The UAE will soon become one of the happiest places on earth! Disneyland Abu Dhabi is on its way to Yas Island. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), and Disney chief executive Bob Iger announced the project at the W Abu Dhabi on May 7.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will look distinctly Emirati
Abu Dhabi will be home to Disney’s seventh theme park destination. While Miral will develop and build the magical structure, Disney’s Lead Imagineers will supervise the creative design and operations. The best part, however, is that Disneyland will appear distinctly Emirati and will be the brand’s most advanced and interactive park.
Expect cutting-edge technology to blend Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture. Does that mean this, the Disney structure rising from the sands of Yas Island, might resemble the Arabian palace from Aladdin’s Agrabah instead of the quintessential Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella castles? We’ll have to wait and watch.
What rides and experiences will it have?
What we do know is that once this magical resort opens, it will include signature Disney rides (fingers crossed for Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean) and roving entertainment, themed accommodations, unique dining and retail experiences, and storytelling.
If the above two-and-a-half-minute video shown at the announcement event is a teaser, expect Mickey Mouse, the princess parade and characters from beloved franchises like The Lion King, Star Wars, Moana and Marvel Cinematic Universe that have delighted generations to be present at this theme park.
So, when will Disneyland Abu Dhabi open?
Sorry to Bibbidi-Bobbidi burst your bubble, but there’s no fixed opening date in sight. However, Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences, has mentioned that a park of this scale could take anywhere from 1-2 years to design and 4-6 years to build.
Abu Dhabi gets Middle East’s first Disney attraction
This is the first time in 15 years that Walt Disney has announced a new theme park and resort. Then there’s the added excitement that Abu Dhabi was handpicked as the location of Disney’s first-ever attraction in the Middle East.
“Everywhere we looked, we were convinced that this was a perfect place for us,” D’Amaro says. “Of all the places that we could choose from, there did not seem to be any place that is better than [Abu Dhabi].”
Considering that Abu Dhabi is home to other world-class entertainment experiences like Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, we couldn’t agree more!