The historic entertainment company lands in the United Arab Emirates with a strategy far from leftist ideologies
From a business perspective, Disney sees this project as a way to diversify its revenue amid the decline in cable television viewership and the decrease in box office due to its productions filled with leftist ideologies.
It also hopes to boost other products like Disney+, Marvel franchises, and its line of derivative products in new markets. Additionally, the park aims to avoid the cannibalization of other Disney complexes, by being geographically distant from them.
The Walt Disney Company and the Emirati company Miral announced on May 7, 2025, a historic agreement to build a new theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, becoming the seventh Disney complex worldwide.
Located on the artificial island of Yas, the new park will integrate into the coastal environment of the emirate and combine Disney's iconic storytelling and characters with modern architecture and the cultural heritage of the United Arab Emirates.
Miral, known for developing entertainment destinations like Warner Bros. World and Ferrari World on Yas Island, will be responsible for the development and operation of the complex. Disney, meanwhile, will lead the creative design and oversee the operational experience, through its famous Imagineers.
Unlike other parks, Disney will not directly finance or manage the new complex, but has granted a license to use its brand to Miral, receiving royalties and commissions in return.
The announcement represents a strategic expansion for Disney in a region with rapid tourism growth. The park in Abu Dhabi is part of the country's ''Tourism Strategy 2030'' which aims to attract 39 million visitors annually by the end of the decade.
With a prime location, 20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and less than an hour from Dubai, and within a four-hour flight radius for one-third of the world's population, the resort is designed to attract tourists from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. This proximity and accessibility, combined with the cultural growth environment in Abu Dhabi, make the new park a strategic opportunity for Disney.
The design of the new park will be completely unique, adapted to the local context. Josh D’Amaro, president of Disney Experiences, revealed that the park will feature a futuristic castle ''like no other we've created,'' situated by the sea.
Conceptual images show an avant-garde and transparent structure, which reflects both Disney's innovative spirit and the aesthetics of Abu Dhabi's architectural megaprojects.
However, the announcement also caused great optimism among Western consumers. This is because the new park in the United Arab Emirates will not feature the ''woke'' ideology that Disney implements in other theme parks, mainly in the United States.
Anticipating a series of progressive criticisms, a Disney spokesperson stated that the company is respectful of the cultures and countries where it operates, while maintaining its own corporate values and standards.
