Disney to build a magic kingdom theme park in Abu Dhabi

The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to open a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, marking its first resort destination in the Middle East and its seventh globally. The announcement was made on Wednesday after Disney posted strong second-quarter earnings. The project will be developed, built, and operated by Abu Dhabi-based firm Miral. Disney’s creative and operational teams will lead the design process. The initial plan includes one theme park and an unspecified number of hotels, with a potential launch in the early 2030s, according to a report by CNN.

Disney Chairman of Experiences Josh D’Amaro said the design will be tailored to the region. “Every time we open a new experience or a theme park… it’s really important not just to take a theme park that might exist somewhere else and plop it into the ground in that new area that we would be going into,” he told CNN. “And so here in Abu Dhabi, we want the same thing.”

Yas Island in Abu Dhabi will host the new Disneyland. The island already houses SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, and Warner Bros. World. Located within 20 minutes of downtown Abu Dhabi and about 50 minutes from Dubai, Yas Island also includes a marina, golf course, shopping mall, and over 160 restaurants.


Disney said the Abu Dhabi resort would be its most advanced theme park, with a waterfront location and next-generation technology. It will feature a crystal-like castle, different from traditional Disney castles, and immersive attractions possibly using Unreal Engine, a tool also used in Disney films.

“This is going to be a tech-forward park,” D’Amaro said. “So we’re very, very bullish on this space, and I think for this part, particularly given how tech-forward it’s going to be, we have a huge opportunity.”

Disney estimates that 500 million people in the surrounding region will have the means and proximity to visit the park. The strategic location includes travelers from India, many of whom would have a shorter journey to Abu Dhabi than to Disney parks in East Asia.

“This is where it was going to be,” D’Amaro said, explaining the choice of Abu Dhabi over other global destinations.

However, experts have raised concerns about profitability in the region. Dennis Speigel, founder of International Theme Park Services, said, “The Middle East has seen hits and misses as it relates to theme park and leisure development.” But he added, “I was surprised to hear the announcement at this time, but not surprised to learn Disney chose Abu Dhabi.”

Disney last announced a new resort in 2010 when it unveiled plans for Shanghai Disneyland. The Abu Dhabi park will follow Universal’s recent announcement of a UK resort and precede the opening of its new Epic Universe park in Florida.

Addressing competition, D’Amaro told CNBC, “Anytime something opens up in Central Florida, we get more tourists coming in… You’re not going to come into Central Florida and not go visit Star Wars. … We feel that we’re going to benefit from that.”

The announcement comes as Disney reported strong quarterly results. Revenue rose 7% year-on-year to $23.6 billion, with $4.4 billion in operating income. Theme parks accounted for 59% of the company’s operating income in fiscal year 2024. Domestic attendance saw a rebound, while international parks had mixed performance due to declines in China.

Disney’s streaming services also performed well. Disney+ added 1.4 million subscribers in Q2, bringing the total to 126 million. Hulu gained 1.3 million users. Sports revenue rose 5% to $4.5 billion, though income declined due to rising production costs tied to expanded football coverage.

CEO Bob Iger said on CNBC, “Even with consumer confidence somewhat down and some issues in terms of the economy, people still see a Disney theme park experience as really special. They’re just incredibly resilient.”

Disney said it remains cautious about the rest of the year. “We continue to monitor macroeconomic developments for potential impacts to our businesses and recognize that uncertainty remains regarding the operating environment for the balance of the fiscal year,” the company stated in its report.