The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to develop a new theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi, marking the entertainment giant’s first venture into the Middle East and its seventh theme park location globally.
The project will be developed in partnership with Miral, a government-backed real estate and leisure company based in Abu Dhabi. The upcoming park is slated for Yas Island, a major entertainment hub that already houses attractions such as Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, and SeaWorld.
According to Disney, the new destination will feature the brand’s signature entertainment offerings, themed accommodations, curated dining and retail experiences, and immersive storytelling that merges Disney’s legacy with the futuristic and cultural elements of Abu Dhabi.
The strategic expansion aims to draw visitors from the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia that are geographically distant from Disney’s existing parks in Florida, California, Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
Disney has not disclosed the projected cost of the development or a timeline for its completion.
The announcement comes as the United Arab Emirates continues to face international scrutiny over labor practices and human rights conditions, particularly concerning its reliance on a predominantly migrant workforce.
Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2025 highlights persistent issues such as wage theft, illegal recruitment fees, and passport confiscation, conditions that can result in forced labor. The report also notes that outdoor migrant workers, particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, are subject to insufficient protections against heat-related illnesses and fatalities.
The planned Disney park will add to Abu Dhabi’s growing portfolio of leisure attractions, even as concerns persist about the labor conditions underpinning the region’s rapid development.
