The Walt Disney Company announced its first-ever theme park and resort in the Middle East Wednesday morning. According to the announcement, Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be the company’s seventh global theme park and is expected to be an entertainment hub for visitors across the Middle East, Africa, and more.
Bob Iger, Disney’s current CEO, says that the new theme park will be a combination of Disney and Emirati in a statement.
“This is a thrilling moment for our company,” said Iger to PEOPLE magazine. “…Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati — an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world that will bring to life our timeless characters and stories in many new ways and will become a source of joy and inspiration for the people of this vast region to enjoy for generations to come,” Iger continued.
The company overseeing the park’s development will be Miral, the leading Abu Dhabi company specializing in entertainment and leisure destinations. The company’s CEO, Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, expressed his excitement at the collaboration in a statement.
“Together, we are creating a place of boundless innovation,” said Al Zaabi. “This marks a historic milestone in our journey to further advance the island’s position as a global destination for exceptional entertainment and leisure.”
The new resort has yet to announce an opening date. In a CNBC interview with Iger, he noted that due to the long planning and development phase, he was not making any commitments” at the moment.
Disney fans will likely have to wait years before an official opening date is revealed.
