Context:

Disney is set to open its first-ever theme park in the Middle East, partnering with Miral to develop a park and resort on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. This marks Disney's seventh theme park resort, with its imagineers leading the creative design and operational oversight. The development will not be part of the $60 billion Disney has earmarked for its theme parks over the next decade. Disney CEO Bob Iger expressed excitement about the project, highlighting the unique blend of contemporary architecture and cutting-edge technology that will offer immersive entertainment experiences. Although the design process has begun, no specific timeline for the park's opening has been announced, with construction expected to take approximately five years.

Dive Deeper:

• Disney has announced the opening of a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, marking its first in the Middle East and the seventh in its global portfolio. The project is a collaboration with Miral, a company specializing in immersive destinations and experiences.

• The park and resort will be situated on Yas Island, a location already home to several high-profile attractions such as Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, and Warner Bros. World, alongside the Formula 1 Yas Marina Circuit.

• Disney's imagineers will spearhead the creative design and operational oversight, ensuring the park offers deeply immersive and technologically advanced entertainment experiences that integrate modern architectural aesthetics.

• The expansion into the UAE follows Disney's gradual entry into the region, which has included the introduction of retail locations and touring entertainment shows like Broadway’s The Lion King and Disney on Ice.

• While the project is separate from Disney's $60 billion theme park investment plan for the next decade, it represents a strategic move to reach new audiences and provide interactive experiences in a culturally rich location.

• Disney CEO Bob Iger and Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney experiences, emphasized the project's potential to offer storytelling in novel ways due to its unique waterfront setting, promising a larger and more advanced park than any currently existing.

• No definitive opening date has been set, though the design phase typically takes 18 months to two years, followed by a construction period of approximately five years, indicating a long-term development plan.

• Disney is expanding to the Middle East!

• The Walt Disney Co. announced that a theme park is coming to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (May 7), via CNBC.

• The company reached an agreement with immersive destination and experiences company Miral to bring a park and resort to Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates.

• It will be Disney’s seventh theme park resort, and it will be fully developed and built by Miral. Disney’s imagineers will lead creative design and operational oversight on the project.

• The development in Abu Dhabi is not part of the $60 billion that Disney has pledged to invest in its theme parks over the next decade, per the news report.

• Keep reading to find out more…

• “This is a thrilling moment for our company as we announce plans to build an exciting Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, whose culture is rich with an appreciation of the arts and creativity,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger, in a statement.

• “As our seventh theme park destination, it will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways.”

• He said imagineers have already begun designing the park, but did not reveal a timeline for opening.

• “We’re not pinning down a date yet,” he said to CNBC. “It typically takes us between 18 months and two years to design and fully develop and approximately five years to build but we’re not making any commitments right now.”

• Disney has slowly been entering the UAE in recent years by adding retail locations and touring entertainment shows like Broadway’s The Lion King and Disney on Ice.

• Yas Island is also home to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, and the Formula 1 Yas Marina Circuit.

• “This groundbreaking resort destination represents a new frontier in theme park development,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney experiences.

• “Our resort in Abu Dhabi will be the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio. The location of our park is incredibly unique – anchored by a beautiful waterfront – which will allow us to tell our stories in completely new ways. This project will reach guests in a whole new part of the world, welcoming more families to experience Disney than ever before…it’ll be much larger than anything that’s currently here.”

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