Latest news with #MohamedAlZaabi
Forbes
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Disneyland Abu Dhabi Would 'Never Work' Outdoors Says Park Boss
Disneyland Abu Dhabi looks set to be at least partly indoors The operator of Disneyland Abu Dhabi has put an end to months of speculation by confirming that the upcoming theme park would "never work" outdoors. Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be developed and run by Miral, the Abu Dhabi government-backed leisure operator behind the region's leading theme parks – Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld and Ferrari World. These three parks on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island hold their own against the best in the business even though all of them are indoors due to the scorching hot climate where summer temperatures soar above 110 degrees. "We know from our experience that an outdoor theme park would never work," said Miral's trailblazing chief executive Mohamed Al Zaabi in a revealing interview with the the Middle East's local edition of Forbes. It will be a first for Disney as all of its other theme parks are largely outdoors. In contrast, it is familiar territory for Al Zaabi as he is an industry pioneer. As he explained in a LinkedIn post about the Forbes Middle East feature, 'everything we do here, we do differently.' He added that he is 'proud to see Yas Island becoming the capital of theme parks in the world; a true global destination that continues to attract the most iconic international IPs, and now the future home of Disneyland Abu Dhabi. This recognition is a testament to Abu Dhabi's visionary leadership and the unwavering dedication of the Miral team.' Al Zaabi told Forbes Middle East "we know for sure that Disney will be hybrid, it will be indoor and outdoor. At this stage, it is too early to decide, but I reckon a good percentage of it will be indoor." This follows the model of some of Miral's existing attractions such as Ferrari World where the outdoor roller coasters cover a footprint which is almost as large as the park itself. Summer temperatures in Abu Dhabi typically pass 110 degrees each day (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP ... More via Getty Images) Zipping around outside on a roller coaster is one of the best ways to beat the heat in Abu Dhabi which billows from all angles like it is coming from a huge hairdryer. Often it isn't even possible to cool down with fans which spray mist as the water warms up the moment it hits the air. In winter, it can hit 90 degrees but that's nothing compared to summer. Over the past week alone it has been more than 100 at night in nearby Dubai with humidity of more than 70%. During the day the mercury regularly soars above 110 in Abu Dhabi giving it a 'feels like' temperature of more than 130. To put that into context, at Walt Disney World in Orlando the National Weather Service only issues "excessive heat warnings" when it feels like more than 113 degrees. In Abu Dhabi and Dubai the sidewalk can get so hot that it melts shoes causing soles to get ripped off when they stick to the floor. It can be a particular problem in the region's many water parks as the pathways are often so hot that it stings to walk on them bare foot which is why some operators give complimentary aqua socks to all visitors. To beat the summer heat, Miral is keeping its Yas Waterworld park open until at least 9PM every day until the end of August. The park recently swung open the doors to a new expansion which is purpose-built for late night operations with tiny lights under the handrails. Sun loungers are also lined up under the artificial fort at the heart of the park and a new restaurant has indoor seating. Al Zaabi told Gulf News that Miral 'tailored and designed this on feedback we received from our customers.' This has all contributed to Miral becoming known as the world's leading operator of indoor theme parks and its specialism has paid off. As this author reported in the local Khaleej Times newspaper, Warner Bros. World is the first theme park in the Middle East to appear on the Global Attractions Attendance report with 1.8 million visitors streaming through its turnstiles in 2023. In turn, this has had a magic touch on Yas Island's hotels. Yas Island's hotels, including the iconic W, are experiencing high occupancy (Photo by Clive Mason - ... More Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images) Talking at the Hotel Show 2025 in May, Paul Fanning, Miral's executive director of asset management, said that last year 'average occupancy for 12 months was 83%. In the summer it was 82% and in August 2024 we were at 90% occupancy in our hotels which is a pretty staggering number and really shows that we have turned that around completely so now we are a year-round destination. Now of course it helps when you have covered theme parks.' Bearing that in mind, it is completely logical that Disneyland Abu Dhabi will follow its counterparts and won't be outdoors. However, there has been a cloud of uncertainty over this from the moment that the park was announced in May as as the concept art of it looked like it was uncovered. Seemingly endorsing an outdoor format, Disney's chief executive Bob Iger told CNBC that "we're not talking about anything small or anything in a box" and added that 'this will be a significant theme park that we're putting here.' Al Zaabi then told the DubaiEye radio station that his 'priority is to create convenient and unique customer experiences for our guests. We really want them to enjoy their time and have the best experience here in Abu Dhabi. And it has to be as convenient as we can. As you know, we have done all our theme parks indoor. So Disney will be an indoor theme park.' This was initially reported by hospitality trade title Skift which was picked up on the same day by The Sun, one of Britain's most widely-read newspapers. That brought it to the attention of a string of theme park fan websites such as Inside The Magic and WDW News Today. Sources inside Miral later explained that Al Zaabi wasn't referring to the whole park when he told DubaiEye that "Disney will be an indoor theme park." The radio station has since edited that comment out of its interview but it's what actually happens that really counts. Disney's theme parks are designed by its Imagineers who are named after their imaginative use of engineering. Their head office is in Glendale, California, which is where the parks are usually designed. Al Zaabi recently posted on Instagram that he has visited the office but it seems far more important for Imagineering to spend more time in Abu Dhabi. In his recent interview with Forbes Middle East, Al Zaabi said that the Disney team only made its first visit to Abu Dhabi in 2024. "For some of them, it was their first time ever to visit this region," he added. They may need to spend much more time there than that in order to get a true sense of the scale of the hurdle they are up against with the climate. Some observers have suggested that it gets hot in Orlando and that doesn't prevent Walt Disney World from being outdoors so why does the park in Abu Dhabi need to be indoors? That is like saying that Disneyland Paris is outdoors and it snows there so why not build an outdoor park in Iceland. It does indeed get hot in Orlando but not on a par with Abu Dhabi and if the parks weren't indoors there they wouldn't be viable. Temperatures in Orlando are usually lower than Abu Dhabi (Photo byfor ... More Disney Dreamers Academy) Given how many hours visitors spend walking from ride to ride at a Disney park, with some guests doing it in a mobility scooter, it could be extremely dangerous if Disneyland Abu Dhabi was outdoors. Some dedicated Disney fans make a point of visiting all of its parks and Miral would not want even one of them to suffer in the brutal heat which is precisely why Al Zaabi said that 'an outdoor theme park would never work.' Guests are in safe hands with him. The INSEAD-educated manager began his 25-year career in business working for the UAE government before switching to ALDAR Properties, Abu Dhabi's biggest listed property developer where he rose to the role of director of strategic investment. This gave him high-level experience of the role that real estate plays at the heart of the UAE's economy and it also brought him into contact with Mohamed Al Mubarak, the chairman of Miral and Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT). A graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, Al Mubarak is one of Abu Dhabi's most prominent business figures having been chief executive of ALDAR before becoming chairman of the DCT where he has turned the city into a global cultural powerhouse. His pioneering approach brought the Louvre to Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island cultural district with a Guggenheim, a Natural History Museum and a National Museum also under construction. As this author has reported, they all played a key role in convincing Disney to plant its flag in Abu Dhabi. However, it wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for Al Zaabi's vision of making Yas Island a hub for the world's leading theme parks. Disney is the crown jewel but it will still follow the same model as the other parks with Miral funding, developing and building it. This is very different to Disney's model in the United States which sees it designing, developing and owning its parks. If Disney wants to build an outdoor park in the U.S. then that's what it does. In contrast, Miral is calling the shots in Abu Dhabi and the end result should be all the better for it as the company is the region's foremost theme park expert. This is one of the reasons Disney chose it and now it has to take its advice on board which is thankfully exactly what seems to be happening. Al Zaabi recently told Gulf News that regular workshops are already taking place between Disney and Miral's development teams so clearly The Mouse isn't going it alone. Ultimately, if the park ends up being "in a box" as Iger put it, it doesn't actually matter. As Iger knows, just like the soundstages where movies are made, it's not what they look like from the outside but what happens inside that counts. Of course, just because the park isn't outdoors, that doesn't mean it has to be in a box-shaped building. As this author reported, there is evidence to suggest that Disneyland Abu Dhabi could be located inside an eye-catching series of spheres as were planned for California's Port Disney project. Developing a park which isn't outdoors will also enable Disney to create attractions which aren't possible at its usual parks. The Disneyland Abu Dhabi concept art showed that it will be home to a shimmering crystalline castle similar to the one in Disney's hit animated film Frozen. The film has already featured in several Disney rides but none have been set inside an actual snowy environment which would be possible in an indoor park. As this author has reported, indoor snow parks are highly popular in the Middle East and are one of the few genres of attraction which aren't already on Yas Island. Snow parks such as Snow Abu Dhabi are very popular in the United Arab Emirates (Photo by GIUSEPPE ... More CACACE/AFP via Getty Images) An indoor setting will also give Disney the flexibility it requires for its usual park format which can involve afternoon parades taking place in the summer between midday and 3PM. This wouldn't legally be possible if Disneyland Abu Dhabi was outdoors as the government imposes a ban on work under direct sunlight and in open-air spaces between 12:30PM and 3:00PM, from June 15 to September 15. An indoor park would make Disney's nightly fireworks displays more difficult to pull off though transparent spheres could address that. Likewise, an outdoor lagoon surrounded by air-conditioned corridors would give Yas Island the platform for a much-needed regular night time spectacular. Air-conditioned corridors are far from fantasy as Dubai recently announced that it will build 6,500 kilometers of them to ensure that 80% of residents can access essential services within a 20-minute commute. The city has already figured out a way to ease the strain on pedestrians as one of the main sidewalks leading up to the world's biggest waterpark on Dubai's palm-shaped island is lined with a rubbery red surface so that walking isn't stressful on your heels. Perhaps the best indication of the potential for Disneyland Abu Dhabi is that Dubai's Expo 2020, which featured theme park-quality pavilions, pulled in a staggering 24 million visitors during its six-month run. Although the site was largely outdoors it was held in the cooler months from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022. If it had been held indoors and had run for the entire year it could have cast an even more powerful spell. Miral really does have everything to play for.
The National
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
'Enough space' on Yas Island for one new attraction a year
Yas Waterworld has unveiled its largest upgrade since opening more than a decade ago, adding more than 20 attractions and an indoor dining restaurant across 13,445 square metres in phase two of its development. Mohamed Al Zaabi, group chief executive of Miral, says the team are 'proud and excited' about the expansion. 'It's designed for and caters to all family members. We'd love to see a dad with his son racing each other and playing and enjoying their time here,' he tells The National. The waterpark remains popular among both tourists and residents, with Al Zaabi pointing to a spike in summer visitation that reflects Yas Island's overall growth in recent years. In 2024, the destination recorded more than 38 million visits – a 10 per cent annual increase, and a 20 per cent rise in theme park attendance. The top three visitor markets to Yas Waterworld during this period were Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with travellers also coming from India, China, the UK and Germany. Although the UAE isn't traditionally seen as a peak travel destination in summer – with many families heading abroad during the hotter months – the numbers suggest that trend may be shifting. This is not the first time Miral has launched a major theme park during the summer: Warner Bros World in July 2018, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi in May 2023 and now the Yas Waterworld expansion. Originally opened in 2013, the waterpark pays tribute to Emirati culture and heritage. Its theme is based on The Legend of the Lost Pearl, an original story about a young Emirati girl searching for a mythical pearl that once brought prosperity to her village. The latest phase continues this narrative with a 'lost city' setting, brought to life through rides such as Bahamut Rage, a log flume ride with a 15-metre drop, and Al Daloob, the region's first barrel twist raft ride designed for three people. 'We want people, when they come to UAE, to see the flavour of our culture, of our heritage. Here in Yas Island, we have done this at Yas Waterworld and SeaWorld, wherever we can,' says Al Zaabi. The road to opening hasn't been without setbacks. A major fire broke out at the park in March, raising concerns about whether the new area would be completed on time. 'It was an unfortunate incident. I'm very glad there were no injuries,' says Al Zaabi. 'We give credit to emergency services here in Abu Dhabi, who acted very fast to control it, and to the health and safety team at Miral. With all that, yet we open on time.' The expansion marks another step in Yas Island's aim to become a go-to spot for leisure and family fun. Each new feature adds to its variety, drawing in more visitors. 'We have very clear strategy: to build Yas Island as one of the top family entertainment destinations in the world where people come to enjoy different experiences,' says Al Zaabi. The announcement of Disneyland Abu Dhabi is a prime example of this vision. The landmark project signals a new era for not just for the UAE capital, but also the wider region's theme park and tourism industry. 'We're very, very proud of this achievement. It's a reflection of how successful Abu Dhabi is to attract an international [entertainment resort] like Disney,' says Al Zaabi. 'Disney has been looking to expand and open a new theme park in this region and Abu Dhabi successfully managed to be selected.' He adds that there aren't many places in the world that offer multiple international theme parks all within a five-minute drive of each other, along with hotels for all budgets. And the work isn't done yet. As part of a long-term strategy, Miral has set out a 10-year plan to try and add at least one new attraction to Yas Island every year. The aim is to ensure that returning visitors always have something fresh to discover. While many are eagerly awaiting updates on Disneyland Abu Dhabi, Al Zaabi says Miral and Disney are still in the design and development phase. With further developments on the horizon, a natural question is whether there will be enough space for it in the coming years. 'Yes, there is enough space. We have a land bank,' says Al Zaabi, referring to undeveloped land set aside for future use. Lightshow announces launch of Disneyland Abu Dhabi – video While he acknowledges the significance of adding Disney to the portfolio, Al Zaabi says Yas Island has built its reputation through the steady rollout of theme parks, attractions and leisure offerings over the past decade. The partnership, he says, reflects years of strategic development aimed at putting Yas Island on the global map. Al Zaabi adds: 'Closing that deal is just a reflection of Abu Dhabi's success to be a tourism international hub and, of course, Yas Island's vision over the last 16 years of building such a destination.'
The National
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Disneyland Abu Dhabi: Yas Island to soon have five theme parks within a five-minute drive
Yas Waterworld has unveiled its largest upgrade since opening more than a decade ago, adding more than 20 attractions and an indoor dining restaurant across 13,445 square metres in phase two of its development. Mohamed Al Zaabi, group chief executive of Miral, says the team are 'proud and excited' about the expansion. "It's designed for and caters to all family members. We'd love to see a dad with his son racing each other and playing and enjoying their time here," he tells The National. The waterpark remains popular among both tourists and residents, with Al Zaabi pointing to a spike in summer visitation that reflects Yas Island's overall growth in recent years. In 2024, the destination recorded more than 38 million visits – a 10 per cent annual increase, and a 20 per cent rise in theme park attendance. The top three visitor markets to Yas Waterworld during this period were Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with travellers also coming from India, China, the UK and Germany. Although the UAE isn't traditionally seen as a peak travel destination in summer – with many families heading abroad during the hotter months – the numbers suggest that trend may be shifting. This is not the first time Miral has launched a major theme park during the summer: Warner Bros World in July 2018, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi in May 2023 and now the Yas Waterworld expansion. Originally opened in 2013, the waterpark pays tribute to Emirati culture and heritage. Its theme is based on The Legend of the Lost Pearl, an original story about a young Emirati girl searching for a mythical pearl that once brought prosperity to her village. The latest phase continues this narrative with a 'lost city' setting, brought to life through rides such as Bahamut Rage, a log flume ride with a 15-metre drop, and Al Daloob, the region's first barrel twist raft ride designed for three people. 'We want people, when they come to UAE, to see the flavour of our culture, of our heritage. Here in Yas Island, we have done this at Yas Waterworld and SeaWorld, wherever we can,' says Al Zaabi. The road to opening hasn't been without setbacks. A major fire broke out at the park in March, raising concerns about whether the new area would be completed on time. 'It was an unfortunate incident. I'm very glad there were no injuries,' says Al Zaabi. 'We give credit to emergency services here in Abu Dhabi, who acted very fast to control it, and to the health and safety team at Miral. With all that, yet we open on time.' The expansion marks another step in Yas Island's aim to become a go-to spot for leisure and family fun. Each new feature adds to its variety, drawing in more visitors. 'We have very clear strategy: to build Yas Island as one of the top family entertainment destinations in the world where people come to enjoy different experiences,' says Al Zaabi. The announcement of Disneyland Abu Dhabi is a prime example of this vision. The landmark project signals a new era for not just for the UAE capital, but also the wider region's theme park and tourism industry. 'We're very, very proud of this achievement. It's a reflection of how successful Abu Dhabi is to attract an international IP like Disney,' says Al Zaabi. 'Disney has been looking to expand and open a new theme park in this region and Abu Dhabi successfully managed to be selected.' He adds that there aren't many places in the world that offer five international theme parks all within a five-minute drive of each other, along with hotels for all budgets. And the work isn't done yet. As part of a long-term strategy, Miral has set out a 10-year plan to add at least one new attraction to Yas Island every year. The aim is to ensure that returning visitors always have something fresh to discover. While many are eagerly awaiting updates on Disneyland Abu Dhabi, Al Zaabi says Miral and Disney are still in the design and development phase. With further developments on the horizon, a natural question is whether there will be enough space for it in the coming years. 'Yes, there is enough space. We have a land bank,' says Al Zaabi, referring to undeveloped land set aside for future use. Lightshow announces launch of Disneyland Abu Dhabi - video While he acknowledges the significance of adding Disney to the portfolio, Al Zaabi says Yas Island has built its reputation through the steady rollout of theme parks, attractions and leisure offerings over the past decade. The partnership, he says, reflects years of strategic development aimed at putting Yas Island on the global map. Al Zaabi adds: 'Closing that deal is just a reflection of Abu Dhabi's success to be a tourism international hub and, of course, Yas Island's vision over the last 16 years of building such a destination.'
The National
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Yas Island to launch one new attraction every year
Yas Waterworld has unveiled its largest upgrade since opening more than a decade ago, adding more than 20 attractions and an indoor dining restaurant across 13,445 square metres in phase two of its development. Mohamed Al Zaabi, group chief executive of Miral, says the team are 'proud and excited' about the expansion. "It's designed for and caters to all family members. We'd love to see a dad with his son racing each other and playing and enjoying their time here," he tells The National. The waterpark remains popular among both tourists and residents, with Al Zaabi pointing to a spike in summer visitation that reflects Yas Island's overall growth in recent years. In 2024, the destination recorded more than 38 million visits – a 10 per cent annual increase, and a 20 per cent rise in theme park attendance. The top three visitor markets to Yas Waterworld during this period were Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with travellers also coming from India, China, the UK and Germany. Although the UAE isn't traditionally seen as a peak travel destination in summer – with many families heading abroad during the hotter months – the numbers suggest that trend may be shifting. This is not the first time Miral has launched a major theme park during the summer: Warner Bros World in July 2018, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi in May 2023 and now the Yas Waterworld expansion. Originally opened in 2013, the waterpark pays tribute to Emirati culture and heritage. Its theme is based on The Legend of the Lost Pearl, an original story about a young Emirati girl searching for a mythical pearl that once brought prosperity to her village. The latest phase continues this narrative with a 'lost city' setting, brought to life through rides such as Bahamut Rage, a log flume ride with a 15-metre drop, and Al Daloob, the region's first barrel twist raft ride designed for three people. 'We want people, when they come to UAE, to see the flavour of our culture, of our heritage. Here in Yas Island, we have done this at Yas Waterworld and SeaWorld, wherever we can,' says Al Zaabi. The road to opening hasn't been without setbacks. A major fire broke out at the park in March, raising concerns about whether the new area would be completed on time. 'It was an unfortunate incident. I'm very glad there were no injuries,' says Al Zaabi. 'We give credit to emergency services here in Abu Dhabi, who acted very fast to control it, and to the health and safety team at Miral. With all that, yet we open on time.' The expansion marks another step in Yas Island's aim to become a go-to spot for leisure and family fun. Each new feature adds to its variety, drawing in more visitors. 'We have very clear strategy: to build Yas Island as one of the top family entertainment destinations in the world where people come to enjoy different experiences,' says Al Zaabi. The announcement of Disneyland Abu Dhabi is a prime example of this vision. The landmark project signals a new era for not just for the UAE capital, but also the wider region's theme park and tourism industry. 'We're very, very proud of this achievement. It's a reflection of how successful Abu Dhabi is to attract an international IP like Disney,' says Al Zaabi. 'Disney has been looking to expand and open a new theme park in this region and Abu Dhabi successfully managed to be selected.' He adds that there aren't many places in the world that offer five international theme parks all within a five-minute drive of each other, along with hotels for all budgets. And the work isn't done yet. As part of a long-term strategy, Miral has set out a 10-year plan to add at least one new attraction to Yas Island every year. The aim is to ensure that returning visitors always have something fresh to discover. While many are eagerly awaiting updates on Disneyland Abu Dhabi, Al Zaabi says Miral and Disney are still in the design and development phase. With further developments on the horizon, a natural question is whether there will be enough space for it in the coming years. 'Yes, there is enough space. We have a land bank,' says Al Zaabi, referring to undeveloped land set aside for future use. While he acknowledges the significance of adding Disney to the portfolio, Al Zaabi says Yas Island has built its reputation through the steady rollout of theme parks, attractions and leisure offerings over the past decade. The partnership, he says, reflects years of strategic development aimed at putting Yas Island on the global map. Al Zaabi adds: 'Closing that deal is just a reflection of Abu Dhabi's success to be a tourism international hub and, of course, Yas Island's vision over the last 16 years of building such a destination.'
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
