Just when we thought Disney was done expanding their empire, they’ve decided to go where no mouse has gone before: the desert. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is breaking new ground with a theme park in Abu Dhabi—apparently Mickey’s ready to trade his red shorts for some desert-appropriate attire.
The House of Mouse announced plans for their seventh global theme park, situated on Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates capital. This desert wonderland will bring all the Disney magic to the Middle East for the first time, proving there’s truly no escaping the Disney universe, no matter how far you travel.
This newest addition to Disney’s global takeover will join the company’s existing parks in California, Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. The Abu Dhabi government’s investment firm Mubadala is partnering with Disney on this project, though neither party is spilling the beans on how many billions this sandy adventure will cost.
Disney CEO Bob Iger seems particularly excited about this expansion, calling it an “extraordinary opportunity” during the company’s recent earnings call. Of course it’s extraordinary—nothing says “magical kingdom” quite like 120-degree summer heat!
The new park will be neighbors with Warner Bros. World, Ferrari World, and SeaWorld on Yas Island, creating what might be the world’s most ambitious theme park face-off. Talk about keeping your friends close and your competitors closer.
Construction hasn’t begun yet, but Disney promises the park will showcase stories and characters from their vast entertainment library. So gear up for Arabian Nights-themed Mickey ears and Aladdin’s carpet rides that actually make sense for once.
This move comes as Disney continues its relentless quest for global domination—I mean, “strategic international expansion.” The company recently announced a $1.9 billion investment in their Paris resort and is pumping $60 billion into their domestic parks over the next decade. At this rate, we’ll have a Disney Moon Base by 2035.
Disney’s park business has been booming, generating nearly $32 billion in revenue last year and carrying the company while its streaming services figure out how to actually make money. Turns out selling $25 churros and $200 lightsabers is still more profitable than all those Disney+ subscriptions.
For theme park enthusiasts around the world, this announcement means one more bucket-list destination to save up for. Just remember to pack your sunscreen, water bottle, and willingness to wait in very hot lines.
While no opening date has been announced, one thing’s clear: Disney’s world domination continues one desert kingdom at a time. Now we just have to wait and see if Genie from Aladdin will finally feel at home or if he’ll still be complaining about his “itty bitty living space.”
