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The Walt Disney Company has announced plans for a new theme park in the UAE, highlighting the country’s growing prominence as a global hub for finance and entertainment.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be the seventh Disney resort.
The Walt Disney Company announced its plans to build a new theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi. This marks its seventh global location and its first foray into the Middle East. The waterfront resort will be situated on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, a notable leisure and entertainment hub in the United Arab Emirates.
Disney, using its world-renowned Imagineering team, will craft the creative design of the park. Once the park is open, Miral will manage the complex, while Disney will provide crucial operational oversight. This strategic move aims to attract a broad spectrum of tourists from across the globe, including the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, and Europe.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be joining the six resorts worldwide. The company’s first theme park, Disneyland, began in Anaheim, California (1955), followed by Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida (1971), Tokyo Disneyland (1983), Disneyland Paris (1992), Hong Kong Disneyland (2005), and Shanghai Disneyland (2016).
Disney CEO Bob Iger expressed his enthusiasm for the venture in a statement, stating, “Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati, promising an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world.”
He further emphasised the cultural synergy and innovative potential of the development, noting Abu Dhabi’s “rich culture with an appreciation of the arts and creativity”.
“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,” Iger said.
The company revealed that the new resort will seamlessly blend Disney’s iconic stories, characters, and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant local culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture.
Iger added, “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.”
In a conversation with CNBC, Iger stated that the creative planning for the resort is already underway, though he refrained from committing to a firm opening date. “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,” he said.
It is worth noting that the announcement of the new park coincides with Disney’s strong financial performance. The company reported a robust seven per cent increase in quarterly revenues, reaching $23.6 billion for the January to March period of 2025, which led to a surge in its stock prices. Additionally, the Disney+ streaming service saw growth, reaching 126 million subscribers, an increase of 1.4 million. It defied the previous prediction of Disney about a slight decline in subscribers due to a price increase.
Meanwhile, Yas Island is already a well-established leisure destination, home to popular attractions such as Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. The island also features the Yas Marina Circuit, renowned for hosting Formula 1 races. The addition of Disneyland Abu Dhabi will further solidify Yas Island’s position as a global entertainment hub.
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