Disney has revealed that its upcoming theme park in Abu Dhabi will incorporate water into the design of its iconic castle. The new Disneyland resort, set on Yas Island, aims to combine Disney’s storytelling with the cultural spirit and coastal beauty of the UAE.
Innovative castle design
In an episode of Disney’s We Call It Imagineering YouTube series, Zach Riddley, Senior Vice President of global creative strategy at Walt Disney Imagineering, explained that Abu Dhabi’s castle will stand apart from others worldwide.
“One of the first decisions we made as a company was to think we’re going to create a castle park here, a park that’s based on our Magic Kingdom style of storytelling,” Riddley said. He added that, since Abu Dhabi is a city on the water, the design team intends to integrate water for the first time into one of Disney’s castles.
The theme of the castle itself has not yet been revealed, but Disney CEO Bob Iger described the project as “authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.”
Timeline and vision
Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro told Reuters that a project of this scale typically requires one to two years of design work, followed by four to six years of construction. If all plans proceed smoothly, Disneyland Abu Dhabi could welcome visitors as early as 2032 or 2033.
The resort promises to deliver a unique fusion of Disney magic and Emirati culture, creating a one-of-a-kind destination for families and theme park enthusiasts in the region.