Disney to Launch Theme Park in the Middle East

 

Walt Disney has revealed plans to open its first-ever theme park in the Middle East, marking a significant expansion into the region.

The new resort will be located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), in partnership with the local leisure and entertainment company, Miral.

Currently, Disney operates six theme parks across North America, Europe, and Asia, with its most recent addition being in Shanghai in 2016. Miral, responsible for the development of Yas Island as a key tourist destination, also operates SeaWorld and Warner Bros. World, and is working on a Harry Potter-themed park.

In a statement, Disney highlighted the UAE's strategic location within a four-hour flight from a third of the world’s population, positioning it as a prime gateway for tourism. With 120 million passengers traveling through Abu Dhabi and Dubai annually, the UAE is the world’s largest global airline hub.

Disney's CEO, Robert Iger, expressed excitement over the new project, calling it a "thrilling" milestone for the company. He emphasized that Disneyland Abu Dhabi would be "authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati."

Yas Island spans 10 square miles (25 square kilometers) and is located 20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 50 minutes from Dubai. Miral’s CEO, Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, described the opening of the Disney park as a major milestone in enhancing Yas Island’s status as a premier global destination for entertainment, supporting economic growth in Abu Dhabi and beyond.

Disney’s first theme park, Disneyland, opened in Anaheim, California in 1955, followed by Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida in 1971. Since then, Disney has expanded internationally, opening parks in Tokyo (1983), Paris (1992), Hong Kong (2005), and Shanghai (2016).

In addition to this announcement, Disney reported stronger-than-expected results for the first quarter of 2025, with a 7% increase in revenue, reaching $23.6 billion. The company also saw a rise in Disney+ subscribers, with 1.4 million new customers joining, and higher attendance at U.S. parks, where visitors spent more. Additionally, there was an uptick in cruise bookings following the debut of the new Disney Treasure ship.

Despite global economic uncertainties and competition, Iger expressed confidence in Disney's performance, citing the company’s strength and resilience in the market. Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, noted that while many businesses were concerned about the impact of tariffs and consumer spending, Disney's confidence remained strong.