Disney and Miral to Open Seventh Theme Park in Abu Dhabi on Yas Island

Disney has exciting news for theme park enthusiasts and fans of magical experiences: they are set to open their seventh theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi on the picturesque waterfront of Yas Island. This ambitious project is being developed in partnership with Miral, Abu Dhabi's leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences. Miral, known for creating 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 the lead on the operational side, Disney's Imagineers will play a crucial role in leading the creative design and providing operational oversight. This ensures that the park will deliver a world-class Disney experience. Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed 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 explained. "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 his 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 park will feature Disney's first-ever modern castle, which concept art suggests will be a striking tower of glass or crystal. The tagline, 'A whole new world awaits,' hints that Aladdin may play a significant role in the park's theme. Disney has been discussing this project since 2017, with the plans solidifying last year, according to Iger's interview with ABC News.

When asked about the timeline, Iger told CNBC, "We’re not pinning down a date yet. It typically takes us between 18 months and two years to design and fully develop and approximately five years to build but we’re not making any commitments right now." He highlighted the strategic location of the park, noting that about a third of the world's population lives within a four-hour flight from the UAE, which is also the world's largest global airline hub, with 120 million passengers traveling through Abu Dhabi and Dubai annually. This new park will strategically fill a gap in Disney's global presence 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. 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 new park will join Disney's impressive lineup of destinations, which includes Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Shanghai Disney, and now, the yet-to-be-named park in Abu Dhabi.

Josh D'Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, described the upcoming resort as "the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio." He added, "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 insights into the world of Disney, explore our exclusive coverage of our visit to Walt Disney Imagineering, where we learned about the first-ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic, and get all the details about Disneyland's 70th anniversary and the Disney Destiny.