With a schmaltzy package video, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed today “a spectacular new Disney theme park resort coming to Abu Dhabi.” Positioned as the seventh crowned jewel in the Disney Experiences lineup, the new theme park resort is expected to offer signature Disney entertainment, themed accommodations, unique dining, and retail experiences.
Here’s everything we know so far about the Disney expansion in Abu Dhabi.
Disney’s new waterfront resort will be created in partnership with Miral (leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi) and be located on Yas Island. Pulling from an old playbook, Iger noted that the destination will be “authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati” — similar words that he used when describing Disney’s similar expansion in Shanghai. With that in mind, the Mouse aims to combine Disney’s library of IP, characters, and attractions with a flare for Abu Dhabi’s culture, playing off the region’s distinct shorelines and iconic architecture.
Chairman of Disney Experiences Josh D’amaro promises Disney’s seventh theme park destination will be “the most advanced and interactive destination in our entire portfolio… anchored by a beautiful waterfront.”
Disney Imagineers will lead creative design and operational oversight but the new resort will be fully developed and built by Miral who will also operate the resort. The company already has a roster of family entertainment destinations on Yas Island that they have previously developed.
