In a move set to reshape the theme park landscape in the Middle East, The Walt Disney Company and Abu Dhabi-based destination developer Miral have unveiled plans to launch a world-class Disney resort on Yas Island. The new development, set along the island’s picturesque waterfront, will mark Disney’s seventh global theme park resort and its first in the Arab world.
The announcement signals a significant expansion for Disney, bringing its signature brand of storytelling and family entertainment to a region that connects key international markets across the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, and Europe. This new resort is poised to tap into one of the most strategic global travel corridors with the UAE located within a four-hour flight of one-third of the world’s population and serving as a major air hub with over 120 million passengers transiting through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year.
Miral, the developer behind many of Yas Island’s flagship attractions, will fully fund and develop the project, while Disney Imagineering will take creative leadership, ensuring the experience aligns with the brand’s globally recognised standards. The resort will be authentically Disney while also reflecting the cultural richness, innovation, and architectural flair of the UAE.
“This project is an extraordinary step forward,” said Robert A. Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. Disneyland Abu Dhabi will blend cutting-edge technology with regional inspiration, offering immersive entertainment experiences in fresh, globally resonant ways. It will be a celebration of our timeless stories, uniquely imagined for this dynamic part of the world.”
Echoing that vision, His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, stated, “Abu Dhabi is where heritage and innovation meet. Our collaboration with Disney reflects our shared ambition to create something visionary – a new world of imagination and wonder that will inspire families for generations.”
