The Seventh Disney Destination Will Extend the Company’s Global Reach and Captivate New Audiences in a Thriving, Dynamic Hub
The Collaboration Exemplifies Abu Dhabi’s Continued Commitment to Sustainable Growth, Positioning Travel and Tourism as Key Pillars of a Thriving Future
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, May 07, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, announced an agreement to create a landmark Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The waterfront resort will be located on Yas Island, a world-class destination for entertainment and leisure, connecting travelers from the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond. This seventh Disney theme park resort will combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture.
"Abu Dhabi is a place where heritage meets innovation, where we preserve our past while designing the future," His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman at Miral, said. "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."
The new resort will be fully developed and built by Miral. Disney and its legendary Imagineers will lead creative design and operational oversight to provide a world-class experience. Miral, which has developed a number of family entertainment destinations on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in collaboration with American and European brands, will operate the resort.
"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," said Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. "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. Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be 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 UAE is located within a four-hour flight of one-third of the world's population, making it a significant gateway for tourism. The UAE is home to the largest global airline hub in the world, with 120 million passengers traveling through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year.
"This groundbreaking resort destination represents a new frontier in theme park development," said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences. "Our resort in Abu Dhabi will be the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio. 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."
"Bringing a Disney theme park resort to Yas Island marks a historic milestone in our journey to further advance the island’s position as a global destination for exceptional entertainment and leisure," said Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO, Miral. "Together, we are creating a place of boundless innovation, where the vision of our leadership continues to inspire the world." The development of unique experiences will support sustained economic growth in Abu Dhabi and beyond.
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.
Further details will be announced as the project progresses. Please refer to the company’s 10-Q filing today for additional details regarding the agreement.
For downloadable media assets, please visit: https://disneyconnect.com/dxpress
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media enterprise that includes three business segments: Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenue of $91.4 billion in its Fiscal Year 2024.
About Disney Experiences
Disney Experiences brings the magic of The Walt Disney Company’s powerful brands and franchises — including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, ESPN, 20th Century Studios and National Geographic — into the daily lives of families and fans around the world to create magical memories that last a lifetime.
When Walt Disney opened Disneyland in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 1955, he created a unique destination built around storytelling and immersive experiences, ushering in a new era of family entertainment. Seventy years later, Disney has grown into one of the world’s leading providers of family travel and leisure experiences, with iconic businesses including six resort destinations: Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California; Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida; Tokyo Disneyland Resort; Disneyland Paris; Hong Kong Disneyland Resort; and Shanghai Disney Resort. These destinations encompass 12 theme parks and 57 resorts across three continents. Beyond theme parks, Disney Signature Experiences includes a top-rated cruise line with six ships and plans for seven more; a luxurious family beach resort in Hawai‘i; a popular vacation ownership program; and an award-winning guided family adventure business. Disney’s global consumer products operations include the world’s leading licensing business; the world’s largest children’s publishing brands; one of the world’s largest licensors of games across all platforms; Disney store locations around the world; and the Disney Store e-commerce platform.
These experiences are created by Disney Imagineers, the creative force behind experiences found in Disney theme parks, resort hotels and cruise ships.
About Miral
Miral, is the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, contributing to the growth of the leisure and entertainment industry and the City’s economic diversification. It conceives, creates, operates, and manages immersive destinations and experiences that attract visitors from across the world and create unforgettable memories, accelerating the realization of the Emirate’s tourism vision and growth.
Responsible for the development of Yas Island and overseeing Saadiyat Island's Destination Management Strategy, Miral’s portfolio of world-class assets incorporates entertainment, leisure, culture, sport, dining, retail, and hospitality experiences, aiming to deliver millions of memorable moments for residents and international guests alike. These include SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World™ Yas Island, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, CLYMB™ Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina, and Yas Bay Waterfront, home to the UAE’s largest indoor multi-purpose venue Etihad Arena, amongst others. Miral also has several projects being developed on Yas Island and across the emirate, including Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and a Harry Potter-themed land within Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.
Miral encompasses three subsidiaries: Miral Destinations, which promotes unique destinations; Miral Experiences, which operates a diverse portfolio of world-class, award-winning immersive experiences; and Yas Asset Management, which operates and manages a portfolio of vibrant destinations including F&B, retail, marinas and hospitality properties across Yas Island.
For more information, visit www.miral.ae.
About Yas Island
Located on the golden shores of Abu Dhabi - just 20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 50 minutes from Dubai, Yas Island, offers holidaymakers a diverse mix of leisure and entertainment experiences. From award-winning theme parks such as Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and Warner Bros. World™ Yas Island Abu Dhabi to incredible attractions such as the record-breaking CLYMB™ Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and the thrilling Yas Marina Circuit (home to the FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX™), visitors are bound to discover a world of entertainment options all within the 25 sq. km island.
Yas Island boasts world-class shopping at Abu Dhabi’s largest mall Yas Mall, eclectic dining at Yas Marina and Yas Bay Waterfront, Abu Dhabi’s vibrant day to night attraction and award-winning golf at Yas Links golf course. The island offers a year-round line-up of spectacular musical, entertainment and family events at Etihad Arena, the Middle East’s largest indoor entertainment venue and houses ten incredible hotels, including W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island, Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, and The WB™ Abu Dhabi, the world’s first Warner Bros. themed hotel. The destination also features WHITE Abu Dhabi, a one-of-a-kind multi-sensory indoor venue and more than 165 dining experiences dotting the island - complementing these attractions is a range of visitor services that connect all attractions to one another.
For more information, please visit https://www.yasisland.com/
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The terms "Company," "Disney" and as such terms relate to Disney, "we" and "our" are used to refer collectively to The Walt Disney Company and the subsidiaries through which its various businesses are actually conducted.
Certain statements and information in this communication may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the Company’s expectations and plans; the completion of the future theme park and resort project, including features, offerings and expected resulting benefits; consumer market, sentiment or demand; and other statements that are not historical in nature. Any information that is not historical in nature included in this communication is subject to change. These statements are made on the basis of the Company’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update these statements.
Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from actions taken by the Company, including business decisions, as well as from developments beyond the Company’s control, including: the occurrence of subsequent events; consumer preferences and acceptance of our offerings; international developments, including tariffs and other trade policies, political or military developments; regulatory and legal developments; and natural disasters.
Additional factors are set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, including, as applicable, under the captions "Risk Factors," "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and "Business," and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250506310227/en/
Contacts
The Walt Disney Company
Alannah Hall-Smith
alannah.hall-smith@disney.com
818-731-8423
David Jefferson
david.j.jefferson@disney.com
818-319-2961
Melissa Britt
melissa.b.britt@disney.com
714-271-7411
Mike Long
mike.p.long@disney.com
818-560-4588
Miral
Media Enquiries Contact:
Amjad Saqer, Account Director – Weber Shandwick
+971 50 8664910
yasislandpr@webershandwick.com
