Disney is coming to the UAE capital. It was announced today that Disneyland Abu Dhabi is set to be built on Yas Island.
And while this will mark Disney's first theme park in the Mena region, it is a new high point in Disney's long love affair with the Arab world.
The region has served as a point of inspiration for Disney-owned properties for nearly a century, inspiring beloved cartoon characters, planets in a galaxy far far away, and even popular superheroes.
And Disneyland Abu Dhabi won't just be a carbon copy of the other Disneyland parks around the world, chief executive Bob Iger confirmed. It will draw influence from Arab culture.
The park “will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati, an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment that is at the crossroads of the world”, Iger said.
The new location will be built by Miral, with Disney leading the creative design and operational oversight.
But from where in the brand's rich history could Disney draw inspiration? Let's take a look at some of the most likely examples.
Disney's Aladdin
The 1992 film Aladdin, inspired by the classic tale in A Thousand and One Nights, is one of the most beloved cartoons in Disney's long history. Its 2019 live-action remake grossed more than $1 billion.
Set in the fictional Arab kingdom of Agrabah, the story follows a boy who uses a magic lamp to transform himself into a prince in order to win the heart of a princess named Jasmine.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will surely feature aspects of Aladdin. Perhaps there will be a roller coaster inspired by Aladdin's magic carpet ride, or Disneyland's famed Sleeping Beauty Castle will instead be the Sultan's palace.
Aladdin-inspired attractions are already up and running at Disney parks around the world. Florida's Walt Disney World is home to the The Magic Carpets of Aladdin ride, in the Magic Kingdom, with similar aerial carousel rides such as Jasmine's Flying Carpets at Tokyo DisneySea and Flying Carpets Over Agrabah at Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris. Disneyland Park in the French capital also has a walkthrough attraction inspired by the film, Aladdin's Enchanted Passage.
Tokyo DisneySea has an Arabian Coast area, which takes design inspiration from Aladdin and A Thousand and One Nights, and contains rides and restaurants. Similarly, there is Adventureland Bazaar in Adventureland, in Disneyland Paris.
Fans can also have meet and greets with characters from the film – Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie and the Sultan – at each of the parks.
Marvel's Moon Knight
While Moon Knight was long considered one of Marvel's most underrated characters – a dark, Batman-type antihero who draws his power from gods of ancient Egypt, the character found renewed popularity in 2022 when actor Oscar Isaac donned the cowl for the Disney+ series of the same name.
Directed by Egyptian filmmaker Mohammed Diab, the series ended on a cliffhanger – introducing actress May Calamawy as the superhero Scarlet Scarab.
Both are likely to make an appearance in the park, and perhaps feature in an interactive experience. In March 2022, Moon Knight made his meet and greet debut at the Avengers Campus, at Disney California Adventure Park.
Mickey in Arabia
One of Mickey Mouse's earliest adventures found the Disney mascot riding camelback with Minnie Mouse in the Arabian Desert. Released in 1932, Mickey In Arabia laid the groundwork for Aladdin, as they went on a dangerous adventure through a sultan's palace.
While aspects of the cartoon and depictions of Arab culture have aged poorly, an updated version honed to modern sensibilities – perhaps reworked with Arab animators – could make for an excellent attraction at Disneyland Abu Dhabi.
Tatooine from Star Wars
The desert planet of Tatooine is one of the most recognisable locales in Star Wars lore. It is the home of characters such as Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jabba the Hutt and Boba Fett – not to mention the “scum and villainy” of Mos Eisley Cantina.
In the 1977 original film, the Tatooine sequences was filmed in Tunisia. In 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, they were shot in Abu Dhabi's Liwa Desert.
Walt Disney World in Orlando features an area called Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, set on the fictional planet of Batuu. Could Abu Dhabi once again be transformed into Tatooine, set at the edge of the galaxy?
A new original character designed by Emiratis
It is hard to imagine, especially considering Iger's comments, that there won't be a character designed specifically for the Disneyland Abu Dhabi theme park.
And such a character is not without precedent. In Disneyland Shanghai, a pink fox named LinaBell welcomes visitors to the park. And while LinaBell has never appeared on the big screen, she is a cult sensation in China.
It seems likely that Disney will work with local creatives to design a similar character – perhaps an Arabian leopard or red fox, or even a houbara. Or maybe it won't be an animal at all – instead a new avatar for the Emirati people. And if that character gets popular enough, perhaps they could star in an original Disney animation.
With so many possibilities, it seems inevitable that Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be an incredible and unique park that people will flock to visit, again and again.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Essentials
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Seattle from Dh6,755 return in economy and Dh24,775 in business class.
The cruise
UnCruise Adventures offers a variety of small-ship cruises in Alaska and around the world. A 14-day Alaska’s Inside Passage and San Juans Cruise from Seattle to Juneau or reverse costs from $4,695 (Dh17,246), including accommodation, food and most activities. Trips in 2019 start in April and run until September.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The five pillars of Islam
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Book%20Details
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What is type-1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a genetic and unavoidable condition, rather than the lifestyle-related type 2 diabetes.
It occurs mostly in people under 40 and a result of the pancreas failing to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugars.
Too much or too little blood sugar can result in an attack where sufferers lose consciousness in serious cases.
Being overweight or obese increases the chances of developing the more common type 2 diabetes.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Results
2.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m
Winner Lamia, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m
Winner Jap Al Afreet, Elione Chaves, Irfan Ellahi.
3.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m
Winner MH Tawag, Bernardo Pinheiro, Elise Jeanne.
4pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 2,000m
Winner Skygazer, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
4.30pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 1,700m
Winner AF Kal Noor, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
5pm Sharjah Marathon (PA) Dh70,000 2,700m
Winner RB Grynade, Bernardo Pinheiro, Eric Lemartinel.
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
