Calling all Disney fans: A new theme park is on its way.
The Walt Disney Company has announced it will open its seventh resort in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
But the park, which is Disney’s first major attraction in the Middle East, is different: it will be fully built and developed by another company.
Disney has collaborated with Miral, a leader in immersive experiences and the face behind many of the United Arab Emirates’ world-famous destinations.
The resort will be constructed on man-made Yas Island, one of the UAE’s largest tourism projects.
Sign up to The Getaway newsletter
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here.
Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro has claimed the resort will be ‘one of the most advanced theme parks’ ever built.
He told USA Today: ‘We’ve got an opportunity here to build from the ground up and really put on display all of this ambition, all this innovation, all this new technology that we have at hand to create something incredibly special for our fans.’
What can Disney fans expect?
Disney will have full creative control of the resort and will oversee the entire process. Miral is tasked with developing and building the ambitious venture.
Due to the location of the new park, there will be a strong emphasis on United Arab Emirates culture, along with Disney’s signature feel.
Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger emphasised this, saying: ‘Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.
‘When you walk into it, it will feel Disney. But it will also reflect the Emirati culture. It will reflect the cultures from around the world that come into this beautiful place.’
Zooming in on Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a forward-thinking and state-of-the-art city, Iger said the park will ‘rise from this land in spectacular fashion.’
He said it will blend ‘contemporary architecture with cutting-edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways.’
As for rides, it’s still early days. However, D’Amaro has teased that there’ll be a strong focus on water because of Yas Island’s coastal location.
Though water slides and epic log flumes have yet to be confirmed, one can make an assumption.
D’Amaro added: ‘We will be right up against water, so we’ll be able to play with water in a completely new and unique way that we haven’t been able to do in some of our other destinations. You can think about that water coming into our resort almost playing a character in a way.’
When will the new Disney park open?
Again, as the announcement has just been made, Abu Dhabi locals – and anyone who loves to holiday there – will have to wait a while.
Iger has also confirmed that they’re ‘not pinning down a date yet.’
Instead, he said that Walt Disney Imagineering, the company responsible for creating, designing and constructing Disney attractions, has started the design process.
Speaking with CNBC, Iger explained the process that goes into a project this size. He said designing and developing a resort usually takes between 18 months and two years. It then takes approximately five years to build.
‘We’re not making any commitments right now,’ he concluded.
However, should this timeline prove true, designs would finish in 2027. This means theoretically, the park wouldn’t officially open until 2032.
Where are the other Disney resorts?
Thankfully, there are six other Disney theme parks and resorts around the world that we can enjoy in the meantime.
These include: Disneyland Resort in California, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, and Shanghai Disney Resort.
What to do on Yas Island
Yas Island is already a world-famous holiday hotspot.
Currently, it’s home to a slew of glamorous entertainment and retail experiences.
From Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros and Yas Waterworld, there’s also the Yas Marina Circuit, one of four Formula One tracks in the Middle East.
Fancy a shopping trip? The island also boasts Abu Dhabi’s largest mall, Yas Mall.
MORE: Inside the plan for £189,000,000 futuristic ‘very light’ transport system
MORE: Much-loved UK theme park abandoned for nearly two years set to reopen
MORE: Major travel requirement change you need to fly across US comes into effect today
#Disney #theme #park #Middle #East #major #difference
