Walt Disneywill open a new magic kingdom and theme park in the United Arab Emirates' capital of Abu Dhabi. The collaboration between Walt Disney and local leisure and entertainment company Miral will be the first of its kind in the Middle East.
Disney already has six theme parks across North America, Europe and Asia. The most recent opened in Shanghai in 2016. Disney's Experiences unit Chairman Josh D´Amaro told Reuters: "We've always been interested in this part of the world - to bring our Disney stories to new, younger fans. "Abu Dhabi was an ideal location for us."
The theme park will be located on Yas Island, about 8,400 miles away from Anaheim, California, the site of the first Disneyland that opened in 1955. The UAE is home to the largest global airline hub in the world, with 120 million passengers traveling through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year.
Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer of the Walt Disney Company, said: "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.
"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. Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati - an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world that will bring to life our timeless characters and stories in many new ways and will become a source of joy and inspiration for the people of this vast region to enjoy for generations to come."
Miral will fully develop and build the new resort while Disney and its legendary Imagineers will lead creative design and operational oversight to provide a world-class experience.
Miral, which has developed a number of family entertainment destinations on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in collaboration with American and European brands, will operate the resort.
Josh D'Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences, said: "This groundbreaking resort destination represents a new frontier in theme park development.
"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. Ultimately, it will be a celebration of what's possible when creativity and progress come together."
Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, added: "Bringing a Disney theme park resort to Yas Island marks a historic milestone in our journey to further advance the island's position as a global destination for exceptional entertainment and leisure.
"Together, we are creating a place of boundless innovation, where the vision of our leadership continues to inspire the world." The development of unique experiences will support sustained economic growth in Abu Dhabi and beyond.
