the destination's venues and attractions. Saadiyat Island achieved 74 per cent hotel occupancy in 2024 and a 14 percent rise in ADR. Key source markets included the UK (11 per cent growth), India (30 per cent) and China (58 per cent), reinforcing the island's positioning as a cultural and leisure destination. Upcoming openings include a 16,900 sqm expansion of Yas Waterworld in summer 2025, featuring 12 new rides, and a 560m beachfront development at Yas Bay. Warner Bros. World Yas Island will expand with DC attractions, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and two new rides. Saadiyat Island's cultural offerings were bolstered by the launch of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi on 18th April and the upcoming Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, set to be the region's largest when completed by the end of 2025. In 2024, Yas Island received over 175 global awards, while Saadiyat Island earned more than 20, cementing its status as the Middle East's leading beach destination. Miral, which manages Yas Island and leads Saadiyat Island's destination strategy, continues to support Abu Dhabi's Tourism Strategy 2030, which aims to attract 39.3 million visitors annually, create 178,000 jobs and contribute AED90 billion to the national GDP.
The National
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi to get new 'record-breaking' ride as more attractions planned at Yas Island
Theme park Ferrari World Abu Dhabi will soon add a new 'record-breaking' roller-coaster ride, with the wider Yas Island set to get another three new attractions amid growing demand, the chief executive of operator Miral has said. The 'significant and signature ride in Ferrari World will have four records worldwide and roller coaster fans will be very excited to hear that news soon', Mohamed Al Zaabi, group chief executive of Miral, told reporters on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai on Tuesday. 'Two more attractions will be added to Warner Brothers and both will be signature rides,' he said. Yas Island had more than 38 million visits last year, marking an annual growth of 10 per cent, and a 20 per cent growth in theme park visits. Occupancy at hotels in Yas Island reached about 82 per cent through the year, marking a 9 per cent annual increase, he said. Average daily rates at the hotels rose 17 per cent. The average guest stay is about 1.9 nights, but efforts are on to increase that. Mr Al Zaabi said that '2024 was an exceptional year, we have broken all our records'. 'And with the current demand of tourists coming from around the world, we believe that the current number of hotels and rooms are not enough. So, we think that in coming five years, we will increase the number of rooms by at least 30 per cent,' he added. The plan is to expand Warner Bros themed hotel, with more details to be provided shortly. The executive also confirmed that phase two of the expansion of Yas Waterworld is progressing, with the first phase, which will include 12 new rides and experiences, set to open this summer. Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is also on track for completion by the end of the year, although Mr Al Zaabi did not disclose the opening date. Work was also moving 'at the right pace' on the Harry Potter-themed attraction in Warner Bros Abu Dhabi, he said. Abu Dhabi welcomed 1.4 million overnight guests in the first quarter of the year, with hotels generating Dh2.3 billion ($626.2 million) in revenue, marking an 18 per cent annual increase, the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) said this week. Hotel occupancy stood at 79 per cent across the emirate during the period, with revenue per available room reaching Dh484, a 25 per cent year-on-year increase. Abu Dhabi's tourism sector 'is on track' to reach its target of contributing Dh62 billion to the economy in 2025, a 13 per cent increase from 2024, supporting 255,000 jobs across the emirate during the year, the DCT said. The emirate's Tourism Strategy 2030 aims to attract 39.3 million visitors annually, support the creation of 178,000 new tourism jobs, expand hotel capacity to 50,000 rooms, and contribute Dh90 billion to the emirate's gross domestic product by the end of the decade. The addition of new attractions is aimed at boosting tourism growth, with teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, which was recently opened at Saadiyat Cultural District, already seeing better than anticipated visitation, Mr Al Zaabi said. This year, Zayed National Museum is set to open on the island, with Guggenheim Abu Dhabi also 'on track' for completion, according to the DCT. Mr Al Zaabi stressed that despite increasing competition from Dubai and neighbouring Saudi Arabia, demand from tourists would keep growing. 'I have not seen any competition that cannibalised or had negative impact in others worldwide,' he said. 'I believe that the GCC will be an international hub. We will have more than 800 airport gates … Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, they're all one hour far from each other … Tourists will come to enjoy different experiences.' Travelling habits have also changed, he said. 'Those who used to travel once every three years, now they travel once a year or even twice, the customer has changed,' Mr Al Zaabi told The National. He said there is greater availability of airline and seats, resulting in 'more options'. 'Visas have also become much easier … We have seen that people tend to travel more and more,' added Mr Al Zaabi.
