Disney Announces New Theme Park in Abu Dhabi Amid Global and Domestic Debate
The Walt Disney Company made waves with their May 7th announcement of a brand-new theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, marking its first foray into the Middle East. The new destination will be developed in partnership with Miral on Yas Island, a growing entertainment hub that already includes Ferrari World and Warner Bros. World.
Set to become Disney’s seventh global resort, the project will be “authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati,” according to CEO Bob Iger. Disney Imagineers will lead the creative direction, while Miral will fully fund and operate the park. With a location just a four-hour flight from one-third of the global population, the project appears poised for international tourism success.
A Calculated Move in a Strategic Location
This expansion aligns with Disney’s renewed focus on experiences, announced during its 2023 investor presentation where it committed $60 billion over 10 years to parks and cruise lines. The UAE project offers a low-risk, high-exposure opportunity by offloading financial responsibility to its local partner.
But the announcement also raises important questions—about human rights, corporate values, and whether Disney is investing its resources in the right places. Disney is opening a door to a ‘whole new world’—but critics are asking whether it's one everyone is welcome in.
Human Rights Concerns: UAE vs. China
Shortly after the Abu Dhabi project was announced, criticism surfaced—particularly from LGBTQ+ Disney fans and human rights advocates. While Disney has positioned itself as a champion of inclusion, the United Arab Emirates criminalizes same-sex relationships and imposes restrictions on freedom of expression. These laws raise ethical concerns about how inclusive a Disney park in the UAE can truly be, especially for marginalized visitors and cast members.
It’s worth noting that Disney already operates in China, where censorship, surveillance, and human rights violations—particularly against ethnic minorities like the Uyghurs—have long been documented. Yet Disney’s Shanghai resort has largely escaped similar criticism from Western audiences, possibly due to China's sheer market size or differing public perception.
The inconsistency reveals a complex double standard: ethical objections seem louder when new investments emerge, but quieter once a park is up and running. The controversy illustrates the moral tightrope global brands like Disney walk when expanding into politically fraught regions.
Domestic Discontent: Fans Want U.S. Parks Prioritized
While much of the international attention has focused on the ethical implications abroad, domestic U.S. fans are voicing growing frustration for a different reason: the perceived lack of new investment in Disneyland and especially Walt Disney World.
For years, fans have called for new attractions and meaningful updates to aging infrastructure. These concerns have been amplified by Disney’s chief rival, Universal, which is preparing to launch its massive new Epic Universe theme park in Orlando in 2025. With highly anticipated lands themed to Nintendo, How to Train Your Dragon, and Universal Monsters, Epic Universe has captured the attention—and excitement—of theme park fans across the country.
By contrast, Disney’s recent expansions at Walt Disney World, such as TRON Lightcycle / Run and Journey of Water Inspired by Moana, have been seen as incremental rather than groundbreaking. Many loyal fans feel the company is reactive rather than proactive, with large-scale U.S. investments announced only after competitive pressure becomes impossible to ignore.
Still, fan frustrations pour onto the internet when favorites are shuttered with announcements for replacements rather than expanding the Parks in a meaningful way. Examples of closed attractions that were replaced include - The Great Movie Ride, Splash Mountain, MuppetVision*3D, and the soon to be demolished Rivers of America. In each instance, inclusion of the replacements (Mickey and Minnies Runaway Railway, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and the Cars concept) could have been welcomed expansions to the Parks in their own right while maintaining the original attractions and areas.
Even Disneyland fans in California point to postponed or canceled projects, such as the shelved “DisneylandForward” expansions, as signs that domestic parks are no longer the priority. The Abu Dhabi project, while exciting from a global brand perspective, has become a lightning rod for this broader discontent.
Permanently Closed in 2017, The Great Movie Ride Took Guests on “A Spectacular Journey Into the Movies” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Was Eventually Replaced with Mickey and Minnies Runaway Railway in 2023.
Balancing Global Growth and Brand Values
So, what does this mean for Disney moving forward?
The announcement of a new UAE resort underscores Disney’s desire to expand its footprint in emerging travel markets. Strategically, the location on Yas Island puts Disney near billions of potential guests. Culturally, it presents an opportunity to fuse Disney’s storytelling with local architecture and narratives.
However, the company must also navigate scrutiny from longtime fans and marginalized communities. Questions persist about how Disney will ensure the safety and inclusion of LGBTQ+ cast members (i.e. Imagineers) and guests in a country with strict anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Others ask whether Disney is doing enough to uphold its brand promise of inclusion while continuing to grow its international business.
And perhaps most critically: how will Disney balance international expansion with meaningful reinvestment in the parks that built its legacy—especially as competition intensifies at home?
Final Thoughts
Disney’s new Abu Dhabi theme park represents an exciting step in global expansion, signaling confidence in both tourism demand and the brand’s international pull. But it also brings complex conversations about ethics, inclusion, and where Disney’s priorities truly lie.
As the company continues to balance its global ambitions with domestic expectations, fans will be watching closely—not just for what’s being built, but for where and how Disney chooses to tell its stories.
Alright… that’s it for now.