Why did Disney choose Abu Dhabi for its next theme park?

why? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Well written piece here. I'm amazed by how many people are talking about Abu Dhabi that have never been there. I know two families that visited UAE, and they noted how wonderful it is. UAE was the right place to put Disney and I'm looking forward to visiting Abu Dhabi next decade.

After UAE I don't see Disney expanding elsewhere. Australia? Brazil? India will be flanked by UAE and Hong Kong. Southern Europe like Greece or Italy? Frisco, Texas?!

This reader appreciates the plain context and practical nuance in your article Robert. Thanks again for not undermining your readers’ intelligence and for framing your story with facts and through an objective lens. This story could easily become a hot-button issue if promoted by a click-bait hungry inflammatory “news source”, which-alas, it will still most likely become. But that’s why we come here for our theme park news.

@Manny Barron - The issue with the UAE is not weather or not its a beautiful place to visit. It truly looks amazing and I know for a fact that I probably would love it. That doesn't change the fact that their laws are stuck in the medieval times and I personally choose not to spend any money in countries that outlaw my existence.

I've had the opportunity to work there a few times within the last five years, for weeks or months at a time. UAE is simply gorgeous. The visual sites, pristine beaches, and its utilization of modern technology would make anyone want to visit or be there. I've noticed, per previous post as well, that some people have had an amazing stay in the UAE, despite its laws or beliefs; unfortunately, that's never been my experience throughout my time there, whether it was me personally or someone I've traveled with. The laws are the laws, just because they haven't necessarily enforced them on you, the probability is too high for some. Hopefully, it doesn't, but try to reserve your shock and bewilderment if they do choose to enforce them on you.

While I have never been there myself, I watch many theme park vloggers visit Warner Brothers, Motiongate, Ferrari World etc, and these places always appear empty. One guy I watched bought an express pass at Motiongate, and there literally were no standby lines at any attraction. He said he felt like an idiot spending the extra money. There are always people in the background of these videos, but it reminds me more of abandoned malls than it does a theme park.

Could Disney's presence change this? There's obviously a lot to see in Abu Dhabi besides theme parks. So I guess this falls under "if you build it, they will come."

Also, while we're talking about the cultural differences and diversity, as I've mentioned in other discussions, I have a wife, and Disney is the one place where we can at least hold hands in public and not be glared at or hear derogatory remarks. Coming from a very conservative town in the US, we keep our heads down in public and act like sisters at restaurants. Even with our trip to Universal Orlando last fall, we didn't feel safe showing a connection at the parks because it wasn't Disney. The UAE was never even a speck on my radar as a vacation destination. Now, with this turn of events, I might consider it. Yet the act of holding hands doesn't sound like a good idea here. It's hard to hide the truth but we've learned that sometimes, it's essential for survival.

Thanks for this Robert. Abu Dhabi/UAE does seem to me the most progressive country in the Middle East and I am glad Disney chose that over the one that would pay the most money. Abu Dhabi seems to realize tourism is their most profitable economic sector now and into the future, so they will prioritize making sure visitors of all persuasions feel welcome and want to visit.

I know Disney is Disney so they are always more scrutinized, but there was definitely not this same level of criticism for Warner Bros, Six Flags, or Sea World. And to everyone asking "does that mean all women who visit will have to wear a hijab?" What a stupid question- just at the nighttime spectacular last night there were female singers and musicians who were not wearing any head coverings.

Also, are the laws and politics of Florida right now THAT different than UAE? Florida has the "don't say gay" bill which also basically outlaws making reference to the existence of LGBTQ people in certain places. But no one here is saying Disney should no longer operate in Florida.

There are a lot of good points here. Strategically, putting a park in Abu Dhabi makes sense for geographic balance, and it’s exciting that many people in the MENA region will be able to have their first Disney park experience soon. I’m genuinely happy for them. I also understand how the financial backing from the UAE was probably too good to pass up.

That said, something about this really unsettles me. I'm not part of the LGBTQ+ community, but several of my close friends are, and many of them are huge Disney fans. Normally, they’d be thrilled about big Disney news, but instead I’ve seen genuine hurt. For a lot of them, it feels like Disney, a company they've emotionally invested in for years, is telling them, “We never really cared about you.”

I understand Robert's statement about how “Thousands of gay, lesbian, and queer people live and work in the UAE. Many more visit here…” and I get that there are probably misconceptions about how homosexuality is treated in the UAE. But the reality is that same-sex sexual activity remains illegal. So do certain public displays of affection. Even if these laws aren’t always enforced, the legal and cultural climate still matters, and it affects real people in real ways, such as small daily forms of discrimination that can’t be brushed off.

As a straight cis man, I won’t try to quantify how bad the situation is in the UAE compared to other countries like China or the US. That’s not my place. But I can say that I’ve seen many LGBTQ+ fans, people who grew up loving Disney, feeling betrayed. And their pain deserves to be taken seriously.

And that’s not even touching on the broader human rights issues, especially around migrant labor, that have long surrounded large-scale construction projects in the UAE.

All in all, I think this move could do serious damage to Disney’s long-term cultural capital. People don’t just consume Disney, they believe in it. They let it into their childhoods, their identities, their joy. But moments like this, moments that seem to prioritize profit over people, break that trust. When I watched the fireworks show footage from yesterday and I heard the Disney songs, I didn’t feel joy. I felt empty. For the first time, I didn’t see Disney as a company trying to spread happiness. I saw it as a corporation trying to boost its stock price.

Maybe it was naive to ever expect more from a multibillion-dollar corporation. But that’s the thing- Disney’s entire brand depends on the belief that it is more than that. That there's a kind of "magic" only Disney can create. And now, I can’t help but wonder if this was the moment that drained the last of its emotional equity Disney had left. Because for the first time, it feels like the illusion is falling apart and the "magic" is running out.

Sarah thank you for your insight of your experience. Many ppl in the community also describe going to a Disney park/resorts as an escapism that provides you the comfort to show up as you are.

TPF25 not sure if that was your intention, but you completely missed the mark. No one is expecting a company to just pick up and Amazon Prime deliver 6 of its theme parks to an entirely different state. You're smart enough to know that Disney was already in FL, while its more recent politics you speak of, were recently adopted, and aren't the same as establishing or setting up shop where such beliefs or laws are already in existence. Yes, the laws are that different. Even though we're discussing theme parks, and not schools, and since you asked such an asinine question, it tells me you don't have an intellectual understanding of the "don't say gay" bill you referenced.

The reason the UAE/middle east is the perfect location for this is the same reason is the perfect location for 3 of the world's best international Airlines.

Geography - UAE is an 8 hour flight from 70% of the world's population. Emirates, Qatar and Etihad run hub and spoke models between Asia, Europe and Africa. It also serves as the perfect layover point to Australia and New Zealand offering the fastest connections to Europe. Cashed up travellers are already travelling through here.

It has lots of money for investment, is stable politically and is friendly to the west.

I understand people having reservations about travelling due to its attitude towards LGBTQ+. I respect anyone that chooses not to travel somewhere based on informed political or social beliefs. The uAE though are perfectly happy for travellers of all persuasions, they aren't happy for public displays of affection.

The best way for changes to occur in places like this (and the UAE is amenable to change, it is the most progressive of middle eastern countries) is through exposure to different people and different ideas. If LGBTQ+ people (or any minority) visit and interact with the local population they soon become human people they can associate with and not a feared "other" that they are told is wrong or evil.

I would have to say, many countries could learn from this. Prejudice is on the rise in the western world, and the solution is more face to face contact and communication, and less time opining on social media. I know, people in glass houses...

This is a very comprehensive and well reasoned article that justifies Disney's decision as a logical choice. I think it's very important to recognize that values vary significantly across the world, and what we in the United States (which I'm assuming makes up a majority of this site's audience) view as good and bad may not align with how those things are viewed in other countries and cultures. There is nothing wrong with disagreeing with the way things are done elsewhere, but that doesn't mean we should force other places to change because we don't like them. It is up to each of us to decide what we are okay with and make choices on what we choose to support accordingly, so I perfectly understand both those who are excited about a Disney park in the UAE and those who want nothing to do with it. Unfortunately, as Robert notes, I do see quite a few misinformed opinions about the region, and have seen a concerning number of people who don't seem to recognize that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are actually two very different countries.

Personally, I would feel safer taking a trip to the UAE than I would taking a trip to China, especially if I were traveling alone. I know not everyone feels the same way, and I respect that. Likewise, there are certainly people out there who feel the UAE is a less risky as a travel destination than the USA, and when viewed objectively I don't know that they're necessarily wrong. Nowhere in the world is perfect and everywhere has their own sets of problems.

Robert, this really is an excellent article.

No matter what way I look at it the UAE is the right location for many of the reasons you have outlined but the burning question, which I don't know, is "What affinity do the locals/regionals have with Disney?" as I can't remember ever seeing anybody from that region at WDW, although I have never really looked.

Also, as Sarah has highlighted, existing theme parks resemble "abandoned malls" on vlogs so, what affinity do the locals/regionals have with theme park entertainment? It is irrelevant what the size of the population is locally and regionally who have money to spend if theme parks and Disney are not deemed sources for entertainment.

Disney will have done their homework, and thoroughly, so they will know what to expect but is one of the main reasons UAE was chosen is that along with Saudi Arabia they are the only places in the world where breaking even as a minimum will not be a mandatory requirement but the prestige of having a Disneyland within their borders for broader investment and tourism reasons for the host is the real prize regardless of its success?

If this is indeed is a primary factor then the UAE have achieved the real strategic coup.

I’d be interested to know who qualifies as an INCOME QUALIFIED person? Financially able to visit every year? every 5 years? Seems a vague and unnecessary term instead of stating the entire population available within a given distance like they did when building Shanghai.

The very essence of Disney's storytelling—romantic love, emotional connection, and expressions of affection—is at odds with the legal and cultural restrictions present in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Public displays of affection like holding hands or kissing, which are central to so many iconic Disney moments, can result in arrest or fines in Abu Dhabi. This contradiction matters—not just symbolically, but for the safety and experience of real guests.

Human rights are not merely values; they are meant to be universal. Reducing them to “cultural differences” risks minimizing violations and legitimizing inequality under the guise of tolerance or relativism. When Disney expands into regions where queerness is criminalized, it’s not just a business decision—it’s a message. And that message can feel like betrayal to those who’ve long found safety, magic, and belonging in the Disney brand.

There’s a critical distinction between representation and structural support. Including queer characters in films is one step. But opening a park in a country where queer people cannot live openly or safely sends a conflicting signal. What is that representation worth if, in practice, the company aligns with regimes that silence or criminalize the very people it claims to include?

What’s also missing from the conversation is the reality that queer people live in these authoritarian countries too. They may not be visible, but they are there—navigating risk, erasure, and fear daily. What does it mean for them when a globally powerful company chooses to partner with their oppressors?

As for Bob Iger’s mention of “income qualified persons”: that corporate language likely refers to people with sufficient disposable income to visit a Disney park. But it’s telling—because it frames the audience not as communities, not as fans, not as children or families—but as economic units. The phrase reveals the core motive: profit. And that may be the clearest indication yet of how far the "magic" has drifted from its ideals.

I think geography and economics are key here. While I do think Brazil/South America is probably the most underserved market by the themed entertainment industry, there just isn't enough juice there for the squeeze, especially given Disney's refocus towards targeting the top half of middle income earners and less emphasis on Disney as a value destination/brand. I think the same goes for Australia/Oceana, where there is a bit more wealth, but not the population to ensure a successful venture in that corner of the world.

When you look at the UAE on a map, it's right smack dab in the middle of the major populations centers across 3 continents and within a reasonable flight time of cities in Europe, North Africa, and southern/western Asia. There's a reason why airports in the Middle East have become so popular (in addition to their lavish service and attention to quality), because they act as a hub/pivot between east and west. While India is probably the largest untapped population center in the world, placing a park in the UAE allows Disney to still draw guests who can actually afford to visit a Disney park. There just isn't another place on the planet where Disney could tap such a large, affluent population, and that "affluent" part is clearly important given the number of times Iger used the term "income qualified". For Disney, it's not just about reaching the largest number of people, it's about drawing the most number of guests who can actually afford to visit their parks, which is likely why they're more hesitant to invest in India or Brazil.

The last piece of the puzzle is the economics of this deal. While there are some ethical issues with a company like Disney investing in the UAE, doing so in a place like Abu Dhabi is far less concerning than in places like Saudi Arabia or Qatar. Now, there's something to be said for taking the Saudi money while the iron is hot, and perhaps Universal will make that "Deal with the Devil" in response to Disney's move into the region. Major companies have already broken the seal with the Saudis and would make a deal less offensive given entities like TKO (WWE/UFC), LIV Golf, and FIFA (the 2034 World Cup has been all but guaranteed to the KSA), as well as numerous Fortune 500 companies that have been working in the KSA for over a decade supporting their rapid expansion and "westernization" of their lands. I do think Disney almost certainly had a similar deal on the table from the KSA, but Disney wisely saw the advantages of instead investing in the nearby UAE as well as partnering with an entity like Miral, who have an established track record of developing world-class entertainment appealing to the West while still working within the confines of the Emirates. The UAE represents the lesser of 2 evils, and a society that is far more westernized than most people realize with the hope that in another 5-8 years will be even more accepting of different societal norms and standards. Also, considering the likelihood of more major events being held in the region (like the World Cup, F1 races, and potentially the Olympics), a park in the UAE gives Disney a presence in the area for tourists looking to extend their stays and alternatives to the already existing attractions.

However, the biggest aspect of this deal is that it's costing Disney very little to do business with the UAE and Miral more specifically. Disney's role is mostly just as a technical advisor and licensor, while Miral takes on all the risk of building and operating this new park. While Disney will probably take a bit of a hit to their reputation for working with the UAE, I think the effects of that will be short-lived, and will actually work in the opposite direction by the time this park opens with Disney instead lifting the reputation and ethics of the UAE as the most progressive and accepting destination in the Middle East. Perhaps that's why this is such a great deal for both sides, because it gives Disney a foothold in a developing, rapidly growing region, while giving the UAE a sense of legitimacy as THE destination in the Middle East. Despite Qatar and eventually Saudi Arabia hosting the World Cup and all of the other tourism-based initiatives coming from the KSA, Disney aligning themselves with the UAE is the ultimate trump card for Abu Dhabi that will keep the Emirate well ahead of other destinations in the region.

@ThemeParkFanatatic25 - Sorry but comparing Florida to the UAE is frankly quite dumb. Yes the political views and laws in Florida aren't going the right way but the fact of the matter is its still not illegal to be gay there!

My husband and I have no problems visiting conservative areas and adjusting our beahviour to avoid potential problems and to "respect" the locals. Over the many many years of visiting Florida we've had exactly 0 issue with locals. My husband is Chinese and we've visited China a dozen times over the years similarly we've had 0 issues in China. We do get looks once in a while but that's it and that's happened even in Canada so can happen anywhere.

Disney going to the UAE makes sense location and market wise and I have 0 problems with a company choosing to do business there. They're a business after all and the whole point is making money. I personally draw the line at going to any country that bans my existence even though I know we could go have a great time without any issues by not showing ourselves as a couple. I wouldn't lecture people about not going since everyone has different tolerance level but I do feel its important to share my view and opinion on the matter.

A few thoughts:

Robert, this is a very thoughtful article you wrote, and it made me reconsider my position on Abu Dhabi, but it sure seemed like you were working awfully hard to carry water for Disney. After all, this was a company that fired a CEO for trying to remain out of the fray when some employees mischaracterized a law that Florida politicians passed and got upset that leadership didn’t overtly have their back in the protest. The resulting fallout led to nothing beneficial for the company or the State of Florida and ultimately alienated a fair portion of the country with conservative views who were already weary of the obvious shift to the left in the entire Disney product line. With the new partnership with the UAE, it looks like there could be a similar fallout with the folks on the progressive side of the social spectrum.

It also seemed like you were trying to make the UAE look 21st century and liberal in a western sense when you say that they are the most progressive country in the Middle East, but isn’t that like saying that a fellow isn’t so bad because he’s the least racist guy in the KKK? Now, that’s a bit over the top, and unlike you, I haven’t had the opportunity to visit the UAE in my travels, so I’m going to have to give your opinion some serious credit, but this is a country that has laws against same sex relationships and trans behavior and allows the imprisonment of individuals who violate those laws, and their constitution states that Sharia is the source of their law, and as is widely known, Sharia law allows for the use of the death penalty in same sex situations. It hasn’t happened in the UAE, but could an influx of western tourists with their decadent behavior and dress cause a backlash from conservative elements in the region? Hopefully we won’t see a resurgence of the religious police like we saw in Iran after the fall of the Shah.

For me, the biggest story here is the dropping of the façade and the obvious hypocrisy of the Disney Corporation. Apparently, the only place that Disney has corporate morals is in the United States and maybe Europe where they feel free to go after the low-life conservatives who don’t share the progressive views of the Disney workforce. But it is just fine to build a massive theme park in a country whose leaders break their own agreements and suppress limited self-rule in Hong Kong and even worse persecute the Uyghurs and force them into what are basically internment camps? Maybe that’s cool from Disney’s point of view because nobody in the West cares about things in China, and you certainly don’t want to tick off the autocratic leaders of the CCP and potentially damage your ability to make money in their economy. After that, going into business with a country that has laws based on Sharia law is no big deal.

In the end, this is all about the money, and that’s okay from a financial perspective, but will there be a future cost to the goodwill of the brand? At this point as long as Disney stays out of the social wars in this country and acts like a corporation, they’re okay, but if they start moralizing and demonizing the social conservatives, then they look like nothing more than a Jimmy Swaggert railing about infidelity from the pulpit – a complete hypocrite.

Some light reading on UAE's human rights record:

https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/middle-east/united-arab-emirates/report-united-arab-emirates/

Robert is accepting trips to UAE from Miral. He is incredibly biased and looking past these human rights failures to continue getting free trips.

@MightyIrish - That's a bit rough.

My impression is that Robert is trying to build a current perspective of the UAE in light of the current situation in the nation and region. I don't think the trips if they are free are a factor in his estimation.