Disney Announces Inaugural Middle Eastern Theme Park in UAE
Walt Disney Company has unveiled plans to establish its first-ever theme park in the Middle East, marking a strategic expansion of its global footprint. The forthcoming resort will grace Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), emerging from a collaborative venture between Disney and Miral, the UAE-based leisure and entertainment developer renowned for shaping Yas Island into a premier destination.
This milestone project introduces Disney’s seventh global theme park, joining its existing portfolio across North America, Europe, and Asia—most recently expanded with Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016. Miral, instrumental in transforming Yas Island, currently operates SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, where a Harry Potter-themed park is underway.
Disney emphasized the UAE’s strategic allure in its announcement, noting the nation lies within a four-hour flight radius encompassing one-third of the world’s population—positioning it as a “significant gateway for global tourism.” Abu Dhabi and Dubai collectively welcome 120 million airline passengers annually, cementing the Emirates’ status as the world’s largest aviation hub.
Disney CEO Robert Iger heralded the development as a “thrilling” new chapter, promising that Disneyland Abu Dhabi would harmonize the brand’s iconic magic with local heritage, rendering it “authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.”
Spanning 10 square miles (25 square kilometers), Yas Island offers proximity to Abu Dhabi’s city center (20 minutes) and Dubai (50 minutes). Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, CEO of Miral, affirmed the partnership as a “milestone achievement” that elevates the island’s reputation as a “global beacon for world-class entertainment and leisure,” while fueling sustained economic growth across Abu Dhabi and beyond.
Disney’s theme park legacy began in 1955 with Disneyland (Anaheim, California), followed by Walt Disney World (Orlando, 1971). International expansions launched with Tokyo Disneyland (1983), Disneyland Paris (1992), Hong Kong Disneyland (2005), and Shanghai Disney Resort (2016).
Source : BBC
