Disney is coming to the UAE. On Wednesday, Disney bosses were in Abu Dhabi to announce the news: the company's first theme park in the Middle East will be built in the emirate.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be the seventh Disney theme park resort, but what do we know so far?
Disneyland Abu Dhabi's location
The precise location of Disneyland Abu Dhabi is still to be confirmed. However, developer Miral has announced that it will be built on Yas Island.
We also know it will be on the coast. At the announcement, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Josh D’Amaro described the site as "incredibly unique – anchored by a beautiful waterfront – which will allow us to tell our stories in completely new ways".
There is a large stretch of undeveloped coastal land near Yas North, which could lend itself to the Disney development. However, this is currently unconfirmed.
Disney's opening date
No opening date or building schedule for Disneyland Abu Dhabi has been announced yet.
Speaking to Reuters, D’Amaro said the project could take "a year or two to design, and another four to six years to build".
This would mean an opening date between 2030 and 2033.
Thousands of jobs
Though there are no confirmed details about the number of jobs that the theme park will create, it can be expected to bring in thousands of new roles once open. The Walt Disney Company employs 233,000 people across its various theme parks and resorts, as of December last year.
Disneyland Paris, the most visited theme park in Europe according to Theme Index 2023, employs more than 18,000 people, nearly 90 per cent of them on a permanent basis.
Disney shopping and hotels
No park specifics have been announced. However, Disney has said there will be accommodation, dining and retail on site. A Disney hotel (or hotels) is expected, and the shopping will follow the opening of the first stand-alone Disney Store in the UAE, which opened at Yas Mall in March. It was followed shortly by a flagship shop in Dubai Mall.
"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," Disney's statement says.
There will be Emirati cultural references
We can expect regional cultural references at the park, as Disney chief executive Bob Iger described the park as "distinctly Emirati".
Speaking at the announcement of Disneyland Abu Dhabi, he 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.”
Iger described the UAE as having a culture that is "rich with an appreciation of the arts and creativity".
The most high-tech Disney to date
D’Amaro said the destination would be "the most advanced and interactive destination in the Disney portfolio".
This could be seen through high-tech rides, transport options, immersive experiences and commerce on site.
“The concept for this resort will push the boundaries of theme park design, showcasing groundbreaking technology and visionary architecture, including a modern castle unlike anything we’ve ever created," D’Amaro added.
It is expected to be a huge tourism boost
The location has been chosen strategically by Disney, on the basis that the UAE is "located within a four-hour flight of one third of the world’s population, making it a significant gateway for tourism. The UAE is home to the largest global airline hub in the world, with 120 million passengers travelling through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year."
Speaking of the tourism benefits, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, said the emirate "continues to reinforce its position as a leading global destination for cultural and family tourism".
Miral is developing the park
Abu Dhabi entertainment and leisure destination developer Miral will fully develop the park. The Disney statement adds that it will work with its "legendary Imagineers who will lead creative design and operational oversight to provide a world-class experience".
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Dubai Hurricanes 24-12 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
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Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
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Three and a half stars
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Dust storm
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Stars: 3
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
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Australia men's Test cricket fixtures 2021/22
One-off Test v Afghanistan:
Nov 27-Dec 1: Blundstone Arena, Hobart
The Ashes v England:
Dec 8-12: 1st Test, Gabba, Brisbane
Dec 16-20: 2nd Test, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (day/night)
Dec 26-30: 3rd Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Jan 5-9, 2022: 4th Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Jan 14-18: 5th Test, Optus Stadium, Perth
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
'Champions'
Director: Manuel Calvo
Stars: Yassir Al Saggaf and Fatima Al Banawi
Rating: 2/5
Indoor Cricket World Cup
Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty
Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)
- Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave.
- Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
- Help out around the house.
- Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
- Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
- Offer to strip the bed before you go.
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Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
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Price: From Dh126,000
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Tickets
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
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Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
The Lost Letters of William Woolf
Helen Cullen, Graydon House
THREE
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
