Disney Is Building A Brand-New, State-Of-The-Art Theme Park In This Middle Eastern Capital

When people associate the word Disney with a location, the first places to come to mind are usually adorned with palm trees and endless sunshine. Although Disney has expanded its ventures from the U.S. to include both Europe and Asia, the company isn't finished with its global expansion. No, what may come as a surprise to fans of the popular franchise is that a new theme park, the seventh of Disney's resorts, will be making its way to the Middle East. Partnering with development company Miral (which will build, fund, and operate the park), The Walt Disney Company is setting sights on its newest park location on Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates.

The island is already a large hub in the world of entertainment, playing host to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi (featuring the world's fastest rollercoaster), Yas Waterworld, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, and the Formula 1 Yas Marina Circuit, making it an easy choice for Disney's new theme park location. According to Disney CEO Bob Iger in a press release, "This is a thrilling moment for our company as we announce plans to build an exciting Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, whose culture is rich with an appreciation of the arts and creativity. It will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting-edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways."

While specific details about the park and its designs and attractions are still under wraps, early reports suggest that the Abu Dhabi location will differ from Disney's traditional resorts by incorporating advanced technologies and a distinct regional flair. However, the park will still maintain the storytelling magic and illusions that have defined Disney for nearly a century. 

In keeping on theme with Disney magic, Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, detailed that the park will be "showcasing groundbreaking technology and visionary architecture (but also) a modern castle unlike anything we've ever created." According to a press release put out by Disney, aside from unique, technologically advanced rides and incredible designs, upon completion, the park will also "offer signature Disney entertainment, themed accommodations, unique dining and retail experiences, and storytelling in a way that celebrates both the heritage of Disney and the futuristic cultural essence of Abu Dhabi."

The UAE is already a leading tourist destination (as well as a top destination for digital nomads), with its airports seeing one billion passengers pass through between 2015 and 2024. This played a large part in Disney's decision to expand its endeavors to this location, as D'armaro mentioned in a Q&A at the MoffettNathanson Conference that Abu Dhabi sits within a four-hour flight of nearly one-third of the world's population. Yas Island being less than 30 minutes from Abu Dhabi and an hour from Dubai, also makes its location a top choice.

D'Amaro also stated that "this is a crossroads for the world essentially ... The numbers were clear. This is a part of the world we wanted to be operating in." On top of all that, the Abu Dhabi Transport Company recently announced its plans for Abu Dhabi Tram Line 4, which would connect travelers from the airport straight to Yas Island, making access to the parks even easier. In an interview with CNBC, Iger discussed the anticipated timeline for the project. "We're not pinning down a date yet," he said. "It typically takes us between 18 months and two years to design and fully develop, and approximately five years to build, but we're not making any commitments right now."