First glimpse of Disneyland Abu Dhabi theme park location at Yas Island site

Disneyland Abu Dhabi is coming to Yas Island, and for the first time since the theme park and resort was announced in May 2025, we get a glimpse of where the magical destination will be.

The Walt Disney Company’s chief executive, Robert 'Bob' Iger, shared the first look at the future Disneyland Abu Dhabi site in an Instagram post on Sunday evening. "Walking the site of what will one day be Disneyland Abu Dhabi! Lots of work ahead, but all very exciting!" Iger wrote alongside photos of himself surveying the coastal landscape in the UAE.

When the park was announced, Bob Iger forecast that, "Our resort in Abu Dhabi will be the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio. The location of our park is incredibly unique – anchored by a beautiful waterfront, which will allow us to tell our stories in completely new ways. This project will reach guests in a whole new part of the world, welcoming more families to experience Disney than ever before. Ultimately, it will be a celebration of what’s possible when creativity and progress come together."

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Although the park is still a few years from opening, these photos of Bob taking a stroll through the coastal landscape offer the clearest indication yet of the park's location. While Disney has not released details of the park, Forbes reported the future site is on prime waterfront land on the northern beach of Yas Island.

In one of the photos, Bob is seen walking near a small pier, a closer look on Google Maps along Yas Island's northern shoreline features a similar structure.

The new resort will be fully developed and built by Miral. Disney will lead creative design and operational oversight to provide a world-class experience. Miral, which has developed a number of family entertainment destinations on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in collaboration with American and European brands, will operate the resort.

Yas Island already hosts internationally branded attractions such as Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld, and the addition of Disneyland Abu Dhabi is expected to transform the island into one of the world’s most significant integrated entertainment hubs.

Ambitious timeline and creative vision

Initially announced in May 2025, Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be Disney’s first theme park in the Middle East, its seventh resort globally, and the first new major park since Shanghai Disneyland opened in 2016.

Construction is still in its early phases, with formal groundbreaking and detailed project timelines expected to unfold over the course of 2026 and beyond. Industry estimates suggest the park could open in the early 2030s, in line with typical Disney development cycles.

Authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati

Although the park is still in its designing phase, we do know that the park will be “distinctly Emirati” while also keeping the Disney flavour intact, the Disney CEO said.

"It will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways. Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati – an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world that will bring to life our timeless characters and stories in many new ways and will become a source of joy and inspiration for the people of this vast region to enjoy for generations to come," Bob Iger has said.

Upon completion, the new theme park resort will offer signature Disney entertainment, themed accommodations, unique dining and retail experiences, and storytelling in a way that celebrates both the heritage of Disney and the futuristic and cultural essence of Abu Dhabi.