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Bob Iger Shares First Look at Disneyland Abu Dhabi Site on Yas Island

The Miral-led resort is in early planning with Disney overseeing design and no groundbreaking date.

Overview

  • Iger posted two photos of himself walking a Yas Island waterfront plot, with a jetty and a reversed 'YAS' sign indicating a likely Yas North location.
  • Abu Dhabi’s media office said Iger and Disney Experiences chief Josh D’Amaro met with the crown prince and Miral leaders to discuss the project.
  • Miral will develop, build and operate the resort while Disney Imagineers provide creative design and operational oversight, a model akin to Tokyo Disney Resort for what would be Disney’s seventh global destination and first in the Middle East.
  • No construction schedule has been announced, and industry guidance points to roughly one to two years of design and four to six years of construction, suggesting an early‑2030s opening window.
  • Reporting cites an estimated budget of about $10 billion funded by Miral, and the plan continues to face public criticism over UAE laws affecting LGBTQ+ people and prior labor‑rights reporting.