Disney theme park resort planned for Abu Dhabi's Yas Island

The Walt Disney Company and Miral, the UAE's leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, have announced that the world's seventh Disney destination is being planned for Abu Dhabi's Yas Island.

Yas Island is a popular tourist destination home to other family-friendly attractions, including Warner Bros World Yas Island, SeaWorld Yas Island and Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi.

The waterfront Disney resort planned for Yas Island will combine Disney's iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi's vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture.

His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman at Miral noted "Abu Dhabi is a place where heritage meets innovation, where we preserve our past while designing the future” adding "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.”

The new resort will be fully developed and built by Miral which has developed a number of family entertainment destinations on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in collaboration with American and European brands. Miral will also operate the resort. The amount of Miral's investment was not disclosed.

Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive, The Walt Disney Company enthused "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.”

Abu Dhabi is known for its oil wealth, though last year it announced plans to invest more than $10 billion in infrastructure to grow its tourism business. 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.

Once complete, the resort will offer Disney-themed attractions, dining and retail experiences, in a way that blends the Burbank entertainment company’s storytelling and Abu Dhabi’s heritage, Josh D'Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences said.

Miral Group Chief Executive Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi hailed the addition of a Disney theme park to Yas Island as a “historic milestone” in the company’s efforts to build the island into a global entertainment destination.

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.

Projected to open in 2032 or 2033, the Abu Dhabi park, Disney’s first since Shanghai Disneyland opened in 2016, represents a continuation of the company’s plans to expand its Experiences unit, which includes its six global theme park resorts, a cruise ship line and a family resort in Hawaii.

In 2023, Disney announced it would commit $60 billion over a decade to double the size of its Disney cruise ship fleet and invest in its theme parks.

For more information about Miral, visit www.miral.ae. 

For more information about Yas Island

Image top. Rendering of Disney Abu Dhabi; Image centre from left. Mohamed Al Zaabi, HE Mohamed Al Mubarak, Bob Iger, Josh D’Amaro; Image below. Disney drone show