PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Walt Disney announced its first theme park in the Middle East, located in Abu Dhabi. This will be Disney’s latest park since the company opened its Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016.
👥 Who’s Involved: Walt Disney Company and United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Miral.
📍 Where & When: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; with the announcement made on May 7, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: Disney CEO Robert Iger called the project a “thrilling” moment, emphasizing it would be “authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.”
⚠️ Impact: The park may boost tourism and economic growth in Abu Dhabi.
IN FULL:
Walt Disney Company has unveiled plans to establish its first theme park in the Middle East, marking a significant expansion in the region. The new resort will be situated on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), in collaboration with local leisure and entertainment company Miral. This development will be Disney‘s seventh theme park, adding to its existing locations across North America, Europe, and Asia, with the last park having opened in Shanghai in 2016.
“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,” Disney’s CEO Robert Iger said in a statement announcing the new park and partnership with Miral. He added: “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.”
Miral, known for its role in developing Yas Island into a major tourist destination, already manages attractions such as SeaWorld and Warner Bros World. The company is also working on a Harry Potter-themed park. Disney’s statement highlighted the strategic location of the UAE, within a four-hour flight of one-third of the global population, positioning the new park as a “significant gateway for tourism.” Additionally, the Emirates is recognized as one of the largest global airline hubs, with 120 million passengers passing through Abu Dhabi and Dubai annually.
Yas Island, encompassing 25 square kilometers, is conveniently located 20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 50 minutes from Dubai. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Miral’s CEO, hailed the introduction of a Disney theme park as a “milestone” in their mission to elevate the island’s status as a premier global destination for entertainment and leisure. He emphasized that the project would contribute to sustained economic growth in the region.
In March, the UAE agreed to a $1.4 trillion investment framework with the United States after top leaders from the Gulf state met with President Donald J. Trump. According to the White House, the agreement will significantly increase existing UAE investments in the American economy—with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and energy technologies.