Disney has partnered with United Arab Emirates developer Miral to open the most technologically advanced Disney theme parks and resorts to date. The seaside destination, which still wants to be named, will be in Yas Island, about 20 miles from Abu Dhabi City and can be opened in the early 2030s. This will be the first new Disney theme park since the opening of Shanghai Disneyland in 2016.
Disney and Miracle released a video with clips of concept art and Disney properties, including Moana, Frozen and Tron. The video touts the beachfront location is an opportunity to create an interactive experience unique to this park.
“As our seventh theme park destination, it will rise from this land in a spectacular way, blending contemporary architecture with cutting-edge technology to provide guests with a deep immersive entertainment experience in a unique and modern way,” said Bob Iger, CEO of Disney.
A Disney spokesman told CNN that the company has been discussing the project for a decade and is interested in integrating technologies such as Unreal Engine into the attractions.
“This groundbreaking resort represents a new area of theme park development,” said Disney Experience Chairman Josh D’Amaro in a statement. “Our resort in Abu Dhabi will be the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio.”
Disneyland will celebrate its 70th birthday this month and will hold its event at its pristine park in Anaheim, California for the rest of the year.
Expand the coverage of Mickey Mouse
Disney and Miracle will be adding a very active entertainment scene on Yas Island, which already has Warner Bros. World, Ferrari World, and Yas Waterworld Park. The news was also released as Universal Studios will debut at the epic Cosmic Theme Park in Orlando this month.
Steve Frearson, founder and editor of WDWMAGIC, said the location in Abu Dhabi may be more about building new fans than attracting people from the rest of the world.
“It looks like Disney recognizes the major gap in its global coverage. Parts of the Middle East, South Asia and Africa represent a huge market of potential guests, and they rarely visit existing Disney parks,” he said. “The project is not about attracting visitors away from other resorts, but about reaching those who weren’t easy to get the brand before.”
Friesen said the news caught many Disney Watchmen off guard.
“Even the most dedicated Disney observer doesn’t have radar,” he said. “Some fans see it as a strategic move, especially after Universal announced its UK expansion. It feels like Disney is responding by building a major business in areas with limited scope to date.”
Fresen said that given the timeline and Miracle participation, fans can look forward to a large budget project that he believes “may be the real next level.”
“Miral hopes to issue a statement that without the typical budget constraints, imaginers can push the boundaries in ways we have never seen before. Fans will expect a park full of headline attractions – an experience rise at the Star Wars level, not just one or two things that have to be done, but the entire park,” he said.
Comments from Disney leadership, along with images released so far, led Frearson to believe that these companies can promote robotics and free-roaming characters through the parks compared to existing theme parks.
“It would be a castle park, but according to Iger’s early concept art and reviews, the castle looks very modern – like any castle we’ve seen at other Disney Parks, nothing,” Frelson said. “This alone shows that the difference and forward-looking nature of this project is shaped.”
