Behind-the-scenes footage in ‘Disney Worldbuilders’ details how geographic reach and cultural alignment drove the entertainment giant’s choice of Yas Island.
ABU DHABI, Aug 20, 2026:Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger has detailed the strategic and creative reasoning behind selecting Abu Dhabi for the company’s seventh global theme park resort, highlighting the emirate’s geographic connectivity and alignment with Disney’s narrative ambitions. Speaking in the newly released Disney+ documentary Disney Worldbuilders, Iger described the Middle East location as an operational “oasis” capable of drawing visitors from vast international markets.
The resort, first announced in May 2025 as a joint development with Abu Dhabi’s immersive destination creator Miral, will mark Disney’s official footprint in the Middle East. Positioned on Yas Island, the project is scheduled to open its doors in the early 2030s.
According to Iger, geographic proximity played a critical role during site selection evaluations across multiple potential international regions. The UAE location places the resort within a four-hour flight radius for approximately one-third of the global population, offering direct entry into a massive, under-served market between Disney’s existing hubs in Europe, North America, and East Asia.
Beyond logistical convenience, Iger noted that the emirate offered an environment conducive to large-scale, long-term development. Filmed standing at the undeveloped Yas Island site, the Disney chief pointed to Abu Dhabi’s broader vision, design ethics, and willingness to support high-concept entertainment infrastructure as key factors in finalizing the partnership.
The alignment reflects Abu Dhabi’s wider economic diversification campaign. The emirate has channeled substantial capital into its creative, tourism, and media sectors to build a sustainable knowledge-based economy. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Miral, stated in the film that partnering with Disney forms part of a calculated strategy to scale the local creative ecosystem.
The documentary, directed by Academy Award and Emmy nominee Leslie Iwerks, provides a structural look at how Disney translates intellectual properties—including franchises from Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars—into physical environments. While the feature refrains from disclosing specific attraction layouts, land themes, or ride mechanics, it establishes the groundwork for how the barren Yas Island plot will be transformed over the coming decade.
