Disneyland Abu Dhabi: What We Know About Disney’s New Yas Island Theme Park

If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing Disney magic against a coastal backdrop, there’s exciting news: Disneyland is officially coming to Abu Dhabi.

Disney and Abu Dhabi-based developer Miral announced plans for a new Disney theme park and resort on Yas Island in 2025. It will be Disney’s first theme park and resort in the Middle East and its seventh destination of its kind worldwide, joining existing Disney resorts in California, Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.

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The first Disneyland in the Middle East will rise on Yas Island

Image credit: Simply Abu Dhabi | FB page

The new Disneyland will be built on Yas Island, one of Abu Dhabi’s biggest entertainment and tourism hubs. The island is already home to attractions such as Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.

The Disney theme park and resort will have a waterfront setting, adding a coastal element to the destination. According to Experience Abu Dhabi, the project will combine Disney’s stories and characters with advanced technology and distinctive architecture.

While Disney has not yet revealed the park’s individual lands or attractions, the project is expected to bring a new type of Disney experience to the region.

Yas Island’s existing collection of theme parks, hotels, entertainment venues, and other attractions also means visitors will have plenty to explore beyond Disneyland once the new resort opens.

Disney and Miral are teaming up to build a next-level theme park

Image credit: Simply Abu Dhabi | FB page

This massive project is a collaboration between The Walt Disney Company and Abu Dhabi-based developer Miral.

Miral will finance, develop, build, and operate the resort, while Disney Imagineering will lead its creative development.

Disney has said the destination will combine its well-known stories and characters with Abu Dhabi’s local culture and setting. In 2026, Disney also showcased footage of Imagineers researching Emirati culture and heritage, including visits to Al Ain Oasis and Qasr Al Hosn.

The resort is planned for a waterfront location on Yas Island and is expected to feature immersive entertainment, themed accommodation, dining, and shopping alongside the theme park. However, Disney has not yet announced the specific rides, lands, or attractions that visitors can expect.

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Opening date not confirmed yet, but it’s already a must-watch

So, when’s the grand opening? There’s still no officially confirmed opening date for Disneyland Abu Dhabi.

The project remains in its early design stages. Experience Abu Dhabi currently says the park is expected to open sometime between 2030 and 2032, although this is an expected window rather than an officially announced date from Disney.

The project is still moving forward. In September 2026, Miral CEO Mohamed Al Zaabi confirmed that the company continues to work closely with Disney, saying the teams meet regularly to discuss the project. He did not provide a specific opening date.

For now, travellers will have to wait a little longer before finding out exactly what Disneyland Abu Dhabi will look like. But with its waterfront location, Disney storytelling, and connection to the growing attractions of Yas Island, the upcoming resort is shaping up to be one of the Middle East’s biggest new theme park destinations.

For travellers from the Philippines, it could also become another reason to add Abu Dhabi to a future Middle East trip once the park eventually opens.