Disney enters the Middle East market with a new park in Abu Dhabi

The Walt Disney Company has announced the construction of a new theme park in Abu Dhabi — its first such announcement in 15 years. The project will be Disney's seventh global resort and the first in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the wider Middle East.

The new park will be built by Abu Dhabi-based Miral, which will handle construction and management of the resort, while creative direction and oversight will be led by Disney Imagineers. Opening is tentatively planned for the early 2030s. The resort is set to include one theme park and several hotels.

Josh D'Amaro, head of Disney Experiences, stressed the importance of adapting the theme park to Abu Dhabi's local culture, architecture, and cuisine, noting that Disney aims to create a unique project fully integrated into the region's character.

The choice of Abu Dhabi is driven not only by its strategic location on Yas Island, known for its well-developed entertainment infrastructure and accessibility for travellers, but also by its proximity to India and other densely populated regions of Asia. According to Disney's estimates, around 500 million people in the region will be able to easily visit the new resort.

The park will be the most technologically advanced among the company's resorts and the first located directly on a waterfront. Its centrepiece will be a unique futuristic castle with crystal-like architecture.

Entertainment industry experts view Disney's choice of Abu Dhabi favourably, while acknowledging potential economic risks tied to the specifics of the local entertainment market. Nevertheless, analysts note that Yas Island's developed infrastructure creates favourable conditions for the project's successful execution.

A Disney park in Abu Dhabi had been under discussion for about a decade. Today, Disney is the world's largest theme park operator, welcoming more than 140 million guests a year. Despite economic uncertainty, the company's theme parks continue to show steady popularity and significant revenue growth.