Walt Disney has laid out plans to build its very first theme park ever in the Middle East. This future resort will be located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and was founded in association with local entertainment company Miral. Yas Island has existing attractions like SeaWorld and Warner Bros. World, and the new Disney park is likely to enhance the region’s status as an international entertainment hub.
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The firm emphasized the UAE’s strategic location, terming it an international tourism gateway. The Emirates are, as Disney says, within a four-hour flight from one-third of the world’s population, and more than 120 million passengers travel through Abu Dhabi and Dubai every year.
“Authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati”
Disney CEO and Chairman Robert Iger called the construction “an exciting moment” for the firm and promised the new Disneyland Abu Dhabi would be “authentically Disney and uniquely Emirati.” Yas Island, at 10 square miles, is 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi city center and under an hour from Dubai and is therefore strategically positioned for regional and international travelers.
Miral’s CEO, Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, called the park a milestone that will help make Yas Island an even more established destination for top-class entertainment. He also emphasized the contribution of the park towards driving long-term economic growth in Abu Dhabi and the region.
A legacy of global expansion
The unveiling is part of Disney’s long-term strategy of expanding for decades. Disneyland first opened in Anaheim, California, in 1955, and then Walt Disney World in Florida in 1971. Disney expanded internationally with Tokyo Disneyland in 1983, Disneyland Paris in 1992, Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005, and Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016.
The Abu Dhabi park would be Disney’s seventh theme park in the world and its first park in the Middle East, demonstrating the company’s confidence in the Middle Eastern tourism industry’s growing sector.
The news of the new theme park follows Disney’s release of better-than-expected finances. In its latest earnings release in the first quarter of 2025, Disney reported a 7% revenue increase to $23.6 billion. Its streaming service, Disney+, added 1.4 million subscribers despite an anticipated decline following the recent price hike.
U.S. theme park visitation also picked up, with greater spending per customer. Cruise bookings surged, especially following the addition of the new Disney Treasure ship. These positive signs helped to propel Disney’s stock upward, reflecting improved investor confidence.
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“Disney is feeling confident”
Detailing the momentum of the company, AJ Bell’s Danni Hewson explained that while most American companies are worried about the impact of tariffs and pressures on consumer spending, Disney is optimistic. CEO Robert Iger reiterated this by explaining that he is upbeat with the company’s “strength and resilience” in a competitive and uncertain time.
With rising global operations and strong earnings, Disney appears to be on the threshold of a new growth phase.
