Miral Destinations, in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company, has announced plans to develop the first-ever Disney theme park resort destination in the Middle East and Africa. The Disney theme park’s addition to Yas Island’s portfolio was revealed through a large-scale event that blended digital spectacle with high-profile appearances and media outreach.
Hosted at Yas Links, the Disney theme park announcement included a 9,000-drone light show – the largest staged in the region to date – accompanied by fireworks and live performances from international artists such as pianist Lang Lang, West End performer Kerry Ellis, Emirati singer Rashed Alnuaimi and classical artist Sonya Balsara.
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The event attracted regional and international celebrities, with names including Naomi Campbell, Nancy Ajram, Chiara Ferragni, Ed Westwick and Tyrese Gibson in attendance. The launch also drew a strong presence from media, tourism stakeholders and entertainment industry figures.
As part of the surrounding media effort, major landmarks across the UAE, including the Burj Khalifa and Aldar HQ, were illuminated in blue and animated with themed projections to amplify awareness. Complementing the nationwide activations, outdoor hoardings promoting the Disney theme park have been spotted in regional markets, suggesting further campaign rollout.
Ahead of the official reveal, Yas Island had announced on its social media that it would host the region’s largest-ever fireworks display on the night of 7th May as part of its 15-year anniversary celebrations. The reveal of the Disney destination was kept under wraps until the event itself, with the fireworks acting as both a celebratory moment and a launch platform.
While details of the resort are still under wraps, the project will be Disney’s seventh global theme park resort and its first in this region. The Disney theme park development is positioned to complement Yas Island’s existing entertainment offering and signals further investment in destination tourism experiences.
