Yas Island Comes to Life For a Nighttime Spectacular to Celebrate the Birth Disney Abu Dhabi
The Walt Disney Company rocked the entertainment industry yesterday when Bob Iger announced that a new Disney theme park resort was coming to Abu Dhabi.
“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,” Iger proudly announced.
According to the Disney CEO, Abu Dhabi was chosen due to its location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Additionally, the United Arab Emirates is already one of the largest global travel hubs. 20 million passengers travel through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year.
“It’s a park that is a four-hour flight away from one-third of the world’s population,” Iger noted on CNBC.
The Resort Will Be Owned and Operated By Mira
Unlike most of the other Disney Parks, the new Abu Dhabi resort will not be owned and operated by Disney. Instead, Miral, an Abu Dhabi-based company specializing in creating immersive destinations and experiences, will provide the upfront capital to construct the resort and oversee its development and operation.
Photo: Disney
Disney will then license its intellectual properties and contribute Walt Disney Imagineering’s expertise. The arrangement is similar to that of Tokyo Disneyland.
Yas Island Comes Alive to Celebrate
To celebrate the start of a new partnership and the birth of Disney Abu Dhabi, Miral hosted an extravagant party!
Photo: Disney
Set against the backdrop of the Yas Island waterfront, the sky came alive with the largest drone show ever performed in the region. 9,000 drones were joined by lasers and fireworks to create the nighttime spectacular.
As onlookers looked to the sky, images of a Disney castle and landmarks from across the UAE, including Burj Khalifa and Aldar HQ, came to life before their eyes.
Photo: Disney
On hand for the festivities were global celebrities including Tyrese Gibson, Naomi Campbell, Nancy Ajram, Chiara Ferragni, and Ed Westwick.
World-renowned pianist Lang Lang, Emirati singer Rashed Alnuaimi, Kerry Ellis, and Sonya Balsara also performed.
All in all, the celebration was an awe-inspiring reminder that something new is brewing in Abu Dhabi.
