Disney Unveils Plans for First New Theme Park in 15 Years with Abu Dhabi Resort
For the first time in over a decade, The Walt Disney Company has revealed plans to launch a new theme park — a landmark resort in Abu Dhabi, marking Disney’s official debut in the Middle East.
Announced shortly after the company posted strong second-quarter results, Disneyland Abu Dhabi will become Disney’s seventh global resort destination.
Disney’s theme parks have been a cornerstone of its financial performance, accounting for 59% of operating income in fiscal year 2024 as the company faces intensifying competition in the streaming space. While attendance at U.S. parks dipped slightly last year, Disney reported a rebound in domestic visitation and a surge in revenue for the first quarter. Internationally, resorts have shown more robust growth in both attendance and guest spending, although Disney faced setbacks in China where trade tensions led to declining attendance in Shanghai and Hong Kong, dragging down international park revenues for the quarter.
The Abu Dhabi resort will be fully developed, constructed, and operated by Miral, a local development company, with Disney Imagineers guiding creative and operational aspects. Slated for a potential opening in the early 2030s, the project includes at least one theme park and an unspecified number of hotels.
Josh D’Amaro, Disney Experiences chairman, says that each park must uniquely reflect its location through its design, cuisine, and cultural experiences. “We’re not just dropping in a duplicate of an existing park,” D’Amaro explained. “Abu Dhabi deserves something tailored.”
The city’s strategic position also influenced the decision. Abu Dhabi and Dubai aim to become top-tier global travel hubs, connecting one-third of the world’s population within four hours. This includes the 1.4 billion people in India, many of whom will find Abu Dhabi more accessible than Disney parks in East Asia. D’Amaro cited a regional market of roughly 500 million potential visitors with the means to travel to a Disney resort.
“This location was a clear choice for our seventh resort,” D’Amaro added.
The new Disneyland will sit on Yas Island, home to several major attractions developed by Miral, such as SeaWorld Yas Island Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World (licensed through CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery), and Yas Waterworld. Located just 20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and under an hour from Dubai, Yas Island also boasts a golf course, a marina, a shopping mall, and over 165 restaurants.
A Futuristic Vision
Disney promises its most technologically advanced park yet, aligning with Abu Dhabi’s modern, forward-looking image. Unlike traditional castle-centered parks, this one will feature a sleek, spiral-shaped crystal tower, breaking from classic fairytale designs.
It will also be Disney’s first resort located directly on a waterfront. While Tokyo Disney Resort borders the Pacific, its shores aren’t accessible to guests. The Abu Dhabi location will integrate the water directly into the visitor experience.
The resort is expected to leverage Disney’s growing investment in immersive technologies. D’Amaro mentioned tools like Unreal Engine — widely used in Disney’s film productions — could also power dynamic visual effects within attractions. “This allows us to bring stories from movies and games into the park in real time. We’re highly optimistic about the potential,” he said.
Facing Off with Universal
This is Disney’s first new park announcement since the unveiling of Shanghai Disneyland in 2010. It follows closely behind Universal’s recent news about its own seventh global resort, to be built in the United Kingdom, and just ahead of the debut of Universal’s Epic Universe in Florida — the first major park opening in the U.S. in 26 years.
Still, Disney isn’t worried about losing market share. D’Amaro told CNBC that Universal’s expansions in Florida tend to drive more traffic to Disney parks: “When something opens in Central Florida, we typically benefit. No one visits the area and skips Star Wars.”
He also revealed that the Abu Dhabi park has been in discussion for around ten years. In 2023, Disney’s theme parks welcomed over 140 million guests globally — more than any other amusement operator — including over 17 million each at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park, the world’s two most visited parks.
Domestic park visits slowed last year as U.S. travelers grew sensitive to rising costs and economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, international locations had outperformed, though Q1 saw domestic parks bounce back. Disney believes that investing in globally diverse locations helps cushion economic swings.
While speculation swirls around a possible fifth park at Walt Disney World, D’Amaro only referenced ongoing expansion within the current four parks, with no new park confirmed.
Financial Outlook
Alongside its park news, Disney announced robust financial performance, driven by both its parks and its media platforms like Disney+ and Hulu. The company posted $23.6 billion in revenue — up 7% year-over-year — and $4.4 billion in operating income, a 15% increase.
Disney’s entertainment streaming segment earned $10.7 billion in revenue and $1.3 billion in operating income. Disney+ added 1.4 million subscribers in Q2, overcoming a 700,000-subscriber loss in Q1 and bringing the total to 126 million. Hulu also grew, adding 1.3 million subscribers — a 3% increase. Direct-to-consumer profits jumped to $336 million, up from $47 million a year prior.
“We’re carefully monitoring macroeconomic conditions that could affect our operations,” Disney stated in its earnings release. “There’s still uncertainty around the economic landscape for the remainder of the fiscal year.”
