The official confirmation of Disneyland Abu Dhabi has put an end to months of speculation — and it comes with an interesting twist: the park won’t be fully outdoors.
The project is being led by Miral, Abu Dhabi’s government-backed entertainment developer, known for successful attractions like Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, and Ferrari World on Yas Island.
In an interview with Forbes Middle East, Miral’s CEO Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi said that their experience has proven open-air parks don’t work well in the region’s climate. “In Abu Dhabi, summer temperatures can exceed 45°C, so all successful parks here are designed to be indoors,” he explained.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be the first Disney park with a large portion of it built indoors — a major shift aligned with Miral’s experience in managing hybrid attractions like Ferrari World. While the final design hasn’t been announced yet, Al Zaabi mentioned that a significant portion of the park is expected to be covered.
In a LinkedIn post, he wrote: “We do everything differently in Abu Dhabi.” He also highlighted that Yas Island is now becoming the theme park capital of the world.
