Inside Disney's Decision to Build Its Next Theme Park in Abu Dhabi

A new Disney documentary, Disney Worldbuilders, sheds light on the strategic decisions behind choosing Abu Dhabi as the location for Disney's newest theme park.

Former Disney chief executive Bob Iger explains in the documentary, “We studied different parts of the world that we could expand into. We like being in this region. About one-third of the world’s population can get here within four hours.”

Iger describes the UAE capital as an oasis rather than just a crossroads. “We love what Abu Dhabi stands for – its potential and its dreams, its design ethic. It is a place that is only pointing to the future in so many different ways with great enthusiasm and tremendous optimism.”

While the documentary provides limited details about specific park attractions, it offers valuable insight into the planning and vision behind the development. Viewers see Iger and other Disney executives meeting with Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, to review project plans.

“You have to think big, you have to build big and then you have to build great. But ambition is, I think, a very, very powerful characteristic. There’s ample room for expansion,” Iger states. He adds that the team is creating a complete experience rather than a collection of separate parts.

For Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, the project represents a bridge between past traditions, future aspirations, and present achievements. “Here in Abu Dhabi, we’re investing significantly in the creative industries, because we believe in the creative mind. It’s so powerful. It’s what connects us,” he says.

He notes that whether drawing from Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, or classic Disney properties, bringing these imaginative concepts to life will serve as a catalyst for a new generation of creative thinkers.

Additional discussions brought together Iger, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Miral chief executive Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, and Tom Fitzgerald, senior creative executive at Walt Disney Imagineering. During a presentation, Fitzgerald addressed the challenge of organizing the vast array of Disney stories.

However, when looking at Abu Dhabi, Fitzgerald noted that the inspiration for the park's direction came directly from the region's natural diversity, referencing landscapes like the Jubail Mangroves, Al Ain Oasis, the desert, marine life, and the urban environment.

“We were impressed with the diversity of the biomes in Abu Dhabi and the story they create. If you think of classic storytelling, ‘once upon a time’ is always followed by location. In a kingdom far away. In a galaxy far, far away. Placemaking is key to storytelling and it's key to what we do,” Fitzgerald explains.

Disney has announced that the destination will feature themed accommodations, retail outlets, dining, and entertainment, with Iger previously characterizing the project as “authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.”

Concluding the documentary, Bob Iger reflects on the site while walking around Yas Island. “If you tell a great story, its potential is limitless. You have to have great ambition, you have to dream big and you have to have a wild imagination that can turn a barren piece of land into a magical place.”