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Observer
12-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Disney plans first theme park in Middle East
The Walt Disney Company and Miral, a leading developer in Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday announced plans to build a new Disney theme park and resort on Yas Island, marking Disney's seventh global destination and its first in the Middle East. According to a statement by both groups, the new resort will be located on the island's waterfront and will combine Disney's iconic stories and characters with the rich cultural heritage and modern architecture of Abu Dhabi. The project aims 'to serve as a global hub for family entertainment,' the statement said. It added that Miral will fully develop and operate the resort, while Disney Imagineers will lead creative design and provide operational oversight. The destination will feature themed attractions, restaurants and shops, and accommodation inspired by Disney storytelling, the statement said. 'This resort will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati,' said Disney boss Robert A. Iger. Mohamed Khalifa al Mubarak, chairman of Miral, said the project 'demonstrates the power of visionary leadership and will create a whole new world of imagination.' Having a Disneyland in a region boosts tourism, generates jobs, and stimulates economic growth. It attracts visitors from around the world, increasing revenue for local businesses. Additionally, it enhances the area's global profile and provides entertainment and cultural opportunities for residents. Overall, Disneyland acts as a major catalyst for development and prosperity in its locality. — dpa
FACT
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- FACT
Everything we know about the Disney Abu Dhabi theme park
Be their guest at the first Disney theme park in the Middle East. A whole new world awaits. The Walt Disney Company has announced that it will open in Abu Dhabi. This is a milestone moment, as it marks the first Disney theme park resort in the Middle East. The venture has been created with the capital's entertainment company, Miral. Scheduled to open its doors between 2030 and 2033, it will be located on Yas Island. In 1955, The Walt Disney Company opened its first theme park, Disneyland. Located in California, United States, it is the only theme park designed by Walt Disney himself. Today, there are six theme parks around the world in Asia, Europe and North America. The last opening was in 2016, and it is located in Shanghai, China. Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company, explained: '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.' Opening date for Disney Abu Dhabi The exact opening date for Disney Abu Dhabi has not yet been confirmed. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Josh D'Amaro explained that it could take 'a year or two to design, and another four to six years to build'. Robert spoke to CNBC, and stated that once construction begins, it could take up to five years. He added: 'We're not pinning down a date yet. 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.' Location for Disney Abu Dhabi The UAE was a strategic location, as it is within a four-hour flight of one-third of the world's population. The country is home to one of the largest global airline hubs in the world, with 120 million passengers travelling through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year. Disney Abu Dhabi will be located on the capital's entertainment destination, Yas Island. The entertainment hub includes a range of family-friendly experiences. It is already home to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Formula 1 Yas Marina Circuit, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld. Plus, the area includes Abu Dhabi's largest mall and an award-winning golf course. His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman at Miral, explained: 'Abu Dhabi is a place where heritage meets innovation, where we preserve our past while designing the future. 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.' Attractions at Disney Abu Dhabi Disney Abu Dhabi aims to be one jump ahead of its other locations. This will be the most high-tech destination, which has ever been created by the company. The theme park plans to push the boundaries with its architecture and design. Plus, it will include nods to its location and Emirati touches. Josh D'Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences, explained: '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. Ultimately, it will be a celebration of what's possible when creativity and progress come together.' The details for the attractions and rides have not yet been confirmed. We're hoping it might pay homage to Aladdin, which is set in the middle of the desert, and Star Wars, which was filmed in Abu Dhabi. So far, we know that it will include state-of-the-art rides, which draw inspiration from Disney's back catalogue of films. The signature castle will not be on the site, and it will be fully indoors. It will be possible to visit all year round and during Abu Dhabi's hot summers. We're expecting a touch of Elsa – and air conditioning. Hotel, shops and restaurants at Disney Abu Dhabi Disneyland will be home to a range of exciting experiences. The site will include a hotel, shops and restaurants. In 2025, Abu Dhabi welcomed its first standalone Disney store in Yas Mall, and Dubai welcomed its flagship Disney store in Dubai Mall. The number of hotels at Disney Abu Dhabi has not yet been confirmed. At Disney theme parks around the world, the hotels draw inspiration from the brand's films – a Lightning McQueen bed, anyone? Dreams really do come true. Check in with FACT for the best things in Abu Dhabi. GO: Visit for more information.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BREAKING! New Disney Theme Park Just Announced, But It's Not Where You Would Expect
This morning, we received breaking news about a new Disney theme park. This will be the first new theme park since Shanghai Disney. The news comes as Disney focuses even more on the expansion of their theme parks and cruises around the world. Though the new theme park will be within a four-hour flight of one third of the world's population, we would have called this announcement a crazy rumor just a week ago. Now, we are getting ready for a massive new expansion. READ MORE – 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. Though the new resort doesn't have an official name, Disney CEO Bob Iger referred to it as 'Disneyland Abu Dhabi,' indicating to me that it will be comparable to other Disney resorts around the world. 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. Yas Island is a 20 minute drive from downtown Abu Dhabi and a 50 minute drive from Dubai. Yas Island is already home to Warner Bros., Ferrari, and SeaWorld theme parks. The destination, which serves as the region's main entertainment hub, also welcomes Formula 1 races, UFC fights, and stand-up comedians. There is also a water park, beachfront resorts, and one of the largest malls in the country. Notably, the theme parks here are indoors and climate-controlled due to the intense summer heat. In 2024, 38 million people visited Yas Island, according to their press release. For comparison, 48.7 million people visited Walt Disney World in 2023. The new theme park resort will offer signature Disney entertainment, themed accommodations, unique dining and retail experiences. The initial plan is for the destination to have one theme park and an unknown number of themed hotels. Here's a look at the concept artwork released below. The theme park resort will have both indoor and outdoor offerings. "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." There has been no opening year announced for the project though CNN is reporting the project has a potential opening in the early 2030s. The project will be creatively led by Disney and operated by Miral. There will be no new allocated capital for this project and it will not be a part of the previously announced $60 billion Disney theme park investment to turbocharge the theme parks. This should not impact existing theme park investments. The concept artwork released of the project is minimal and I think it would be too early to dig into what the artwork means for stories coming to the park. This news has been kept to a very small group at this point, meaning I assume there have been limited Imagineers who could've worked on this, so I wouldn't read into what this will be exactly yet. I am interested in the fact that the 'castle' icon of the park seems to be more modern and stylized. Again, that could change but it does seem to align with the modern skyscrapers of the city. Though Miral will fund, build, and operate the destination, there will be embedded Disney leaders within the destination to provide a world-class experience. Though no specifics were given on the deal, the right comparison is to the structure of the Tokyo Disney business. The existing theme parks at Yas Island based on intellectual property from other parts of the world are all generally set up in a licensing model that includes some form of royalty payment and revenue share agreement. This is quite similar to how Tokyo Disney is not owned by Disney but they pay a small percentage of their revenue to Disney and are required to use Disney design services. Iger spoke positively about the Miral team and their impressive use of technology and the quality of their theme parks. I have personally heard that the SeaWorld park there is unlike any other in the world and uses next-level tech to storytell. You can also see Disney CEO Bob Iger's appearance on Good Morning America discussing this new project. I don't think that Disney would have done this deal if there hadn't been a huge financial incentive to get this done. When asked on CNBC, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D'Amaro said that the project will be 'royalty-based'. Disney has elevated the theme parks as the biggest profit driver within the company. For so many years, the cable channels and specifically ESPN shielded Disney from having to consider less desirable financial decisions. Now, with the decline of that revenue source, Disney has done and considered deals that Disney CEO Bob Iger would not have done previously. Specifically, I am thinking of the creation of ESPN Bet. For years, he said they would never create a betting offering from ESPN because of the brand connection to Disney. However, when the perception changed on betting and the company needed the revenue in that division they did the deal. This deal with the UAE is a similar story. Iger has spoken in the past about a potential theme park in the Middle East and seemed to suggest it wasn't a top priority. In 2018, Iger admitted that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had 'made an impassioned plea to me to consider building Disneyland in Saudi Arabia, and I listened with curiosity and somewhat of an open mind.' Iger added at the time "I ended up saying that I would visit and see for myself…Whether we grow or not there, I don't know, but I'll go. 'There's a lot of people who live in that part of the world. We have, over time, been asked by many from that region to consider putting a park in that region. And so far, it hasn't been at the top of our list in terms of markets that we would open up in, but we'll take a look." Part of the change of course is also the reality of the amount of people in this world who will now be far closer to a Disney theme park. Iger shared that for every 1 person who visits the Disney theme parks, there are 10 who want to visit but don't due to accessibility to the nearest park. The UAE has also established Yas Island as a tourist destination in the region. My bet would be that a large financial commitment finally moved this market to the top of their list and made the deal worth their while. It is probably all upside financially for Disney in this deal and gives them a clear theme park win at a time when this division is expanding rapidly. We know that in recent years, there has been more of a focus specifically on reaching into other untapped areas of the world via Disney theme parks and cruise line offerings. Later this year, we'll see the Disney Adventure cruise ship begin sailing from Singapore. That's another example of Disney getting closer to this untapped area of the world. This decision is likely one that Disney has been considering for a long time. This particular political and social moment in the United States may also have met a time when the UAE was willing to put up a big investment and the deal finally got done. With all of the international news and noise right now, the latest round of tariffs coverage could give this cover to fly under the radar among the many other major international news stories. There are realities about the decision to make this deal that could cast a long shadow. The UAE has been criticized by Human Rights Watch for limiting free speech, criminalizing LGBTQ+ identities, and offering limited protections for migrant workers, who make up 88% of the population. Though Abu Dhabi has implemented reforms for foreign residents in recent years, there are still concerns about human rights and social freedoms. Disney's global influence could help raise expectations around labor practices and guest experiences. When I asked if they were going to influence decisions related to this as part of the project, Disney PR shared 'Disney is a global company with operations all over the world. We are always respectful of the countries and cultures where we do business, while always adhering to our own standards and values.' Here are more quotes from Disney and leaders from Abu Dhabi associated with the project: "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 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. READ MORE – Don't miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips. The post BREAKING! New Disney Theme Park Just Announced, But It's Not Where You Would Expect appeared first on Mickey Visit - Disney News & Planning Tips.
Filipino Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Filipino Times
Disneyland is coming to Abu Dhabi; the first in the Middle East!
The Middle East is about to welcome its very first Disneyland! Disney has unveiled plans to build a new theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, making it the first Disney park in the region and the seventh globally! While the project timeline for completion has not been officially announced, development is set to take place on Yas Island, known for its entertainment and leisure attractions. The Walt Disney Company has announced a new partnership with Miral, a developer specializing in creating immersive destinations in Abu Dhabi. Miral will oversee the development and construction, while Disney's creative team, including Imagineers, will handle design and operations. This new theme park resort aims to combine Disney's iconic stories and characters with Abu Dhabi's rich culture, modern architecture, and beautiful waterfront. The resort will offer a blend of themed accommodations, retail, dining, and signature Disney entertainment. Robert A. Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, expressed excitement over the project, emphasizing the park's unique location and its role in bringing Disney magic to a new region. '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,' he said. The project is expected to attract global visitors, contributing to economic growth and making Abu Dhabi a leading destination for family entertainment.
Business Recorder
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Recorder
Disney set to open new theme park in Abu Dhabi
The Walt Disney Company announced an agreement to to create a landmark Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in collaboration with Miral, Abu Dhabi's leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, Disney announced in a press release on Wednesday. The waterfront resort is set to be located on Yas Island, and will be the seventh Disney theme park resort, globally. '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 was quoted as saying in the statement. '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.' '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, was also quoted as saying. 'The collaboration between Abu Dhabi and Disney demonstrates the remarkable results of combining visionary leadership and creative excellence.' The new resort will be fully developed and built by Miral. Disney and its Imagineers will lead creative design and operational oversight. Miral, which has developed a number of family entertainment destinations on Yas Island in collaboration with American and European brands, will operate the resort, added the statement. The UAE is located within a four-hour flight of one-third of the world's population, making it a significant gateway for tourism. It is home to the largest global airline hub in the world, with 120 million passengers traveling through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year. 'Our resort in Abu Dhabi will be the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio,' Josh D'Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences was quoted as saying as per the press statement. '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.' 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.
