Disney to Open Theme Park in Abu Dhabi (2025)

Disney is set to open a new theme park in Abu Dhabi that the company describes as its most tech-centric park to date out of the six it already has in operation.

Made in partnership with Miral, an Abu Dhabi-based maker of immersive destinations and experiences, a press release states that “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 resortwill combineDisney’siconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines and breathtaking architecture.”

According to Disney CEO Bob Iger, the park is not owned by Disney, but part of a licensed deal with Miral: “It is all their capital, and we will get a royalty. So there isn’t ownership. We own our IP and license it to them, is essentially the arrangement.”

This is a different setup from Disney’s six other parks, including Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Shanghai Disney Resort, which are owned and operated by Disney.

Disneyland Abu Dhabi 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.”

Disney gave no timeline for when the park would open and says it will announce further details “as the project progresses.”

“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,” Iger said. “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 – 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.”

“This groundbreaking resort destination represents a new frontier in theme park development,” Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro said. “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.”

“Abu Dhabi is a place where heritage meets innovation, where we preserve our past while designing the future,” Miral chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said. “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 — an experience that will inspire generations across the region and the world, creating magical moments and memories that families will treasure forever. Through the development of unique attractions and experiences, Abu Dhabi continues to be a destination of choice for the world.”

Disney announced the new park Wednesday as part of its latest quarterly earnings. During a call with analysts outlining the financial results, chief financial officer Hugh Johnston said to date, Disney’s international theme park attendance “has not gotten back to pre-COVID levels, but it is still in the double digits,” adding: “The good news is we’re clearly more than making up for it with domestic attendance.”

Iger outlined the specifics of the licensing deal with Miral, noting “we’re responsible for design and development, and we will be involved significantly in oversight of their operations, basically to ensure that the Disney experience — meaning the Disney theme park experience — is up to the level that we offer in the other six locations that we operate.”

The CEO added: “Although they will operate it, we will have employees embedded in the organization with them to help them operate a Disney theme park at the quality level that everybody’s used to.”

Disney released the concept art for the new theme park, which you can view in the above and below images.