There’s been plenty of excitement swirling around the world of amusement parks ever since Disney revealed plans for a significant new resort on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. While specifics are still under wraps, some tantalizing clues about the park’s official name have surfaced from domain registrations and public statements. This inside scoop is courtesy of Caroline Reid’s comprehensive reporting in Forbes, a well-respected authority on theme parks and entertainment news, who has explored various aspects of the project such as its possible size and collaborations.
In May 2025, Disney revealed its blueprint for an Abu Dhabi theme park, showcasing sketches of a magical waterfront landscape featuring a shimmering castle and advanced water attractions. Yet, the announcement didn’t provide definite answers regarding the opening date, which industry analysts predict could be around 2030 given standard development periods lasting four to six years. Moreover, they are yet to disclose the official name of this park.
Disney’s official site categorizes it under “Abu Dhabi” and refers to it as “Disneyland Abu Dhabi,” whereas the Yas Island website calls it simply “Disney Abu Dhabi.” The Abu Dhabi government also uses a broad term, “Disney Theme Park Resort project,” suggesting that a formal naming announcement might be imminent. This leaves room for speculation about the potential future unveiling of the park’s official name.
It’s not surprising that ambiguity arises with Disney, as their resorts frequently use names such as “Disneyland” (for instance, Disneyland Paris) or simply “Disney” (like Disney World). However, an examination of internet domain records offers intriguing hints.
In April 2025, a seemingly unrelated person registered the domain name disneylandabudhabi.com. Interestingly, on May 6 – exactly a day before the public announcement – Disney acquired both disneylandyasisland.com and yasdisneyland.com. This sequence of events implies that Disney might be securing possible branding opportunities for “Disneyland” in conjunction with “Abu Dhabi” or “Yas Island,” the proposed location of the park.
Disney’s registrations, made just before the announcement, suggest a calculated move aimed at safeguarding intellectual property given the project’s prominent status.
The reason behind not having Disney manage this Abu Dhabi project is because unlike most of its global resorts, this venture won’t be owned or run by Disney itself. Instead, it’s a licensing agreement with Miral, a prominent theme park management company based in the UAE. Miral will take care of operations, making payments and royalties to Disney for using its famous characters, stories, and branding. This arrangement allows Disney to extend its presence without having to make direct investments, while Miral utilizes its skills to provide a top-notch experience.
The partnership was finalized on April 29, 2025, after Iger’s trip to that area, during which he was said to be greatly impressed by the current attractions.
Yas Island, an established entertainment powerhouse in Abu Dhabi, serves as the ideal stage for this grand venture. Overseen by Miral, the island showcases an impressive collection of award-winning parks that rival the quality of Disney and Universal. The journey began in 2010 with Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, home to the world’s fastest roller coaster and thrilling rides from top designers. In 2013, Yas Waterworld debuted, offering groundbreaking attractions such as a suspended roller coaster winding through slides and a 3D flooding theater.
In 2018, Warner Bros. World made its appearance, attracting approximately 1.8 million visitors in the year 2023 and becoming the first Middle Eastern park to be included in the Global Attractions Attendance report. More recently, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi was launched in 2023, offering groundbreaking attractions that have managed to surpass even some of Disney’s counterparts.
The design sketches for the upcoming resort suggest groundbreaking water-related inventions, as Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, points out the possibility of manipulating water in an entirely novel fashion. There’s buzz that, due to the expansive area on Yas Island, it might grow to be Disney’s biggest theme park yet, potentially overshadowing giants such as Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California.
As a movie buff excitedly anticipating the opening of this new adventure, I can’t help but notice the intriguing domain names like disneylandyasisland.com hint at a connection between the park and Yas Island. It seems that the chosen name, whether Disneyland Abu Dhabi, Disney Yas Island, or another creative title, will highlight the harmonious blend of Disney’s enchantment with local charm. Whatever they decide to call it, I am confident that this project will take the theme parks of the Middle East to unprecedented heights!
Everyone, from enthusiasts to professionals, will eagerly await upcoming announcements for verification.
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2025-07-25 19:56