Disney Abu Dhabi

Disney announced yesterday it will build its seventh theme park. The resort—located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates—will be Disney's first Middle Eastern attraction and will be built in partnership with UAE developer Miral. Disney did not provide a date for opening; design and build for past resorts have taken around seven years (Disney 101).

Roughly one-third of the world's population lives within a four-hour flight of the UAE, with 120 million people flying to or through the country each year. The resort will be located on Yas Island, a 9.7-square-mile tourist destination that also hosts SeaWorld and Warner Bros. World (a Harry Potter-themed park is under development). The island had 38 million visitors last year. See a promotional video of the island starring Shaquille O'Neal here.

The announcement came on the heels of Disney's second-quarter earnings call. The experiences unit (including parks, cruises, and consumer products) saw 6% year-over-year revenue growth last quarter. The segment was responsible for 37% of the company's total revenue in FY 2024. Disney shares ended the day up 10.8%.