The Walt Disney Company is building its seventh theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, marking the first Disney destination in the Middle East. Located on Yas Island and developed in partnership with Miral, here is everything confirmed so far.
When Will It Open
No exact opening date has been confirmed. Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro indicated the process could take one to two years to design and another four to six years to build. Disney CEO Bob Iger told CNBC that construction alone could take up to five years once it begins.
The current projected window for opening sits between 2030 and 2033.
Where It Will Be Located
Disney Abu Dhabi will be built on Yas Island, covering an area of up to 200 hectares in the north of the island. Yas Island is already home to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, the Yas Marina Formula 1 Circuit, Abu Dhabi’s largest mall, and an award-winning golf course.
The UAE’s location was a key factor in the decision. It sits within a four-hour flight of one-third of the world’s population, and Abu Dhabi and Dubai combined handle around 120 million passengers annually.
What Kind of Park It Will Be
Disney has described this as the most advanced and interactive destination in its entire global portfolio. The park will push boundaries with its architecture, design, and technology, and will include Emirati cultural touches throughout.
D’Amaro said the waterfront location will allow Disney to tell its stories in entirely new ways. “Ultimately, it will be a celebration of what’s possible when creativity and progress come together,” he said.
The park will be open year-round, including during Abu Dhabi’s hot summer months, suggesting extensive indoor and climate-controlled areas throughout.
The Castle With a First
One of the most talked-about details confirmed so far is the design of the central castle. Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Vice President Zach Riddley confirmed that water will be incorporated into the castle’s design for the first time in Disney history.
“Abu Dhabi is a city on the water, and so we’re really excited about being able to incorporate water for the first time in the design of one of our castles,” he said in an episode of Disney’s We Call It Imagineering YouTube series.
Hotels, Shops, and Restaurants
The resort will include a hotel, shops, and restaurants. The exact number of hotels has not been confirmed. Disney theme park hotels around the world typically draw inspiration from the company’s films, and the Abu Dhabi resort is expected to follow the same approach.
Former Disney theme park designer Jim Shull said he strongly suspects there will be a hotel branded as Disneyland Hotel Abu Dhabi connected directly to the park.
In 2025, Abu Dhabi welcomed its first standalone Disney store at Yas Mall, and Dubai opened its flagship Disney store at Dubai Mall, signalling the brand’s growing regional commitment ahead of the park opening.
What Will It Be Called
The official name has not been finalised. Bob Iger referred to it as Disneyland Abu Dhabi in the official press release. The Yas Island website calls it Disney Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi government’s release referred to it as the Disney Theme Park Resort project.
Domain registration records show that Disney Enterprises also registered emiratesdisneyland.com, disneylandyasisland.com, yasdisneyland.com, disneylandarabia.com, and disneylandabudhabi.com, suggesting the final name has not yet been locked in.
What the Leaders Said
Disney CEO Bob Iger described the park as rising from the land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting-edge technology to offer deeply immersive entertainment experiences. He said it will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.
His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, said what is being created with Disney in Abu Dhabi is a whole new world of imagination that will inspire generations across the region and the world.
