The theme park industry was on edge, eager to see how Walt Disney Company and Disney Parks, the division responsible for amusement parks, would respond to Universal’s latest move. Universal was grabbing all the attention with the opening of its third futuristic park in Orlando and the announcement of a new park in the United Kingdom.
The future destination for Disney park fans is Abu Dhabi.
The list of Disney parks around the world has just grown following today’s official announcement. The Imagineers will have the daunting task of creating a seventh park that combines the authentic Disney touch with the spirit of the United Arab Emirates, after the sixth and last park to be built, Disneyland Shanghai.
“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.“Bob Iger, the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, set out the guiding principle for this new park in his statement. Yet why opt for Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates?
A strategic region for tourism and theme parks
You can be sure that when Disney makes an announcement like this, it has been carefully thought out down to the smallest detail. The new park is set to be built on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi — an artificial island developed by the emirate — which is already home to renowned attractions such as Ferrari World, SeaWorld and Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi.
The Miral Group will build and operate the parks, as well as the future Disney park in Abu Dhabi. This is a strategically important region for several reasons:
- It will be the first Disney park on the African continent, a significant milestone for the entertainment industry.
- The UAE is less than a four-hour flight from a third of the world’s population.
- Disney could be the real draw needed to boost tourism in the region.
- The emirate has solid financial guarantees to offer.
Welcome to Disney Abu Dhabi, a Disney park like no other!
The destination may surprise, but it is the style of the new park that is truly eye-catching. Just look at the ultra-futuristic concept for the Disney castle to see why. The style is so different from the usual Disney castle look that it looks more like something from a fairy tale than the work of a postmodern architect! Then again, it could be a reimagining of Arendelle Castle!
Not only will this castle stand out from all the others, but its location within the park will also be unique: it will face both the park and the sea!
At this stage, information about the size of the park is limited. The concept art suggests that it will either be enormous or tiny and close to the other parks on Yas Island. It is also hard to imagine an outdoor park given that temperatures can easily reach 50°C in summer! Finally, the question on everyone’s lips is: when will it open?
Given that it takes an average of three and a half years to build a Disney park, might we be able to visit this one in 2030? Josh D’Amaro, President of Disney Experiences, has promised to release more information soon. We can’t wait!
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