Last year, Disney announced a partnership with Miral to create a theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The seventh Disney location worldwide will be a waterfront resort on Yas Island, blending Disney's stories, characters, and attractions with Abu Dhabi's culture, coastlines, and architecture.
Now, The National has reported that the new park could open as soon as 2029, saying: "In May, Entertainment + Culture Advisors, a consultancy working on the project, said in an advert that the land is expected to open in 2029, but Miral hasn't officially announced the timeframe."
Plans continuing
Miral, Abu Dhabi's creator of immersive destinations, will fully develop and build the new resort, which will also be operated by Miral. Disney and its Imagineers will lead the creative design and provide operational oversight.
Once finished, the new resort will feature Disney-themed entertainment and attractions, themed hotels, and exclusive dining and retail options.
Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, group CEO of Miral, has said the destination will be "authentically Emirati in style, but fully Disney in experience."
He added: “We want visitors to feel the culture of the UAE while enjoying the magic of Disney.”
See also: Whose utopia? Rethinking cultural localisation in theme park design
New concept art shared by Aldar Properties suggests Disneyland Abu Dhabi won’t be entirely indoors Aldar
Disney has secured the domain for Disney World Abu Dhabi, suggesting plans for multiple theme parks at its upcoming Middle East resort, modelled after the Orlando, Florida location.
In May 2026, the Walt Disney Company reaffirmed that its plans for a theme park in Abu Dhabi are still "unchanged," according to a letter to shareholders published with its most recent quarterly earnings.
Earlier this month, concept art shared by Aldar Properties seemed to suggest that the Disney resort in Abu Dhabi won’t be entirely indoors and may feature fireworks.
