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In a landmark announcement on May 7, The Walt Disney Company revealed plans to open the Middle East’s first Disneyland resort on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. This will become Disney’s seventh theme park destination globally, joining its existing locations in California, Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism—Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Miral, along with Disney CEO Bob Iger, announced the partnership, marking a major milestone in the UAE’s tourism and entertainment sector.
With this major milestone, Abu Dhabi’s real estate market—especially in luxury and family-friendly communities near Yas Island—is poised for significant appreciation and opportunity.
A Strategic Tourism Magnet for the Region
The planned Disneyland waterfront resort will be built on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi—a major tourism and entertainment destination in the region. Located just 20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and about 50 minutes from Dubai, the island is easily accessible for both local and international visitors.
Yas Island is already home to several Abu Dhabi tourist attractions, including Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, and SeaWorld Yas Island.
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Through its central global location, Yas Island attracts millions of international visitors annually with its proximity to the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, and Europe. In 2024, Yas Island welcomed 38 million visitors, with the largest number of tourists arriving from India, China, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
The addition of the Yas Island Disney park is expected to further boost visitor numbers, solidifying the island’s status as a premier global entertainment destination. The travel distance for Indian tourists, for example, will be much shorter compared to flying to Disneyland parks in Shanghai or Hong Kong.