NewStats: 3,262,102 , 8,176,074 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 07:16 PM 701d8

Walt Disney has announced plans to open its first theme park in the Middle East.

The resort, which will be in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island, is a collaboration between Walt Disney and local leisure and entertainment company Miral.

Disney already has six theme parks spanning North America, Europe and Asia. Its most recent opening was in 2016 in Shanghai.

Miral is responsible for the development of Yas Island as a tourist destination and already operates SeaWorld and Warner Bros World where it is developing a Harry Potter-themed park.

In a statement announcing the new facility, Disney said the UAE was located within a four-hour flight of one-third of the world's population, making it a "significant gateway for tourism".

It added that 120 million engers travel through Abu Dhabi and Dubai every year, making the Emirates the biggest global airline hub in the world.

Disney chief executive Robert Iger described the plans for the new park as a "thrilling" moment for the company and said Disneyland Abu Dhabi would be "authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati".

The 10-sq-mile (25-sq-km) Yas Island is 20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 50 minutes from Dubai.

Miral's boss Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi said bringing a Disney theme park resort to the area marked a "milestone in our journey to further advance the island's position as a global destination for exceptional entertainment and leisure".

He said the development would " sustained economic growth in Abu Dhabi and beyond".

The company's first theme park, Disneyland, opened in Anaheim, California in 1955. It was followed in 1971 by Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

International expansion began in 1983 with a park in Tokyo; Disneyland Paris opened in 1992, then came Hong Kong in 2005 and, most recently, Shanghai in 2016.

Disney feeling confident

Also on Wednesday, Disney announced better than expected results for the first three months of 2025, with revenue up by 7% to $23.6bn (£17.7bn).

The Disney+ streaming business added 1.4 million customers. Previously Disney had predicted a slight decline in subscribers due to a price increase.

Attendance rose at US parks with visitors spending more and there was also a rise in cruise ship bookings following the launch of the new ship Disney Treasure.

"Despite questions around any macroeconomic uncertainty or the impact of competition, I'm encouraged by the strength and resilience of our business," said Mr Iger.

Dannie Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell said at a time when so many businesses in the US were "worried about the potential impact of tariffs on consumer spending, on household budgets, Disney is feeling confident".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdrgr2zzv00o

Good of them.

Let it not be bombed please.

Modified: it's in UAE, better.

Nice one.

EbereGod:
Let it not be bombed please.

Modified: it's in UAE, better.

Not in SE, it says Middle East.

They don't have to worry about unknown gunmen and IPOB human flesh eaters.

The next theme park will be in the city of Lagos, Nigeria.

Big booties, g string and mini skirts go surplus 👌💯

Wetin concern us here

Gbam!

Why'nt any Africa country

H

Why can't they open am for South-East?

Fresh target for ISIS

Hehe for suicide bombers? Lol

When I look at people say they are de marketing nigeria I laugh

Business go where people can afford them... It's like asking Mercedes to come. Build factory in nigeria... Less than 5000 people can afford to buy brand new Mercedes yearly in Nigeria

Less than 200 actually buy

Disney ticket and expenses in the theme park would cost you an average of 200 dollars minimum

How many people can afford than in Nigeria? 100,000 ? That's less than people they serve per week

Had to read again. Thought I saw east

Gradually

Sensational reportage.

UAE...

No be haram 😆

IPIGSRSHALLOW:


Not in SE, it says Middle East.

They don't have to worry about unknown gunmen and IPOB human flesh eaters.

Disney no go wan turn theme park into a skull miners buffer, so can't even think of the SW.

Negroid001:
Had to read again. Thought I saw east

Disney no go wan turn skull supplier for SW

kingthreat:
The next theme park will be in the city of Lagos, Nigeria.

Something like this can actually work in a place like Epe if there's enough land, and if:

1) the new Lagos airport is in place

2) other parts of the Lagos transport network is improved

3) purchasing power improves significantly across Nigeria and West Africa.

In 10-15 years time, may be

It will draw in people from across West and parts of Central Africa.

Thank God that it will be in UAE and on an island not in some extreme Islamic ruling countries before they will come and start shooting people

UAE is a better location. They're liberal

kingthreat:
The next theme park will be in the city of Lagos, Nigeria.

I pray 🙏 we can also create our own too, you know. In 2019, I visited the Los Angeles Disney Park Adventure. Beside it was a massive construction ongoing. I asked those around what it was all about and they said it's a park, which will be competing with that of Walt Disney close by.
We can also do something similar here . Sadly, our politicians won't see such business potential. Na to bury dollar underground, keep inside coffin or inside vaults at home and power it with ac dem sabi

mytime24:
Why'nt any Africa country

they are coming, they need to be sure Africa is totally safe before investing in any African country.

Omoapena:

they are coming, they need to be sure Africa is totally safe before investing in any African country.

Good point. I'd tip Lagos, Jo'burg in africa

Since baby Trump scared off potential tourists to the State, Disney had to start thinking of opening up branches in other places to survive.

The US generates a lot of revenue via tourism and international studies but these are gradually fading off.

I swear I thought it eastern Nigeria 🤣😂🤣 I wan make mouth

Negroid001:
Had to read again. Thought I saw east

This is not good news. One of the destructions to give to a child is to give them fantasies.

Middle east don they like sweet in the middle

Worse decision by Disney ever.