Gabrielle Russon
The Disney kingdom is getting bigger.
A new Disney theme park is being built in Abu Dhabi, the company disclosed Wednesday.
“Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati,” Disney CEO Bob Iger told analysts during Wednesday’s earnings call. “It will serve as an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment for millions and millions of people in this crossroads of the world, connecting travelers from the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe and beyond.”
Disney stock jumped 10% in early trading with the announcement of Disney’s newest resort since Shanghai Disneyland in 2016.
Iger hinted that fans can expect Disney characters, modern architecture and a waterfront resort, along with “the cultures and tastes of this country and this region.”
The company did not say when the new park could open or what rides or intellectual property is expected. Disney parks Chair Josh D’Amaro told Reuters it typically takes one to two years to design a new park and four to six years to build one.
Disney won’t own the park but will get license royalties from the Abu Dhabi-based Miral Group, which will pay for construction and oversee operations. Disney will design the park and share operational expertise, with Disney employees embedded overseas to help, the company said.
“We will be involved significantly in oversight of their operations, basically to ensure … the Disney theme park experience is up to the level that we offer in the other six locations that we operate,” Iger said. “Our Imagineering team is already hard at work designing this large and very special destination that will become a source of joy and inspiration for generations to come.”
Iger told analysts the location makes sense to connect with Middle East consumers. Disney looked at their income and their access to other Disney parks, which were a long trip from home.
“Building a theme park in a location is a huge endorsement of that location and speaks volumes in terms of the ability of that location to sustain a Disney theme park,” Iger said. “There didn’t seem to be any place that was better than this.”
Iger also said he was impressed with Miral’s previous work, including SeaWorld Yas Island, which opened in Abu Dhabi in 2023.
“What we are creating with Disney in Abu Dhabi is a whole new world of imagination,” Miral Chair Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said in a statement.
One comment
PeterH
May 7, 2025 at 5:00 pm
When visiting Abu Dhabi, tourist should also consider a neighboring country Qatar for a stop over. This country has a few outstanding museums and is safe for tourist morning noon and night. December through February would offer the best weather.