Disney to open first theme park in the Middle East

The Walt Disney Company is expanding its magical theme parks to 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.

The companies celebrated the official announcement with a 9,000-drone show and fireworks spectacle.

The show, which took place at Yas Links, also featured a live performance of pianist Lang Lang alongside iconic Emirati singer Rashed Alnuaimi, queen of the West End, Kerry Ellis and classical sensation, Sonya Balsara.

This glittering celebration also attracted global celebrities including Tyrese Gibson, Naomi Campbell, Nancy Ajram, Chiara Ferragni, and Ed Westwick, dignitaries, entertainment industry leaders and media powerhouses.

Set against Yas Island's waterfront, the sky came alive with the largest drone light show ever staged in the region.

The new destination will be Disney's seventh theme park resort worldwide and the first in the Middle East, connecting travellers from the Middle East to Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond.

Celebrating the announcement, landmarks across the UAE, including Burj Khalifa and Aldar HQ came to life with a spectacular light show inspired by the magic of Disney.

In Abu Dhabi, iconic buildings also lit up in blue, marking the start of an extraordinary chapter in entertainment and tourism.

The upcoming resort promises to blend Disney's storytelling and attractions with Abu Dhabi's vibrant culture, shorelines, and architecture, reads a press release.

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