Disneyland: First theme park planned in the Middle East
There will be a new Disneyland. The company announced plans to build a seventh theme park in the United Arab Emirates. The theme park will be built directly on the waterfront on Yas Island near Abu Dhabi.
“The seventh Disney theme park resort will combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with the vibrant culture, stunning coastlines and impressive architecture of Abu Dhabi,” promises Disney .
What visitors can expect in the new Disneyland, when the park will open and why Abu Dhabi was chosen as the new location: an overview.
To date, there is a Disneyland Resort in California, the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, the Tokyo Disney Resort, the Disneyland Resort Paris, a Hong Kong Disneyland, and a Shanghai Disney Resort. The first Disneyland was in Anaheim, California, and opened in 1955. All of these theme parks feature different themed areas and offerings that, in addition to the typical Disney attractions, always adapt to the local culture.
Abu Dhabi is now set to be similar. It will feature signature Disney entertainment, themed accommodations, and unique dining and shopping experiences that celebrate both the Disney heritage and the futuristic and cultural essence of Abu Dhabi, the company explains. "Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctively Emirati," explained Disney CEO Bob Iger.
Disney hasn't yet announced any details about which attractions the park will feature. However, initial concepts indicate that it could be a mix of indoor and outdoor attractions.
Disney hasn't announced an official opening date yet. However, during the project's presentation, they spoke of a "five-year vision of Yas Island." This would mean that Disneyland in Abu Dhabi is scheduled to be completed in 2030. However, it could take a little longer. Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney's Experiences theme park segment, explained that planning a project of this magnitude could take one or two years, and implementation could take another four to six years.
However, the theme park is not being developed and built by Disney itself, but by the Miral Group, an Abu Dhabi-based company specializing in leisure development. The company was also responsible for the construction of Ferrari and Warner Bros. Entertainment's theme parks on Yas Island. Among other projects, Seaworld and a water park were also developed there by Miral.
Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates are a rapidly growing tourist destination, with millions of people now visiting the emirate's capital every year. Yas Island is just a few kilometers from Zayed International Airport, which can handle up to 45 million people per year.
Disneyland is to be built on Yas Island, which is already home to many other leisure activities in Abu Dhabi.
Source: IMAGO/Dreamstime
Disney explains that the goal is to attract travelers from the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, and Europe. The United Arab Emirates is within a four-hour flight distance of one-third of the world's population.
In addition, according to Disney CEO Iger, there is the advantage that Abu Dhabi is far enough away from the other Disney parks, "so that we don't see this as a kind of cannibalism of the places where we already operate."
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