Disney’s latest theme park shall be in Abu Dhabi

A spiraling fortress that appears prefer it’s manufactured from crystal is featured on the heart of renderings of a brand new Disney theme park deliberate for Abu Dhabi, the place the brand new vacation spot will be part of an enormous leisure advanced that already holds a number of different theme parks, together with Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, which opened in 2018. Idea artwork additionally reveals a variety of waterfront sights.

Improvement on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island started lower than 20 years in the past, but it surely’s grown to grow to be a worldwide theme park vacation spot, with a number of the most technologically subtle sights on this planet. Present parks embody sights similar to a 3D movie show, the quickest curler coaster on this planet and the coaster with the very best non-inverted loop. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi additionally holds a Guinness World File because the planet’s largest indoor marine theme park.

The Walt Disney Firm plans to accomplice with an organization based mostly within the United Arab Emirates known as Miral, which developed all the different theme parks on Yas Island.

“This seventh Disney theme park resort will combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture,” Disney mentioned in an announcement.

Miral advertises itself as “being progressive” on its residence web page and touts its social duty technique. The worldwide group Human Rights Watch lists a variety of deeply repressive practices within the United Arab Emirates that embody imprisoning teachers, activists and arresting LGBTQ+ folks.

“We did study the region very carefully, and we know we had many opportunities,” Iger mentioned throughout an earnings name on Wednesday. “Obviously, building a theme park in a location is a huge endorsement of the location.”

A Disney spokesperson didn’t instantly reply to a request for additional remark.

The Walt Disney Firm has been criticized, together with by its personal staff, for not taking stronger stances in opposition to anti-LGBTQ+ insurance policies in Florida, the house of the huge Walt Disney World Resort and the company headquarters of a variety of its ventures, together with Disney Cruises. All are a part of the corporate’s “experiences” sector, that features theme parks and cruises. “Experiences” make up a significant a part of Disney’s enterprise, accounting for 60 % of annual revenue even in the course of the present period of financial uncertainty, in accordance to an earnings name on Wednesday.

A date for the opening of Disney Abu Dhabi has not but been introduced.