Overview
Walt Disney Company has announced plans to open a new Disney theme park in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in collaboration with regional entertainment developer Miral Group. This will be Disney’s first theme park in the Middle East and its first major new park since Shanghai Disneyland, which opened in 2016.
Location and Concept
The park will be located on Yas Island, a well-established tourist destination already home to Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, and Yas Waterworld. The new resort is described as “authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati,” integrating Disney’s storytelling with the cultural elements of Abu Dhabi.
Roles and Responsibilities
Miral will finance, construct, and operate the theme park. Disney’s in-house creative team, Walt Disney Imagineering, will lead the design and offer operational guidance. According to a regulatory filing, Disney will earn royalties based on the park’s revenue.
Project Timeline
While no official opening date has been announced, Disney’s Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro indicated that a project of this scale typically takes 1–2 years to design and an additional 4–6 years to build.
Strategic Significance
This project is a key part of Disney’s plan to expand its Experiences division, which includes six existing theme park resorts, a cruise ship fleet, and a resort in Hawaii. In 2023, Disney committed $60 billion over a decade to grow this division, including the expansion of cruise offerings and new park developments.
Why Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, despite having a population of just 2.5 million, recorded over 34 million visits to Yas Island in 2023, a 38% increase from the previous year. With more than $10 billion in investments aimed at boosting tourism, the city was seen by Disney as a prime location to engage new, younger fans in a strategically significant region.
Development and Negotiations
Miral first approached Disney in 2023 with a vision for growing Abu Dhabi’s tourism industry. Following multiple site visits, including one in September 2023 and another in February 2025, both parties reached a formal agreement. The financial details of Miral’s investment have not been disclosed.
Statements from Leadership
Disney CEO Bob Iger called the project “an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at the crossroads of the world.” Miral CEO Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi described the collaboration as a “historic milestone” in the company’s ambition to transform Yas Island into a world-leading entertainment destination.
