Disney ParksThe Walt Disney Company
Disney Goes All in on $60 Billion Investment, Seventh Theme Park Resort Officially Announced
The Walt Disney Company has come out of the gates strong ahead of its upcoming earnings call.
In recent years, Disney executives have been vocal about the billion-dollar investment in its theme parks and resorts—and that is now clearer than ever. In addition to updates at locations like Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and Disneyland Paris, Disney will now unleash its seventh theme park resort.
While fans have been clamoring for a fifth gate at Walt Disney World Resort for ages, that will have to wait–at least for the time being. On May 7, The Walt Disney Company officially announced Disney Abu Dhabi.
In a move that’s sure to send shockwaves through the theme park world, The Walt Disney Company is officially setting its sights on the Middle East. Teaming up with Miral, the company behind some of Abu Dhabi’s most immersive destinations, Disney has announced plans to bring a groundbreaking resort to Yas Island.
Positioned along the waterfront of this already iconic entertainment hub, the upcoming Disney destination promises to be nothing short of monumental. With its central location bridging the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe, Yas Island is primed to become a global magnet for Disney fans, tourists, and thrill-seekers alike. While specific details remain under wraps, the promise of a Disney theme park in the UAE marks a major expansion for the House of Mouse—and one that could redefine what fans can expect from a Disney experience outside the U.S. and Asia.
“Abu Dhabi is a place where heritage meets innovation, where we preserve our past while designing the future,” His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman at Miral, explained via a Disney press release. “The collaboration between Abu Dhabi and Disney demonstrates the remarkable results of combining visionary leadership and creative excellence. What we are creating with Disney in Abu Dhabi is a whole new world of imagination — an experience that will inspire generations across the region and the world, creating magical moments and memories that families will treasure forever.”
On the new addition, Bob Iger said:
“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.”
As for Josh D’Amaro, Disney Experiences chief and potential successor to Bob Iger, he said: “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 definitely shows Disney is putting its money where its mouth is after Bob Iger’s recent comments about “turbocharging” the theme park brand. “Last year we talked about our plans to turbocharge growth in this segment through strategic investments,” he said at a shareholders meeting via Bloomberg. “Right now, we have more projects underway around the world than at any time in our history.”
It was in late 2023 that Disney revealed its 10-year plan:
The Walt Disney Company is developing plans to accelerate and expand investment in its Parks, Experiences and Products segment to nearly double capital expenditures over the course of approximately 10 years to roughly $60 billion, including by investing in expanding and enhancing domestic and international parks and cruise line capacity.
The arrival of Disney Abu Dhabi firmly shows that Disney is pushing further afield when it comes to its resort and guest experiences. Only time will tell how this new resort comes to life–and what Intellectual Property will be featured.
How do you feel about this major new addition to Disney’s theme park resort portfolio? Let us know in the comments down below!
So this is why Americans are being priced gouged in the US parks? To pay for a $60+ BILLION dollar park? I am all for inclusion and making Disney accessible but not at the cost of the common family who need to take a loan out just to have the opportunity to see the park once in their lifetime. I thought the return of Bob Iger was going to reset the company back to its original morals, apparently not. Between failed movie concepts to adding a new park, I am disheartened that Corporate is washing their hands of the US but expects us to pay for their bad decisions.
Disney is not paying for the park. A company called Miral is who already owns several theme parks in Abu Dhabi
Disney is all about “inclusion” and “diversity”, but they’re gonna build a park in one of the least inclusive or diverse places in the world? Women are treated like second class citizens in Arab culture. Gays? Punishable by death. Alcohol? Nope- gonna go to prison. This is unbelievable from a company who has been a self proclaimed pious leader for the LGBTQ, BIOPIC, you name it cause of the day, to now wantkng to spend billions in a country that is 100 percent the opposite of all
The things they have been virtue signaling in the USA! People should be outraged.
Great points to prove Disney only cares about profit.
Frankly this just seems like “talk” to boost the share price to sell the company
As an avid Disney fan and passholder for many years, I am totally against this project. What are they thinking building a theme park in the middle east??? Do they actually think this is going take off? Not happy.
They aren’t paying for it.
Just so everyone here knows, this was NOT included in the 60B investment. Disney is paying ZERO for this.
It is a royalty deal, just like they did not pay for Tokyo Disney Resort and the Oriental Land Company. Miral, who already owns four other MAJOR theme parks in Abu Dhabi, including Sea World, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World, and Ferrari World, is paying for all of the construction, design, and development.
Disney is actually making money. Not only do they get a royalty deal like they do with Tokyo Disneyland, but they are also charging them for Imagineering time and development.
It’s why Disney stock jumped 10% today. Disney was literally just given Billions of dollars. Pretty much the opposite of what everyone is commenting on here.
Excuse me, but Disney pays when these foreign parks fail to attract crowds. The they just cut back on US parks and increase costs to US patrons.
What a joke, disney has been jacking park ticket and resort prices through the roof and giving nothing in return. The same worn out parade has been in the Magic kingdom for 11 years now, it took 4 years to retheme an existing attraction, so many other attractions that were classic have been or will be destroyed to make way for different areas. Instead of building a park that 80% of the disney guests will never be able to go to, how about putting that 60 billion estimate into making wdw a park like it used to be. The average family of 4 can no longer afford to take a disney vacation to the parks. How can it take 4 years to retheme an attraction, and it isn’t all that breath taking or cutting edge technology, and yet look at universal, it’s taken about 5 to 6 years to design and build an entire new park. Universal is on the cusp of taking over as the leader in theme parks. And it’s more affordable for people to go there.
Just another reason not to support Disney. They are taking the American families for granted. Mr. Walt Disney was all about the American family, remember Carousel of Progress anyone, they even had a song they sang during the ride? The 1st time I went was in 1964 with my parents and the last time was 1n 2028 in Orlando with my kids. I will never buy another Disney product again, especially after this announcement.
I say figure out how to quickly move guests along at the two main parks without charging so much and increase the simplicity of going to a park before creating a huge new one.
Disney went all in on their fallacious campaign against what the called the “Don’t Say Gay” law. No they are putting in a theme park where LGBT people are imprisoned and whose lives are in peril. If that isn’t hypocrisy to the extreme, I await correction. They are talking out of both sides of their collective mouths.