Disney mentioned Wednesday it might construct a Disneyland in Abu Dhabi, marking its first-ever theme park within the Center East and its seventh worldwide.
Key particulars like opening date or price range weren’t shared, however we all know it’s going to be on Yas Island – town’s hub for leisure venues, and will likely be solely developed and financed by Miral.
Miral is a government-backed developer in Abu Dhabi that constructed Yas Island and lots of the belongings on it, together with Ferrari World, SeaWorld and Warner Bros World, all on the identical island.
For its half, Disney “will lead inventive design, attraction growth and operational oversight,” a press launch states. Importantly, it is going to be Miral working the theme park, not Disney.
“Miral will totally fund this mission. They’ll construct the mission…. After which in the end, when it’s totally constructed out, they’ll function it, with oversight from us,” mentioned Disney Parks chairperson Josh D’Amaro in an interview on CNBC.
Disney CEO Bob Iger mentioned in an announcement that the mission will likely be “distinctly Emirati,” referencing the native tradition of the UAE. “Disneyland Abu Dhabi will likely be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati – an oasis of extraordinary Disney leisure at this crossroads of the world.”
This mission will add to parks in California, Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
Within the interview on CNBC, Iger mentioned Disney has already begun designing the park, however could not give a gap date. “We’re not pinning down a date but. It usually takes us between 18 months and two years to design and totally develop and roughly 5 years to construct. However we’re not making any commitments proper now,” Iger mentioned.
The mission has been within the works for years, in response to a Miral government on LinkedIn. “When Miral began this mission again in 2019, we code named it “Challenge Mars”, and it’s because we weren’t solely aiming for the moon, however we have been aiming a lot additional and much past it,” wrote Abdulaziz Alkhoori, Government Director of Group Technique & Transformation.
He added: “This would be the single most vital tourism, leisure, and leisure mission within the historical past of this lovely nation and within the area.”
What In regards to the Warmth?
Very like Florida within the summertime, the temperatures in Abu Dhabi may grow to be an actual subject. Temperatures typically surpass 100°F within the emirates, and might even attain 120°F in the summertime months.
In Florida, the place Disney World is situated, the Nationwide Climate Service points “extreme warmth warnings” if temperatures move 110°F for greater than two hours.
Theme Parks within the Center East
The Worldwide Affiliation of Amusement Parks and Points of interest estimates that the amusement park trade within the Center East and Africa grew by greater than $470 million in 2024. Points of interest within the Center East and elements of Africa generated $24.3 billion in income in 2023, it mentioned.
Dubai and the opposite emirates have had large-scale parks for years, however Saudi Arabia is coming in with quite a few tasks of its personal.
Most of Saudi Arabia’s theme park belongings are centered in a single place: Qiddiya, a new-build ‘leisure metropolis’ promising a dozen such parks.
In Qatar, a $5.5 billion theme park was introduced 40 minutes from Doha final 12 months.
Journey Inventory Index Efficiency 12 months-to-Date
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