Disney To Launch 'Middle East' Theme Park In Abu Dhabi. Here's When It Will Open

The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to open its first theme park in the Middle East. The new Disneyland Abu Dhabi resort, located on Yas Island, will be Disney’s seventh global resort. The announcement comes shortly after the company reported strong second-quarter earnings.

The move signals a major expansion for Disney’s parks division, which has been a key financial engine for the company. In fiscal year 2024, parks contributed 59% of Disney's operating income, even as competition in the streaming sector continues to intensify.

While domestic park attendance dipped slightly last year, Disney reported a rebound in US attendance and strong revenue growth in the first quarter. International parks have shown more promising trends in guest spending and growth, except in China, where attendance dropped at Shanghai and Hong Kong parks due to ongoing trade tensions.

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The Abu Dhabi resort will be developed, built, and operated by Miral, a local company, with Disney Imagineers leading creative design and providing operational oversight. Plans for the project include one theme park and an unspecified number of hotels, with an anticipated opening in the early 2030s.

“Every time we open a new experience or a theme park, it’s really important not just to take a park that might exist somewhere else and simply transplant it,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, in an exclusive interview with CNN’s Becky Anderson. “Each park should reflect the culture, the food, and the spirit of its specific location and that’s exactly our goal in Abu Dhabi.”

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