Walt Disney is officially bringing its signature brand of enchantment to the Middle East.
The entertainment giant announced that it will open its first-ever theme park in the region, choosing Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the location for its latest resort destination.
The new venture is a collaboration with Miral, the UAE-based leisure and entertainment company behind much of Yas Island’s transformation into a global tourist hub.
Miral already oversees attractions like SeaWorld and Warner Bros World, and is currently developing a Harry Potter-themed park.
This new Disney park will be part of an ongoing effort to turn Yas Island into a global entertainment powerhouse.
In a joint statement, Disney highlighted the strategic value of the UAE, calling it a “significant gateway for tourism” with one-third of the world’s population within a four-hour flight.
The company also pointed out that 120 million passengers pass through Abu Dhabi and Dubai annually, cementing the Emirates’ status as the world’s largest airline hub.
Disney CEO Robert Iger shared his enthusiasm about the development, calling it a “thrilling” milestone and emphasizing that “Disneyland Abu Dhabi would be ‘authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.’”
The 10-square-mile Yas Island is located just 20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 50 minutes from Dubai, making it easily accessible for both locals and international travelers.
Miral’s CEO Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi described the partnership as a defining chapter for the region.
He stated, “Bringing a Disney theme park resort to the area marked a milestone in our journey to further advance the island's position as a global destination for exceptional entertainment and leisure.”
He added that the project would also “support sustained economic growth in Abu Dhabi and beyond.”
This marks Disney’s seventh global theme park. The company’s first park opened in Anaheim, California in 1955, followed by Orlando, Florida in 1971, then Tokyo in 1983, Paris in 1992, Hong Kong in 2005, and Shanghai in 2016.
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