The Walt Disney Company announced on May 7, 2025, its seventh theme park resort, Disneyland Abu Dhabi, to be located on Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This marks Disney’s first venture into the Middle East, a significant expansion following the 2016 opening of Shanghai Disneyland.
The Abu Dhabi project is Disney’s first new resort in 15 years and follows Universal’s announcement of a UK resort, intensifying global theme park competition. Disney dismisses concerns about competition, citing increased tourism from new attractions.
Location: Yas Island, a 10-square-mile entertainment hub 20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 50 minutes from Dubai. The island is a global tourism destination, hosting 120 million passengers annually through Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports, the world’s largest airline hub. One-third of the global population is within a four-hour flight, making it strategically positioned to attract visitors from the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, and Europe.
Partnership: Disney is collaborating with Miral, an Abu Dhabi-based, state-owned developer responsible for Yas Island’s existing attractions, including Ferrari World Yas Island, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi (opened 2018), and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest indoor marine theme park. Miral will fully fund, develop, and operate the resort, while Disney’s Imagineers will lead creative design and provide operational oversight, earning royalties and service fees without direct capital investment.
The addition of Disneyland Abu Dhabi expands Disney’s global footprint to seven resort campuses, reinforcing its dominance in the theme park industry, which hosted over 140 million guests in 2023. Unlike Disneyland Paris, which struggled initially with cultural adaptation and financial losses, Disneyland Abu Dhabi benefits from Miral’s funding and Yas Island’s established tourism infrastructure. Paris’ Disneyland Park, with its 140 acres and 15.3 million annual visitors, sets a high bar for aesthetic and operational excellence, but its smaller Walt Disney Studios Park (62 acres, expanding) highlights the challenges of secondary gates. Abu Dhabi’s resort, with its waterfront focus and advanced technology, aims to rival or surpass Shanghai Disneyland’s modernity while avoiding Paris’ early pitfalls by leveraging local cultural integration and a strategic location.
However, Disney must navigate the UAE’s human rights issues, which echo criticisms faced in Florida. While Paris has matured into a cultural and economic success, Abu Dhabi’s success will hinge on balancing Disney’s family-friendly brand with regional sensitivities and delivering on promises of a technologically superior park. The crystal castle and waterfront attractions suggest a bold vision, but the lack of specific details on attractions or timelines leaves room for skepticism, especially given the seven-year development horizon.
In summary, Disney’s 12 current parks across six resorts will grow to include Disneyland Abu Dhabi, a high-stakes venture blending innovation with cultural nuance. Disneyland Paris, with its strong attendance and ongoing expansion, remains a benchmark for international resorts, but Abu Dhabi’s unique positioning and Miral’s investment could redefine Disney’s global strategy—if it overcomes ethical and operational challenges.
Emirates fairytale: Disney opens theme park in Abu Dhabi
Concept art highlights a spiraling, crystal-like castle as the park’s centerpiece, described as a “modern castle unlike anything we’ve ever created.” The waterfront location will integrate water as a storytelling element, with attractions designed to “play with water in a completely new and unique way.”
The resort will feature themed accommodations, unique dining and retail experiences, and attractions blending Disney’s iconic stories and characters with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and futuristic architecture. It aims to be “authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati,” incorporating local cultural elements.
Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro called it “the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio,” leveraging cutting-edge technology for immersive entertainment.
Timeline and Cost:
No official opening date has been set, but Disney CEO Bob Iger estimated an 18-month to two-year design phase and approximately five years for construction, suggesting a potential opening around 2032.
The project’s cost is undisclosed, but similar “castle” parks typically exceed $5 billion. Miral’s full financial backing alleviates Disney’s capital burden, aligning with its strategy to expand without diverting from its $60 billion investment plan for existing parks and cruises.
Economic and Strategic Significance:
The park is expected to drive tourism to Yas Island, supporting Abu Dhabi’s goal to diversify its economy beyond oil. It targets an addressable market of 500 million people with high Disney affinity, part of Disney’s broader aim to reach 700 million unserved fans globally.
Yas Island already features advanced attractions like the world’s fastest roller coaster and the highest non-inverted loop coaster, positioning Disneyland Abu Dhabi within a competitive entertainment complex.
Controversies and Considerations:
The UAE’s human rights record, including the imprisonment of academics and activists and arrests of LGBTQ+ individuals, has raised concerns, as noted by Human Rights Watch. Disney’s decision to partner in the region follows careful study, with Iger calling the park a “huge endorsement” of Abu Dhabi’s commitment to technology and creativity.
Disney has faced criticism for not strongly opposing anti-LGBTQ+ policies in Florida, where its “experiences” sector (theme parks, cruises, etc.) generates 60% of annual profit. This history may amplify scrutiny of its UAE venture, though Disney has not directly addressed these concerns beyond Iger’s statements.
Disney’s Broader Context:
The announcement coincided with strong fiscal Q2 2025 earnings, with the Parks, Experiences, and Products segment reporting a 10% revenue increase to $8.4 billion and 59% of Disney’s operating income in 2024. International parks have shown growth potential, though attendance in Shanghai and Hong Kong recently declined due to economic and trade challenges.
As of May 2025, The Walt Disney Company operates 12 theme parks across six resort campuses worldwide, with a seventh resort campus, Disneyland Abu Dhabi, announced but not yet operational. These parks are located in four countries across three continents: the United States, France, Japan, and China (including Hong Kong and Shanghai). The resorts are:
- Disneyland Resort (Anaheim, California, USA):
- Disneyland Park
- Disney California Adventure Park
- Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando, Florida, USA):
- Magic Kingdom
- Epcot
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Disneyland Paris (Marne-la-Vallée, France):
- Disneyland Park
- Walt Disney Studios Park (to be renamed Disney Adventure World in 2025)
- Tokyo Disney Resort (Urayasu, Chiba, Japan):
- Tokyo Disneyland
- Tokyo DisneySea
- Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (Hong Kong, China):
- Hong Kong Disneyland
- Shanghai Disney Resort (Shanghai, China):
- Shanghai Disneyland
- Disneyland Abu Dhabi (Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE):
The six operational resorts currently host 12 theme parks, with six being “castle parks” (featuring a central iconic castle, typically named Disneyland or Magic Kingdom) and the remaining six having other themes, such as cinematic or maritime focuses.
Statistics for Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris, located in Marne-la-Vallée, France, opened in 1992 (originally as Euro Disneyland) and consists of two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park (set to be renamed Disney Adventure World in 2025). Below are key statistics and details:
- Size:
- Disneyland Park: Approximately 140 acres.
- Walt Disney Studios Park: Currently 62 acres, the smallest Disney theme park, but undergoing an expansion to double its footprint by 2025, potentially making Hong Kong Disneyland the smallest park thereafter.
- Total resort campus: ~4,940 acres (including hotels, Disney Village, and other facilities).
- Attractions:
- Disneyland Park features over 50 attractions across themed lands: Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Discoveryland. Notable rides include Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. The park’s Sleeping Beauty Castle is considered one of the most visually stunning Disney castles.
- Walt Disney Studios Park has fewer attractions but is expanding with new lands like Avengers Campus, Worlds of Pixar, World of Frozen (2026), Pride Lands (Lion King-themed), and Adventure Bay (2025). Current unique rides include Crush’s Coaster and Ratatouille: The Adventure.
- Attendance:
- In 2023, Disneyland Paris welcomed approximately 15.3 million visitors across both parks, making it Europe’s most visited theme park destination. Specific breakdowns show Disneyland Park as the primary draw, with Walt Disney Studios Park seeing lower attendance due to its smaller size and fewer attractions.
- Hotels and Amenities:
- Eight resort hotels with over 5,700 rooms, including the recently renovated Disneyland Hotel.
- Disney Village, a shopping and dining district, complements the resort.
- The resort employs around 16,000 cast members.
- Economic Impact:
- Contributes significantly to the French tourism industry, generating billions in economic activity annually and supporting thousands of jobs.
- Recent Developments:
- Walt Disney Studios Park’s expansion, doubling its size, includes new lands and a retheme to Disney Adventure World, aiming to elevate its status among Disney parks. The park has been criticized for lacking the depth of other Disney properties but is improving with additions like World Premiere Plaza (2025).
Perception: Disneyland Paris is often praised for its aesthetic beauty, particularly Disneyland Park’s intricate design and castle, but criticized for operational challenges like high costs and occasional maintenance issues. It ranks highly for its themed spaces but lags in ride quantity compared to larger resorts like Walt Disney World.
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