The Walt Disney Company has announced a partnership with The Miral Group of the U.A.E. to bring forth the first ever Disney Park in the Middle East – this is a BIG deal. As the Middle East seeks to continually redefine itself as a must-visit destination for families and tourism, this Disney deal is a massive step forward. Located on YAS Island, this new Disney Park will be owned and operated by The Miral Group, with supervision and design by The Walt Disney Company.
Disney states, “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.”
This resort will be developed and operated by The Miral Group, with Walt Disney Imagineering leading design and project oversight. The Miral Group is responsible for other world-class destinations like SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.
Disney in the UAE
Building in foreign destinations is nothing new to the Walt Disney Company as they already have parks located in Japan, China and Paris, alongside the originals in the United States of America. Adding in the UAE will bring the Disney brand to hundreds of millions of new potential theme park fans and Disney customers.
Located within 20 minutes of YAS Island is the Zayed International Airport, one of the largest in the Middle East. This airport connects major countries from nearby Africa, Asia and Europe. Tourism from India alone will allow this park to reach a massive set of fans who may not have had the opportunity to visit the other Disney Parks worldwide.
Why is Disney going to Abu Dhabi and why now?
The Disney Parks were originally a United States only set of destinations up until 1983 with the opening of Tokyo Disneyland. Since then, Disney has gone worldwide with cruise ships, new parks, interactive experiences and more. To expand into a market like the Middle East makes sense for their company. This market was initially a hot spot in the early 2000’s before the major 2008 world recession. Now the theme park wars in the Middle East have begun again, but the parks are actually being made now.
Abu Dhabi is located in the UAE, a young country who shares a birth year with Walt Disney World: 1971. It is a bit wild to think that Disneyland Park is older than the country that this new destination will reside in. Disneyland Abu Dhabi is expected to open in 2030, 107 years after the founding of the Walt Disney Company. The world has changed again and again since the company’s founding, and now it shifts it focus towards new and existing fans in a part of the world that Disney hasn’t fully reached.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi is poised to be the most technologically advanced Disney Park in the world. As someone who has personally visited Abu Dhabi and YAS Island, I can confirm that the city and its attractions are truly utilizing next-level tech. This new park is being built from the ground up, where technology and modern thinking can be at the forefront of design.
The future of Disney Parks is happening in Abu Dhabi
“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.”
While not confirmed, this park is positioned along the waterfront. This could lead to Disney Cruise Line docking at this destination sometime in the future. The Walt Disney Company could lean in heavily to this new YAS Island destination with shops, restaurants, hotels and more. The concept art revealed is vague. We have a lot to learn before the grand opening.
We spoke with FOX Local about this park and what it means for Disney and themed entertainment in the region. If you want to join in on the conversation, join our Disneyland Abu Dhabi Facebook Group.
