What’s the Latest on Disneyland Abu Dhabi
On May 7th, 2025, Abu Dhabi officials achieved something they’d tried to get for more than 15 years.
On that day, The Walt Disney Company confirmed that it would build a theme park in the city.
Photo: The Walt Disney Company
We’re almost exactly one year later in the process, and it’s time for an uncomfortable progress update.
What’s the latest on Disneyland Abu Dhabi? As you might imagine, the news isn’t great.
Disney Plots Abu Dhabi Development
Walt Disney Company
In 2009, a Disney executive made an impactful decision when Jay Rasulo said no.
Rasulo, best-known recently for being the Disney turncoat who aligned with Nelson Peltz, wasn’t a popular figure then, either.
(Photo by Kevin Lorenzi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The executive ran Disney’s theme park division at the time…and not great.
Disney theme park development stagnated during the early 2000s, and everyone knew it.
Photo: restorethemagic.com
So, Rasulo contemplated ways to reinvigorate the brand, including new theme parks.
At one point, Disney considered the growing tourist destination of Abu Dhabi as a possibility.
(AP File photo)
Alas, Rasulo stepped on those dreams in May 2009, being a bit dismissive in the process:
“At the moment, there’s very little about Dubai in America, and there needs to be more branding out there.”
(Photo by Matthew Simmons/Getty Images)
To his credit, he correctly stated, “The Middle East’s tourism industry is in its early days.”
That was an accurate assessment of the market and of what would happen next. Abu Dhabi and Dubai, its neighbor 130 miles away, have grown into popular tourist destinations.
Not coincidentally, Disney reconsidered its plans last May, publishing this announcement:
The fact that Bob Iger helmed this reveal will become a fascinating trivia note in future years.
Photo: Disney
I say this because Iger’s legendary tenure as Disney CEO ended in March 2026.
At this point, Disneyland Abu Dhabi may not arrive until a decade after Iger’s retirement. So much has happened with this project in calendar 2026 alone. Let’s quickly review the details.
Abu Dhabi’s Shocking 2026
If you’re interested in this project, the first thing I’ll suggest is that you follow Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi on LinkedIn.
As the CEO of Miral, he’s the focal point of this project on Abu Dhabi’s side.
Saudiprojects.con
Even better, he is more transparent in his dealings than American executives tend to be.
Here’s a post from last month wherein he briefly discussed a meeting with a Disney exec.
Disney
Importantly, the executive he mentions is Tasia Filappatos, who was recently named President and Managing Director of Disney Parks International.
So, yeah, that’s a significant meeting from the perspective of Disney fans. He states:
“We look forward to working closely with Tasia in her new role and wish her every success as she leads and strengthens Disney’s international resort relationships around the world.”
Filappatos replied, “It was a pleasure meeting you in London – I greatly enjoyed the exchange of ideas.”
Ordinarily, that would sound like corporate speak, but it’s not right now.
The United States and Iran have entered into a prolonged conflict with no clear resolution. Even after a ceasefire was announced, the two countries reopened hostilities soon afterward.
The United Arab Emirates and its city, Abu Dhabi, unexpectedly find themselves caught in the middle of this conflict.
The Khaleej Times notes that the UAE has been the victim of more than 2,800 Iranian airstrikes.
Iran has targeted the UAE more than any other country as I type this, and Abu Dhabi has suffered.
While the UAE’s defense systems have worked remarkably well, some infrastructure has been damaged.
In light of the fact that UAE is de facto at war right now, no Disney theme park construction will be occurring anytime soon.
Miral
That’s just the reality here, which elevates the intrigue that Miral is still meeting with Disney.
This Project Is Still Happening
disney
Based on the currently available information, Disneyland Abu Dhabi is still happening.
Miral is moving forward as if that’s the plan by adding hotel inventory in the area. This step is vital since Disney had previously estimated 32 million annual park guests.
Currently, Yes Island, the intended location of the theme park, cannot handle that many guests.
Wikipedia
At last count, Yas Island offered fewer than 3,500 rooms in its total inventory.
For comparison, Disney’s Port Orleans resorts alone have more than 3,000.
Yas Island promises 30 percent more hotel rooms within five years, but current events make that tougher.
For Disney to create the kind of interest Iger expected, those hotel rooms are a necessity.
Experience Abu Dhabi
So, that’s the first reason why this project may experience a delay. Well, technically, it’s the second.
Disney and Miral won’t be able to build until the Iran conflict has been resolved.
Photo: Disney
A Disney theme park’s construction would be a top target for Iranian airstrikes since it’d garner headlines.
As such, we should be clear that Disneyland Abu Dhabi is currently in a holding pattern.
Even though both parties want to complete this project, it won’t break ground anytime soon.
At one point, Miral had optimistically indicated the park could open in 2031, possibly even 2030.
Photo: Disney
That timeline is completely impossible now, barring something unforeseen such as an instant end to the conflict.
The wild part is that Iger and Disney’s new CEO, Josh D’Amaro had visited Abu Dhabi in late January.
Photo: Mark Abramson for The New York Times
At the time, the project was advancing rapidly. Now, it has experienced a complete disruption.
What We Know and What Happens Next
Forbes
On March 18th, Al Zaabi confirmed that Disneyland Abu Dhabi will happen.
They even registered several domains, including DisneyWorldAbuDhabi.com.
Photo: Disney
Let’s remember that many reaffirmed projects over the course of Disney history have still collapsed.
Despite this fact, I firmly believe Al Zaabi, as this theme park remains a total win for Disney.
Photo: Disney
Miral will pay Disney licensing fees while also footing the bill for all construction costs.
So, Al Zaabi and Miral are the ones who will ultimately decide on the project’s viability.
miral
Unless something drastic changes – which we certainly cannot rule out in a war zone – Miral appears committed.
Notably, Al Zaabi made these comments on LinkedIn while congratulating Thomas Mazloum on his promotion.
Disney
Mazloum is now Chairman of Disney Experiences, overseeing Filappatos in her new role.
A few days after Al Zaabi made this post, he then met with Filappatos, which tells the story.
Photo: Thomas Mazloum on LinkedIn
Disney is clearly still in constant contact with Miral, and that’s not all.
During the Disney Annual Shareholders Meeting, D’Amaro explicitly spoke about Disneyland Abu Dhabi.
Photo: Disney
In a few days, Disney’s new CEO will host his first Fiscal Earnings Call and will likely answer questions, too.
We may get some clarity then, although I expect vague answers since so much remains up in the air.
When Will the New Park Open?
What we know right now is that the United States suggested that citizens in the UAE depart the country.
Right now, Miral and Yas Island are offering unprecedented theme park deals for the locals.
Experience Abu Dhabi
They’re doing this because tourism in the region has understandably dried up. It’s not a safe place to be.
For the time being, we’re all in wait-and-see mode, but my best guess is that this is a multi-year delay.
Walt Disney Company
Barring a sudden resolution, which I admittedly cannot rule out, the opening date seems like 2034 or 2035 now.
Before these events, I was bullish on a 2031 debut. Recent events cannot be ignored, though.
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Feature Photo: Disney
