Disney Unveils Plans for Seventh Theme Park in Abu Dhabi's Yas Island with Miral

Disney has exciting news for fans and travelers alike: they've announced the opening of their seventh theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi, situated on the picturesque waterfront of Yas Island. This venture is being brought to life in collaboration with Miral, Abu Dhabi's premier creator of immersive destinations and experiences. Miral, known for managing attractions like Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, and SeaWorld Yas Island, will fully develop, build, and operate this new Disney park.

While Miral takes on the operational responsibilities, Disney and its Imagineers will play a crucial role in the project. They will lead the creative design and provide operational oversight to ensure a world-class experience. Disney's CEO Bob Iger emphasized during the Q2 2025 Earnings Call that Disney will not invest any capital in the project but will receive royalties. "So, there isn't any ownership," Iger clarified. "We own our IP and license it to them is essentially the agreement."

This new theme park resort in Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati - combing Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture. ✨ https://t.co/M1GHeYgr4H #YasIsland… pic.twitter.com/IyjODlj9ar

— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) May 7, 2025

Iger expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, "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. 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."

He further described the park as "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."

The new park will feature Disney's first-ever modern castle, a striking tower of glass or crystal, as seen in the concept art. The tagline 'A whole new world awaits' suggests that the park might include themes from Aladdin. Discussions about this project have been ongoing since 2017, with plans solidifying last year, according to Iger in an ABC News interview.

In a CNBC interview, Iger mentioned that while no specific opening date has been set, the typical timeline for such projects involves 18 months to two years for design and development, followed by approximately five years for construction. He also highlighted the strategic location of Abu Dhabi, noting that about a third of the world's population lives within a four-hour flight of the UAE, which is also home to the world's largest global airline hub. This new park will nicely fill the gap Disney has in the Middle East region.

His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman at Miral, emphasized the synergy between Abu Dhabi and Disney, saying, "Abu Dhabi is a place where heritage meets innovation, where we preserve our past while designing the future. The collaboration between Abu Dhabi and Disney demonstrates the remarkable results of combining visionary leadership and creative excellence."

He added, "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."

Once completed, this park will join the ranks of other Disney destinations, including Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, and Shanghai Disney. Josh D'Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, described the new resort as "the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio."

D'Amaro elaborated, "This groundbreaking resort destination represents a new frontier in theme park development. 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."

For more updates on Disney's ventures, you can explore our coverage of being invited to Walt Disney Imagineering to learn about the first-ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic and everything you need to know about Disneyland's 70th anniversary and the Disney Destiny.