Reasons to Implement Indoor Setting for Disneyland Abu Dhabi
Last week, Disney excited fans worldwide with the announcement that it's building its first theme park in the Middle East, right in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Naturally, fans haven't just been buzzing about the cool rides coming to the new park, they're also curious about how Disney plans to handle the sweltering heat in the region.
Trust us, we were the first to break the news about this project following a tip-off from beyond the UAE, just like we forecasted in our previous report. The Abu Dhabi venture will depart from Disney's usual method of owning and managing theme parks. Instead, Disney has partnered with Miral, a company that operates the most-visited theme parks in the Middle East.
Miral will foot the bill, develop, and construct the new park, utilizing Disney's characters and Intellectual Property under licensing. In return, Disney will receive royalties, based on a percentage of ticket and merchandise sales, and provide operational oversight. The partnership allows Disney to invest zero capital in the development and construction of the new park while reaping benefits from Miral's expertise in the Middle East.
In just 15 years, Miral has built up a world-class collection of theme parks on Yas Island, including three theme parks, one water park, upscale residential communities, schools, a business district, luxury hotels, a marina, a mega mall, an arena, a beach, an F1 racing circuit, a golf course, and more – all within walking distance of multiple major theme parks. And guess what? Yas Island sets the stage for a beautifully landscaped, themed park community.
When discussing the new park, let's not forget the legacy of Walt Disney. Sixty years ago, Walt developed plans for the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, an ambitious plan for a residential district with a central Disney park. Unfortunately, Walt passed away just two months after presenting the video, and the project never came to life. Instead, Disney built the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida, featuring a park themed around science, innovation, and cultural exploration. Although the vision died with Walt, Yas Island shows that a creatively planned community with themed parks at its heart spells magic.
Now, let's delve into how Miral has exceeded expectations and mastered the formula for success. Each park on Yas Island innovates and pushes the boundaries, setting new standards for immersive and interactive experiences. Miral's CEO, Mohamed Al Zaabi, stressed that the next experience will always be better than the last. This relentless drive towards improvement is what makes Miral a force to be reckoned with in the themed entertainment industry.
Two years ago, Miral opened SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, featuring the world's most advanced theme park ride – a ride that elevated the standards in themed entertainment yet again, further solidifying Miral's position as a top contender in the themed entertainment industry. Miral's parks lead the way in the Middle East, and they're recognized as among the most innovative and immersive parks worldwide. The consistent industry acclaim and impressive attendance, exemplified by the attendance figures for Warner Bros. World in Abu Dhabi, contribute to the enduring appeal of Yas Island.
With Disney's upcoming entry into the mix, Yas Island will become the only theme park resort in the world to feature Disney, Harry Potter, SeaWorld, and Warner Bros. That's right – in addition to theme park magic, Yas Island boasts a rich cultural scene, thanks to its close proximity to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming National Museum Abu Dhabi.
As for Disneyland Abu Dhabi, it's billed by Disney's CEO as the "most technologically advanced theme park." Its choice to be indoor comes as no surprise considering the scorching heat in Abu Dhabi. Al Zaabi specified that his priority is to create convenient and unique customer experiences for park guests, even going so far as to build all of Miral's parks indoors. On Disney's end, Disney's chairman of the Experiences division, Josh D'Amaro, confirmed the part of Abu Dhabi is being ambitious in terms of utilizing indoor and outdoor spaces.
Critics have pondered whether Disney's indoor park approach will suit the company's vision. However, it seems that Disney is well aware of the advantage of indoor parks, especially in managing the intense desert heat. The stunning projection-mapped shows at Warner Bros. World in Abu Dhabi are one of the most innovative solutions to combat the heat while maintaining the magic of theme park entertainment.
Al Zaabi's team boasts decades of combined expertise in the theme park industry, having collaborated with various industry heavyweights. Partnerships with Ferrari, Warner Bros., and SeaWorld have been instrumental in establishing Yas Island's reputation as a premier themed entertainment destination. The consistent high quality of these attractions has convinced Warner Bros. to open its first Harry Potter theme park rides outside of Universal Studios on Yas Island.
Miral's success does not stem from haphazardly acquiring entertainment brands but rather from handpicking only the most renowned ones and ensuring that their outposts on Yas Island become global flagships. This strategy paved the way for Disney to eventually set up shop in Abu Dhabi. The sheer diversity of themes and attractions on Yas Island, combined with an unwavering focus on quality, make Miral and its CEO, Mohamed Al Zaabi, industry leaders in themed entertainment.
For the uninitiated, it may seem that Yas Island's ascent to the top of the themed entertainment world was made possible by sheer luck or an endless supply of capital. But the reality is much more rooted in the tireless efforts, networking, and expertise of Al Zaabi and his team, along with the backing of HE Mohamed Al Mubarak, chairman of Miral and Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT). Together, they transformed Abu Dhabi into a global cultural powerhouse, setting the stage for Miral's phenomenal success.
Instead of resting on its laurels, Miral continues to push boundaries and explore new possibilities in the themed entertainment world. Yas Island is ready to welcome Disney to its lineup of extraordinary theme park experiences. The future of Middle Eastern themed entertainment promises to be a thrilling ride, as unforgettable adventures await visitors at Disneyland Abu Dhabi and beyond.
The new Disney theme park in Abu Dhabi, the first in the Middle East, is being built in partnership with Miral, a company known for its innovative and immersive theme parks in the region. Miral will bear the costs, develop, and construct the park, while Disney will receive royalties based on sales and provide operational oversight (finance, business).
Disneyland Abu Dhabi is expected to be the most technologically advanced theme park, with an indoor setting due to the scorching heat in the region, following the lead of other successful indoor parks like Warner Bros. World in Abu Dhabi (technology, travel).
Miral's success in the themed entertainment industry is not fortuitous but is built on decades of combined expertise in the sector, collaborations with industry heavyweights, and a strategic approach of partnering only with renowned brands (lifestyle, science).
Miral's Yas Island in Abu Dhabi is a global cultural powerhouse, hosting theme parks, water parks, residential communities, schools, a business district, luxury hotels, a marina, a mega mall, an arena, a beach, an F1 racing circuit, a golf course, and more (lifestyle, travel). With Disney entering the mix, Yas Island will become the only theme park resort in the world to feature Disney, Harry Potter, SeaWorld, and Warner Bros (business, sports).
