Entertainment giant says UAE mega project remains firmly on track as plans move forward for Middle East’s first Disney theme park
ABU DHABI — The Walt Disney Company has confirmed that development plans for Disneyland Abu Dhabi are proceeding despite ongoing regional instability and tensions stemming from the recent US-Israel-Iran conflict.
In a letter released alongside the company’s latest quarterly earnings, Disney publicly reaffirmed its commitment to the massive UAE project for the first time since regional tensions escalated following the outbreak of war on February 28.
The letter, signed by Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro and CFO Hugh Johnston, stated that the “strategic logic” behind the Abu Dhabi park remains unchanged.
“We have multiple experience expansions underway using a capital-light model,” the company said. “Major new theme parks are necessarily long-term in nature given the lead time of these projects.”
First Disney park in the Middle East
Announced in May 2025, Disneyland Abu Dhabi will become Disney’s seventh global theme park destination and its first-ever park in the Middle East.
The resort joins Disney’s existing parks in California, Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
The project is being developed on Yas Island in partnership with Miral Group, the Abu Dhabi-based developer behind several of the UAE capital’s major entertainment destinations.
Under the agreement, Miral will oversee construction and operations, while Disney will handle creative direction, attractions, and overall guest experience design.
Disney executives signal confidence in UAE project
Earlier this year, Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi shared details of discussions with the leadership of Disney Parks International regarding the future of Disneyland Abu Dhabi.
“We at the Miral Group are excited for what is next,” Al Zaabi wrote on social media following meetings about the project’s progress.
In January, Disney CEO Bob Iger also shared the first public look at the future site on Instagram, posting images from the coastal development area in Abu Dhabi.
“Walking the site of what will one day be Disneyland Abu Dhabi! Lots of work ahead, but all very exciting!” Iger wrote.
When the project was first announced, Iger described the future resort as “the most advanced and interactive destination” in Disney’s global portfolio.
He also emphasized that the waterfront location would allow Disney to create experiences “in completely new ways.”
“Distinctly Emirati” Disney experience
Although construction remains in its early planning and design stages, Disney says the park will blend classic Disney storytelling with Emirati culture and identity.
Iger previously said the resort would be “distinctly Emirati” while still preserving Disney’s signature atmosphere and global appeal.
Formal groundbreaking activities and detailed construction timelines are expected to become clearer throughout 2026 and beyond.
Industry analysts estimate the mega-resort could officially open in the early 2030s, consistent with the lengthy development cycles of previous Disney theme parks.
The announcement comes as the UAE continues expanding its global tourism and entertainment ambitions despite heightened geopolitical uncertainty across the region.
