Iconic stories, characters, attractions and world-class entertainment. It’s all coming together to create Disney’s next theme park at the crossroads of the world.
On Wednesday, the Walt Disney Company announced plans to create a landmark Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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“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,” said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company.
Located on Yas Island, the park will be in a prime location for travelers from nearby regions of the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia and Europe.
According to Iger, Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati. Not only will it be the company’s first theme park in the Middle East but also a waterfront park.
The new resort will be fully funded by Miral, an Abu Dhabi-based entertainment company that has developed a number of attractions, and will be designed by Walt Disney Imagineering.
The new park announcement comes the same day Disney announced strong earnings for its fiscal second quarter, beating Wall Street expectations, and driven by a rebound in its domestic theme parks and its streaming services.
Along with the announcement of its seventh theme park, Disney also released art concepts of Disneyland Abu Dhabi.
While the landmarks aren’t clear, the images are the first step in Disney’s vision to have a park built with breathtaking architecture representing Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture.
One of the art concepts released shows what appears to be the design for a new Disney theme park castle, a key element for a Disney theme park.
The spiraling, crystal-like structure is used as the centerpiece of the iconic Disney castle logo.
All of Disney theme park castles around the world uniquely celebrate one or more Disney Princesses. In an interview with Good Morning America, Iger said the castle will be the first real modern castle built by Disney.
Familiar company
Disney’s choice for a new theme park has made a name for itself as a family vacation destination.
Yas Island is home to several theme parks, including Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, which opened in 2023.
Outside of Central Florida, Yas Island will be the only other destination to have both a SeaWorld and a Disney theme park.