The new Disney theme park and resort that will come up in Abu Dhabi has already generated a lot of buzz, the seventh Disney theme park resort and the first in the Middle East.
Set to come up in a couple of years, the part is being developed through a partnership between The Walt Disney Company and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences.
While Disney is yet to reveal the specifics of the park, the entertainment giant has already revealed that there will be accommodation, dining, and retail on site. A Disney hotel (or hotels) is also expected, according to reports.
But, the latest buzz is about the location, thanks to a photograph shared by Disney CEO Bob Iger. The CEO shared photos on Instagram from Yas Island, hinting at Disneyland Abu Dhabi’s likely location near the island’s northern edge. “Walking the site of what will one day be Disneyland Abu Dhabi! Lots of work ahead, but all very exciting!” the CEO captioned.
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The images feature landmarks matching Yas North, including a jetty and a Yas sign along the E12 Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Highway approaching the western entrance to the island.
Yas Island is a premier leisure destination that already features major attractions such as Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Yas Island, hotels, beaches, and entertainment venues.
The project was announced in May last year. Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be the company’s first all-new location since Shanghai Disney Resort opened in 2016. According to Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Josh D’Amaro, the project could take “a year or two to design, and another four to six years to build”. “The design will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati”, Iger said at the launch announcement.
Soon after the announcement, Disney released the first concept art of a modern Disney castle. The initial artwork reveals a sleek, contemporary castle rising from both sand and water, marking the first truly modern Disney castle design in the company’s theme park history.