Harry Potter Abu Dhabi announcement set for next week
We are less than a week away from getting all the official details about the new Harry Potter land coming to Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.
The Yas Island theme park announced in 2022 that it would add a Potter-themed land. But owner and operator Miral has not yet disclosed any details about that project. That changes on September 7, when fans can expect a reveal announcement for the new land and its attractions.
Warner Bros. announced the announcement today, via a video on its official Harry Potter channel.
In addition to confirming the September 7 announcement, the video revealed that the new Potter land will include three themed lands: Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and the Forbidden Forest. (That reminded me of a Ted Lasso joke - "How many countries are in this country? Four." And the callback, "How many cities are in this city? Two.")
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter expansion will be the first in the Abu Dhabi park themed to a live-action Warner Bros. franchise. All current lands in the park are themed to animated IP: DC Comics, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, and the Flintstones. While this expansion is under construction, Miral also is building an expansion to its current Metropolis land. That project will feature a new flying roller coaster, Superman Up and Away, that will open in 2028.
And, of course, at some point Miral will open the announced Disney Abu Dhabi project on the north side of Yas Island. Other theme parks now on Yas Island include SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.
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Replies (5)
Interesting. It appears that a major ride will be the flying Ford Anglia ride from Kings Cross to Hogwarts, from book 2.
That timing will womp out, err, work out nicely
This would seem to cut the legs out from under any NBC/U plans to expand in the Middle East. Clearly the Potter franchise is NBC/U's themed entertainment cash cow. If it is not permitted to use that IP in the ME, NBC/U is SOL.
Clearly Disney made major mistakes when they refused complete creative control to JK Rowling and let Universal run with this IP. This act of defiance changed theme parks forever.
I also don't think Animal Actors is closing for a re-theme, that entire land, including the BTTF / Simpsons Ride is going to be razed for the next major IP. Swinging for the fences, yet again.
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Sooooo…with the timing of this build, does Yas Island’s HP land get themed to the new HBO Max series?