Disney’s Abu Dhabi theme park to be an indoor attraction

The Walt Disney Company’s announcement earlier this month that it is to launch its seventh Disney theme park on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island will see the new destination operate under a new model.

Being developed with Miral, the UAE's leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, the venture will not follow Disney’s usual model of owning and operating its theme parks. Instead, Disney’s agreement will see Miral fund, develop and build the new theme park which will use Disney’s characters and Intellectual Property under a license.

In return, Disney is expected to receive royalties based on a percentage of the tickets and merchandise sales.

As reported by Forbes, Disney will also provide operational oversight though the attraction will be operated by Miral which is contracting Disney's Imagineers - architects named after their imaginative use of engineering - to design it.

The model will not require any capital investment from Disney, while benefitting from Miral's operational expertise in the Arabian Gulf region where, over the past 15 years Miral has developed a series of leading theme and water parks.

The other departure from Disney’s established model is that, like Miral’s major Yas Island attractions - Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi – the new attraction will be an indoor theme park, Disney’ first operation of this type.

Commenting on Miral’s success in attractions development, Miral Chief Executive, Mohamed Al Zaabi recently told Forbes that its "next experience will be better than the previous one. That's what we do always at Miral. We keep pushing the bar."

Al Zaabi also told the DubaiEye radio station that his “priority is to create convenient and unique customer experiences for our guests.

“We really want them to enjoy their time and have the best experience here in Abu Dhabi. And it has to be as convenient as we can. As you know, we have done all our theme parks indoor.

“So Disney will be an indoor theme park. We will make it easy for them to arrive, convenient experience on arrival, getting in and enjoying as many rides as possible.”

Advising of Disney’s plans for its first indoor theme park, Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney’s Experiences theme park division, recently told CNBC that in Abu Dhabi "we're being incredibly ambitious in terms of the architecture, use of indoor and outdoor space."

D’Amaro added that “one of the great things about the piece of land that we'll be building on is it's right up against the water and so we'll be pulling water into this resort.”

The addition of a Disney park to Yas Island will enhance the location’s offerings which include a beach, arena, F1 racing circuit and a golf course which holds a round of the PGA European Tour - all within walking distance of multiple major theme parks.

Yas Island also offers upscale residential communities, schools, a business district, deluxe hotels, a marina and a mega mall with 370 shops.

Disney has advised that the new attraction “will combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture.”

It is currently projected to open in 2032 or 2033.

Images: Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida, USA (top, credit: Chris Czlapka/Flickr) and Yas Island from the air (below).