Following the May 2025 announcement by The Walt Disney Company and Miral of plans to build a Disney theme park and resort on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, new details have been released by Disney and Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism department.

Located on Yas Island, the new Disney Park will be developed, built and operated by Miral, while Disney’s team of Imagineers will lead the creative design.

Speaking in an episode of Disney’s We Call It Imagineering YouTube series, Walt Disney Imagineering’s senior VP of global creative strategy Zach Riddley revealed details of the design of the castle, explaining that it will include features unique to Abu Dhabi.

“Abu Dhabi is a city on the water and so we’re really excited about being able to incorporate water for the first time in the design of one of our castles,” he said.

When the plans for the park were announced, Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, said the theme park and the castle would be different to any previous Disney parks.

“The design of this resort will redefine what's possible in a theme park, showcasing groundbreaking technology and visionary architecture, including a modern castle unlike anything we’ve ever created,” he said.

The park will be “authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati,” according to The Walt Disney Company CEO Robert A Iger.

While an opening date for the park hasn’t been released, the Department of Culture and Tourism's official Visit Abu Dhabi states: “Disneyland Abu Dhabi is still in the early design stages. While no dates have been officially communicated, expect the opening of Disneyland Abu Dhabi to be sometime between 2030 and 2032.”