And yes, it sounds magical already
If you thought the buzz around Disneyland Abu Dhabi couldn’t get any bigger, think again. Fresh details about the park’s main castle design have just been revealed, and it’s unlike anything Disney has ever done before.
The UAE capital will soon join the elite list of cities—Orlando, Anaheim, Paris, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Tokyo—that can proudly say: “We’ve got Disneyland too.” This highly anticipated Disney theme park in Abu Dhabi, set to open on Yas Island, is being developed by Miral with Disney’s legendary imagineers leading the creative charge.
A Castle with a Splash of Magic
Disney imagineer Zach Riddley spilled the beans in Disney’s We Call It Imagineering YouTube series. For the first time ever, water will actually be incorporated into the castle’s design. Think magic meets the Arabian Gulf.
“One of the first decisions we made was to create a castle park here—a park based on our Magic Kingdom style of storytelling,” said Riddley. “Abu Dhabi is a city on the water, and so we’re really excited to incorporate that into the castle.”
Authentically Disney, Distinctly Emirati
When Disneyland Abu Dhabi Theme Park Resort was first announced in May 2025, the promise was clear: it would be authentically Disney, distinctly Emirati. Fans are already speculating which character or story the castle might be inspired by. Could it be The Little Mermaid, Moana, or something completely original? Disney isn’t saying yet.
A Modern Castle Like Never Before
Earlier this year, Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, teased that the castle would be “unlike anything they had ever created,” with visionary architecture and cutting-edge technology. And if that wasn’t enough, Disney CEO Bob Iger doubled down, declaring the park will be “the most technologically advanced theme park” in the company’s history.
So, whether you’re a lifelong Disney fan or just someone looking for the next big Abu Dhabi updates, this castle reveal is one for the books. Get ready Yas Island, because the magic is about to make waves—literally.
