The Official Magazine of IAAPA
(Abu Dhabi) IAAPA News - Disney Experiences and Miral announced on Wednesday a new partnership that will bring a new Disney theme park to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The property will be developed, financed, and built by Miral, while Disney Experiences will lead the design efforts.
“Today marks the magical milestone in the history of Abu Dhabi,” says H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman, Dept. of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and Miral.
His Excellency teased the audience amassed at the W Abu Dhabi hotel when announcing the news.
“I have a special guest with me.
But as soon as I tell you who it is, you will know what we will announce today.”
His Excellency paused briefly—generating laughter from the crowd—when welcoming Disney CEO Bob Iger to the stage.
“In the 102-year history of the Walt Disney Company, there have been many defining moments and countless achievements,” Iger told the crowd, receiving thunderous applause while announcing the company’s seventh theme park resort is headed to Yas Island.
Iger says the new property will “blend wonderful Disney stories and characters with the cultures and tastes” of the UAE and the Middle East.
“It will serve as an oasis for extraordinary entertainment and experiences for millions and millions of people in this crossroads of the world,” Iger says.
He shared that the new park’s architecture will be modern and infused with cutting-edge technology.
In a post on LinkedIn, Miral wrote the new park will be “the most advanced Disney theme park ever built.”
The announcement video included quotes from Walt Disney and showed highlights of other Disney parks and resort hotels.
Iger says Walt Disney Imagineering is already working on designing a theme park that will offer “unique and immersive experiences in very modern ways.”
The park will be built on a plot of land bordering Yas Island’s waterfront.
“Abu Dhabi’s vision for the future is to create a legacy for generations to come,” says His Excellency.
Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, group CEO of Miral, wrote on LinkedIn, “it has always been my dream to serve my country and contribute; no matter how small, to its progress and growth.”
The UAE is located within a four-hour flight of one-third of the world's population, making the nation a significant gateway for tourism.
The UAE is home to one of the world’s largest global airline hubs, with 120 million passengers traveling through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year.
The new Disney park will join other Miral properties on Yas Island, including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi (opened in 2010), Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi (2013), Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi (2018), and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi (2023).
Meantime, the new park in the UAE will be Disney’s seventh theme park resort. An opening date has not yet been announced.
