The Walt Disney Company and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, announced an agreement to create a landmark Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The waterfront resort will be located on Yas Island, a world-class destination for entertainment and leisure, connecting travelers from the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond. This seventh Disney theme park resort will combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture.
“Abu Dhabi is a place where heritage meets innovation, where we preserve our past while designing the future,” His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman at Miral, said. “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.”
The new resort will be fully developed and built by Miral. Disney and its legendary Imagineers will lead creative design and operational oversight to provide a world-class experience. Miral, which has developed a number of family entertainment destinations on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in collaboration with American and European brands, will operate the resort. “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,” said Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “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.”
The UAE is located within a four-hour flight of one-third of the world’s population, making it a significant gateway for tourism. The UAE is home to the largest global airline hub in the world, with 120 million passengers traveling through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year. “This groundbreaking resort destination represents a new frontier in theme park development,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences. “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.”
“Bringing a Disney theme park resort to Yas Island marks a historic milestone in our journey to further advance the island’s position as a global destination for exceptional entertainment and leisure,” said Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO, Miral. “Together, we are creating a place of boundless innovation, where the vision of our leadership continues to inspire the world.” The development of unique experiences will support sustained economic growth in Abu Dhabi and beyond. Upon completion, the new theme park resort will offer signature Disney entertainment, themed accommodations, unique dining and retail experiences, and storytelling in a way that celebrates both the heritage of Disney and the futuristic and cultural essence of Abu Dhabi.
A Disney theme park, Disney Abu Dhabi, is coming to Abu Dhabi. The announcement was made on 2025-05-07 at an event celebrating 15 years of Yas Island. Disney Abu Dhabi will be located on a waterfront location. This will be Disney’s seventh theme park resort, and it will be fully developed and built by Miral. Disney’s Imagineers will lead creative design and operational oversight on the project.
Disney will not be investing capital in the project, but will reap the benefits of royalties. The development in Abu Dhabi is not part of the $60 billion that Disney has pledged to invest in its theme parks over the next decade. Imagineers have already begun designing the park. It typically takes between 18 months and two years to design and fully develop and approximately five years to build. Around one-third of the world’s population lives within a four-hour flight of the UAE. The region has an addressable tourism market of around 500 million visitors.
Disney’s resort will be located on Yas Island, which is already home to Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, as well as the Formula 1 Yas Marina Circuit. The area also hosts Abu Dhabi's largest mall and an award-winning golf course. Upon completion, the new Disney park will have themed accommodations and unique dining and retail experiences that integrate the storytelling heritage of Disney and the futuristic and cultural essence of Abu Dhabi.
Disney has slowly been entering the United Arab Emirates in recent years, adding retail locations and touring entertainment shows like Broadway's "The Lion King" and "Disney on Ice." Iger told CNBC that the company first started eyeing the region as a potential new resort location in 2017 or 2018, but Covid and a CEO change delayed expansion into the UAE. The announcement comes as Disney reported a top- and bottom-line beat for its fiscal second quarter, with its experiences business — including parks, cruises, and resorts — reporting 6% year-over-year revenue growth. The segment represented 37% of the company's overall revenue in fiscal 2024 and nearly 60% of its operating income.
Disney’s parks have arguably been its most important financial driver, representing 59% of its operating income in the 2024 fiscal year. The announcement of Disneyland Abu Dhabi also follows Disney’s report that its theme parks hosted more than 140 million guests globally in 2023, the most of any amusement or theme park operator in the world. With this ambitious new project, Disney aims to enhance its portfolio and attract even more visitors to its parks.
As the world continues to evolve, the introduction of Disneyland Abu Dhabi marks a significant step in Disney’s strategy to expand its global footprint. With its unique blend of cultural appreciation and innovative entertainment, this new theme park is poised to become a landmark destination for families and tourists alike, reflecting both the magic of Disney and the rich heritage of the UAE.
