Disney to Open Disneyland Abu Dhabi

Gotta admit….this one was certainly not on my bingo card. The Walt Disney Company and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, have announced an agreement to create a brand new Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The waterfront resort will be located on Yas Island. It will connect travelers from the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond. This will be Disney’s seventh theme park resort. It will combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture. It will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.

The new resort will be fully developed and built by Miral. (That means that Disney will not be paying for any of it. They will get royalties for using their characters and properties, etc.) In return, Disney and its Imagineers will lead creative design and operational oversight. The goal is to make sure that the resort provides a world-class experience that Miral will then operate.

Part of the reason for building this resort is that the UAE is located within a four-hour flight of one-third of the world’s population. It is also home to the largest global airline hub in the world. 120 million passengers travel through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year.  

Upon completion, the new theme park resort will offer signature Disney entertainment, themed accommodations, unique dining and retail experiences, and storytelling in a way that celebrates both the heritage of Disney and the futuristic and cultural essence of Abu Dhabi. There has been no timeline or anything announced, but best guess is that it will likely open somewhere between 8-10 years. This guess is purely based on past announcements that have been similar.

Stay tuned to A Disney World After All for more news about Disneyland Abu Dhabi.

But now, I want to know your thoughts. What do you think about Disneyland Abu Dhabi? You can share with me in the comments or on social! Find me on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, Threads,  BlueSky, and TikTok.

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