Disney Announces It Will Open Its Seventh Theme Park in Abu Dhabi With Miral on Yas Island

Disney has announced that it volition officially beryllium opening its seventh taxable parkland and edifice successful Abu Dhabi connected the waterfront of Yas Island with the assistance of Miral.

As elaborate by Disney Parks Blog, this caller taxable parkland volition beryllium afloat developed, built, and operated by Miral, which is Abu Dhabi's "leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences" and is liable for different specified experiences connected Yas Island similar Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, and SeaWorld Yas Island.

Disney and its Imagineers volition inactive beryllium heavy progressive successful the task and volition "lead originative plan and operational oversight to supply a world-class experience." Furthermore, Disney's CEO Bob Iger said successful Disney's Q2 2025 Earnings Call that the institution is investing nary superior but volition inactive get royalties.

"So, determination isn't immoderate ownership," Iger said. "We ain our IP and licence it to them is fundamentally the agreement."

This caller taxable parkland edifice successful Abu Dhabi volition beryllium 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

“This is simply a thrilling infinitesimal for our institution arsenic we denote plans to physique an breathtaking Disney taxable parkland edifice successful Abu Dhabi, whose civilization is affluent with an appreciation of the arts and creativity,” Iger besides said successful a statement. “As our seventh taxable parkland destination, it volition emergence from this onshore successful spectacular fashion, blending modern architecture with cutting-edge exertion to connection guests profoundly immersive amusement experiences successful unsocial and modern ways.

"Disneyland Abu Dhabi volition beryllium authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati – an oasis of bonzer Disney amusement astatine this crossroads of the satellite that volition bring to beingness our timeless characters and stories successful galore caller ways and volition go a root of joyousness and inspiration for the radical of this immense portion to bask for generations to come.”

While we didn't larn excessively overmuch much astir this caller park, it was confirmed that it volition beryllium anchored by Disney's first-ever modern castle. In a portion of conception creation shared with the announcement, it looks similar the castle volition beryllium a operation of solid oregon crystal with immoderate stunning architecture. The tagline, 'A full caller satellite awaits," besides hints astatine Aladdin being portion of the park.

Disney has been earnestly discussing this task since 2017, but Iger mentioned successful an interrogation with ABC News that it was "crystalized" past year.

Iger besides spoke to CNBC and discussed a spot astir the timeline of this project.

"We’re not pinning down a day yet,” Iger said. “It typically takes america betwixt 18 months and 2 years to plan and afloat make and astir 5 years to physique but we’re not making immoderate commitments close now.”

Iger past noted that astir 1/3 of the world's colonisation lives wrong astir a four-hour formation of the UAE, which is besides location to the largest planetary hose hub successful the satellite that sees 120 cardinal passengers traveling done Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year. This besides volition capable successful nicely successful the satellite representation of Disney Parks, arsenic it volition capable the spread the institution has successful the Middle East region.

“Abu Dhabi is simply a spot wherever practice meets innovation, wherever we sphere our past portion designing the future,” His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman astatine Miral, said. “The collaboration betwixt Abu Dhabi and Disney demonstrates the singular results of combining visionary enactment and originative excellence.

"What we are creating with Disney successful Abu Dhabi is simply a full caller satellite of imaginativeness — an acquisition that volition animate generations crossed the portion and the world, creating magical moments and memories that families volition treasure forever. Through the improvement of unsocial attractions and experiences, Abu Dhabi continues to beryllium a destination of prime for the world.”

When this parkland is complete, Disney volition person Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, Honk Kong Disneyland Resort, Shanghai Disney, and this presently unnamed parkland successful Abu Dhabi.

Josh D'Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, added that this edifice volition beryllium the "most precocious and interactive destination successful our portfolio."

“This groundbreaking edifice destination represents a caller frontier successful taxable parkland development,” D’Amaro said. “The determination of our parkland is incredibly unsocial – anchored by a beauteous waterfront – which volition let america to archer our stories successful wholly caller ways. This task volition scope guests successful a full caller portion of the world, welcoming much families to acquisition Disney than ever before. Ultimately, it volition beryllium a solemnisation of what’s imaginable erstwhile creativity and advancement travel together.”

For much successful the satellite of Disney, cheque retired our acquisition of being invited to Walt Disney Imagineering to larn much astir the first-ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic and everything you request to cognize astir Disneyland's 70th day and the Disney Destiny.

Adam Bankhurst is simply a writer for IGN. You tin travel him connected X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst, Instagram, and TikTok, and perceive to his show, Talking Disney Magic.