Disney to Open Seventh Theme Park in Abu Dhabi on Yas Island with Miral

Disney has recently announced the exciting news of opening its seventh theme park and resort on the waterfront of Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Miral. This marks a significant expansion for Disney into the Middle Eastern market, promising a unique blend of Disney magic and Emirati culture.

According to the Disney Parks Blog, Miral, known for creating immersive destinations such as Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, and SeaWorld Yas Island, will be fully responsible for the development, construction, and operation of this new park. Despite this, Disney and its Imagineers will play a crucial role in the project, leading the creative design and operational oversight to ensure a world-class experience. Disney's CEO Bob Iger emphasized during the Q2 2025 Earnings Call that Disney will not invest capital directly into the project but will receive royalties, stating, "So, there isn't any ownership. We own our IP and license it to them is essentially the agreement."

This new theme park resort in Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati - combing Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture. ✨ https://t.co/M1GHeYgr4H #YasIsland… pic.twitter.com/IyjODlj9ar

— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) May 7, 2025

In a statement, Iger expressed enthusiasm about the project, saying, “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. 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."

He further described the park as "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."

While specific details about the park remain sparse, it's confirmed that it will feature Disney's first-ever modern castle, depicted in concept art as a striking tower of glass or crystal. The tagline, "A whole new world awaits," suggests a thematic connection to Aladdin.

Discussions about this project have been ongoing since 2017, with Iger noting in an ABC News interview that the plan "crystalized" last year. Speaking to CNBC, Iger provided insights into the project timeline, stating, "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."

Iger also highlighted the strategic location of the park, noting that about a third of the world's population lives within a four-hour flight of the UAE, which is also home to the world's largest global airline hub, seeing 120 million passengers annually. This new park will fill a significant gap in Disney's global presence, particularly in the Middle East.

His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman at Miral, shared his vision for the project, saying, “Abu Dhabi is a place where heritage meets innovation, where we preserve our past while designing the future. 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.”

Upon completion, this new park will join Disney's prestigious portfolio, which includes Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, and Shanghai Disney. Josh D'Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, described the upcoming resort as "the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio," adding, “This groundbreaking resort destination represents a new frontier in theme park development. 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.”

For those eager to delve deeper into the world of Disney, you can explore our coverage of a special visit to Walt Disney Imagineering to learn about the first-ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic, as well as all you need to know about Disneyland's 70th anniversary and the Disney Destiny.