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Sunday, Aug 09, 2026
Outside the box.
Disney to Launch New Theme Park in Abu Dhabi, Its First Resort in 15 Years
The announcement marks Disney's entry into the Middle Eastern market with plans for a new resort on Yas Island.
Walt Disney Company has officially announced the development of a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, signifying its first new resort in a generation and marking the company's entry into the Middle Eastern market.
The Disneyland Abu Dhabi resort will become Disney's seventh global resort destination and is expected to open in the early 2030s.
This decision follows a period of renewed financial strength in Disney's parks division, which represented 59% of the company's operating income for the 2024 fiscal year.
Following a modest decrease in attendance at domestic parks last year, recent reports indicate a resurgence in US park attendance and a significant revenue increase in the first quarter of 2025.
Meanwhile, international parks are viewed as an area of growth despite challenges faced in China, where attendance at Shanghai and Hong Kong parks has declined due to ongoing trade tensions.
The project will be fully developed by Miral, a local Abu Dhabi company, with Disney Imagineers overseeing the creative design and operational strategies.
The company's chairman of Disney Experiences, Josh D’Amaro, emphasized the importance of adapting the park's design and offerings to reflect the local culture and environment rather than replicating existing models.
The resort is set to be situated on Yas Island, which is already home to several established attractions, including SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, and Warner Bros. World.
This strategic location, just a short drive from downtown Abu Dhabi and Dubai, is seen as advantageous for attracting visitors from nearby regions, especially with ambitious plans from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports aimed at connecting a significant portion of the world’s population within a short flight.
D'Amaro noted the potential market size, estimating that around 500 million people in the region are likely to visit a Disney theme park, which played a critical role in the decision to establish the resort in Abu Dhabi.
The park is expected to feature innovative designs, with plans for a distinctive castle structure that deviates from traditional fairytale aesthetics, and aim to be Disney's most technologically advanced park to date, integrating immersive gaming technologies.
The announcement of Disneyland Abu Dhabi follows Universal’s recent decision to build its seventh resort in the UK and comes ahead of the opening of Epic Universe in Central Florida, which has not seen a major addition in 26 years.
Despite the optimistic outlook for the new park, industry experts have pointed out that the Middle East has had mixed success with theme parks, referencing past difficulties in profitability for similar ventures in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
However, some analysts believe that Disney’s choice of Abu Dhabi, with its already established leisure infrastructure, provides a more manageable context for success.
Disney’s global parks hosted over 140 million guests in 2023, maintaining its position as the most-visited amusement park operator worldwide.
Discussions about the Abu Dhabi project have been ongoing for a decade, reflecting long-term strategic planning within the company’s theme park ambitions.
Meanwhile, Disney's overall business performance has been bolstered by both its parks and streaming divisions, reporting a significant revenue increase in its latest quarterly earnings report.
The Disneyland Abu Dhabi resort will become Disney's seventh global resort destination and is expected to open in the early 2030s.
This decision follows a period of renewed financial strength in Disney's parks division, which represented 59% of the company's operating income for the 2024 fiscal year.
Following a modest decrease in attendance at domestic parks last year, recent reports indicate a resurgence in US park attendance and a significant revenue increase in the first quarter of 2025.
Meanwhile, international parks are viewed as an area of growth despite challenges faced in China, where attendance at Shanghai and Hong Kong parks has declined due to ongoing trade tensions.
The project will be fully developed by Miral, a local Abu Dhabi company, with Disney Imagineers overseeing the creative design and operational strategies.
The company's chairman of Disney Experiences, Josh D’Amaro, emphasized the importance of adapting the park's design and offerings to reflect the local culture and environment rather than replicating existing models.
The resort is set to be situated on Yas Island, which is already home to several established attractions, including SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, and Warner Bros. World.
This strategic location, just a short drive from downtown Abu Dhabi and Dubai, is seen as advantageous for attracting visitors from nearby regions, especially with ambitious plans from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports aimed at connecting a significant portion of the world’s population within a short flight.
D'Amaro noted the potential market size, estimating that around 500 million people in the region are likely to visit a Disney theme park, which played a critical role in the decision to establish the resort in Abu Dhabi.
The park is expected to feature innovative designs, with plans for a distinctive castle structure that deviates from traditional fairytale aesthetics, and aim to be Disney's most technologically advanced park to date, integrating immersive gaming technologies.
The announcement of Disneyland Abu Dhabi follows Universal’s recent decision to build its seventh resort in the UK and comes ahead of the opening of Epic Universe in Central Florida, which has not seen a major addition in 26 years.
Despite the optimistic outlook for the new park, industry experts have pointed out that the Middle East has had mixed success with theme parks, referencing past difficulties in profitability for similar ventures in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
However, some analysts believe that Disney’s choice of Abu Dhabi, with its already established leisure infrastructure, provides a more manageable context for success.
Disney’s global parks hosted over 140 million guests in 2023, maintaining its position as the most-visited amusement park operator worldwide.
Discussions about the Abu Dhabi project have been ongoing for a decade, reflecting long-term strategic planning within the company’s theme park ambitions.
Meanwhile, Disney's overall business performance has been bolstered by both its parks and streaming divisions, reporting a significant revenue increase in its latest quarterly earnings report.
