Walt Disney Company expands its offerings with Disneyland Abu Dhabi in the UAE

Photo: Abu Dhabi skyline, UAE

The Walt Disney Company is working with Miral to create a landmark Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

New and exciting news has been revealed by the Walt Disney Company, as it announces its collaborations with Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations in the UAE. The company recently announced its agreement to create a landmark Disney theme park resort connecting travelers from the Middle East and Africa, India, Europe, Asia and beyond. Read on to learn more about this exciting new resort.

Walt Disney Company to open theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE

The seventh Disney theme park resort will combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with the vibrant culture of Abu Dhabi, with its iconic shorelines and breathtaking architecture. This capital of the UAE sees The Walt Disney Company join with Miral, the emirate’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences.

Meanwhile, the resort will be set on the waterfront on Yas Island, a world-class destination for entertainment and leisure that will connect travelers from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, India, and beyond. Moreover, this latest Disney theme park resort will combine the iconic company’s stories, attractions, and characters with the vibrant culture of Abu Dhabi.

Artistic rendering of the Abu Dhabi, UAE, Disney theme park resort

Speaking of the new project, His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Miral’s chairman, said:

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.

More about the plans

Meanwhile, the new resort will be developed and built by Miral and Disney. Its legendary Imagineers will lead creative design and operational oversight to launch a world-class experience.

Miral, which has developed several family-friendly entertainment destinations on Yas Island, will work in collaboration with American and European brands to operate the theme park resort.

Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company, made a statement:

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.

Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be 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.

Getting to Abu Dhabi

The UAE city is located a four-hour flight for one-third of the world’s population, making it a significant gateway for tourism. The UAE hosts the largest global airline hub in the world, seeing 120 million passengers traveling through Abu Dhabi and Dubai every year.

Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences said:

This groundbreaking resort destination represents a new frontier in theme park development. Our resort in Abu Dhabi will be the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio. 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.

Once complete, the new theme park resort will offer signature Disney entertainment, along with themed accommodations, unique dining and retail experiences, and storytelling, in a way that celebrates both Disney's heritage and Abu Dhabi's exciting, futuristic, and cultural essence.

Learn more about this exciting new and upcoming theme park on Disney’s website.