Despite the ongoing conflict, major airport closures across the Middle East, grounded flights and warnings against travelling to much of the region, the creators of the new Disneyland in Abu Dhabi are still set to continue with plans.
The attraction was announced last May by Walt Disney, working in collaboration with regional developer Miral Group – the Abu Dhabi-based leisure and entertainment group responsible for developing Yas Island.
The planned Disney waterfront resort will be located on Yas Island, a popular tourist destination that is home to other family-friendly attractions, including Warner Bros World Yas Island, SeaWorld Yas Island and Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi.
At the time, the United Arab Emirates capital was described as the ‘ideal’ location by Disney’s former experiences unit chairman Josh D´Amaro.
However, since the conflict began earlier this month, Abu Dhabi and the UAE have seen multiple drone strikes and explosions – making it seem like an unlikely destination to go ahead with plans for such a huge attraction.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi, which is set to open in the ‘early 2030s’, could still be going ahead despite the ongoing conflict
Despite this, Miral’s chief executive Mohamed Al Zaabi posted on LinkedIn suggesting developments for the park could be continuing.
He congratulated Thomas Mazloum on his new role as chairman of Disney Experiences and went on to add: ‘As we continue our exciting journey to bring Disney to Abu Dhabi, I look forward to working closely with Thomas and the incredible Disney team to turn this vision into a reality.
‘Together, we will create something truly extraordinary for our region and guests.
‘Wishing you every success in this new chapter, Thomas. I look forward to the journey ahead.’
Disneyland Abu Dhabi is set to open ‘in the early 2030s’ and Disney previously said the park will be the ‘most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio’.
Miral will finance, build and operate the resort, while the creative and technical professionals who design Disney’s theme parks, known as Imagineers, will lead creative design and provide operational oversight.
Disney will earn royalties based on the park’s revenue, according to a regulatory filing.
The Disney park ‘will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati – an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment that is at the crossroads of the world,’ Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement on Wednesday.
Disney has not yet announced the opening date for the new park, though D´Amaro said a project of this scale could take a year or two to design, and another four to six years to build.
Once complete, the resort will offer Disney-themed attractions, dining and retail experiences, in a way that blends the Burbank entertainment company´s storytelling and Abu Dhabi´s heritage, D´Amaro said.
Miral’s chief executive Mohamed Al Zaabi (pictured left) posted on LinkedIn suggesting developments for the park could be continuing
A first look of the new theme park was released last year at a ceremony which had all the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood premiere.
Celebrities, including Naomi Campbell and Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick, looked on as superstar pianist Lang Lang played classic Disney tunes accompanied by a 100-piece orchestra floating on a pontoon on the Arabian Gulf.
Overhead, more than 9,000 drones formed the shape of Cinderella’s Castle.
The concept art was deliberately blurry in order to keep fans guessing about what will be in it.
But one landmark that stuck out was the centre-piece castle, with a similar style to Elsa’s ice palace from Frozen.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will only add to the area’s vast collection of attractions on the man-made Yas Island.
It’s home to Yas Waterworld which boasts 45 rides and is described as ‘the most legendary waterpark in the UAE’ on its site.
The attraction is located just minutes away from Ferrari World – a theme park centred around the iconic car make and features the fastest roller coaster in the world, the Formula Rossa.
Yas Island is also home to SeaWorld as well as Warner Bros World and attracts millions of visitors a year.
Despite the ongoing war, many of Abu Dhabi’s tourist attractions seem to still be open and taking ticket bookings.
A first look of the new theme park was released last year at a ceremony which had all the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood premiere
Theme parks Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld and Ferrari World are all open this week, with high-speed thrill rides and rollercoasters operating largely as normal.
And the city’s most famous art gallery – Louvre Abu Dhabi, which sits on Saadiyat Island and is a sister museum to the original museum in Paris, has also kept to its usual opening hours.
British tourist Beth Middleton, who visited Warner Bros. World, which spans 153,000 square metres and has just announced it’s set to build the world’s biggest Harry Potter-themed land, said earlier this month the indoor attraction was near empty.
Posting on the Facebook group Abu Dhabi Expats on March 5, Middleton responded to a question about whether the city’s theme parks were still open, writing: ‘Yes they are open 10-5 and very quiet! I was at Warner Bros yesterday and had a great day.’
Another expat, Joanne Mcmullan, suggested it was a similar story at motor-racing themed park, Ferrari World, writing: ‘I just walked past Ferrari and people are riding the rollercoasters.’
On the Ferrari World website, the park hours are listed as 10am until 5pm until March 19 when they will extend to 10am to 8pm.
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