UAE Theme Parks Often Fail. Can Disneyland Abu Dhabi Succeed?

Abu Dhabi has high hopes for the new Disneyland, but the track record for theme parks in the UAE is mixed. Typically, large-scale, outdoor parks have not done well in the emirates, though Miral, the owner, operator and developer of the Disney project, has bucked the trend with its string of indoor parks.

Bollywood Parks closed permanently in 2023. Others like Motiongate have struggled with footfall and seasonality, particularly during the summer months, when outdoor attractions become less viable.

The most high-profile casualty was Universal Studios Dubailand, which was unveiled at the Arabian Travel Market in May 2007. The park was to span more than two million square meters and include numerous Universal Studios attractions. A ceremonial gate was erected in 2008 to mark the groundbreaking, but little else followed. The goal was for 3.3 million visitors in its first year and eventually up to 5 million annually.

The global financial crisis soon halted progress. By 2016, Universal confirmed it had exited the project.

Two Misses from Six Flags

Six Flags, too, made two attempts to enter the market, and both failed.

In 2008, Dubai Holding and Six Flags announced plans for what would have been the largest Six Flags park outside the U.S. Construction never began.

A second effort emerged in 2014, this time through Meraas Leisure and Entertainment, a Dubai Holding subsidiary, which aimed to bring a Six Flags park to the Dubai Parks and Resorts complex in Jebel Ali. Construction began in 2016, with an opening set for 2019 and a planned lineup of 27 rides.

But in 2018, DXB Entertainments (now known as Dubai Parks and Resorts), the operator of the complex, reported ongoing losses and underperformance at its existing parks, including Motiongate, Bollywood Parks, and Legoland. The Six Flags project was officially canceled in 2019.

Dubai Parks Today

Dubai Parks and Resorts is currently home to Legoland, Motiongate, and the newly opened Real Madrid theme park, which took the place of the now-closed Bollywood park. It’s difficult to gauge how well the destination is performing. The operator, once a publicly listed theme park company, was taken private in 2021 after delisting from Dubai’s stock exchange.

A piece published by AGBI in May 2024 said 2020 visitor numbers and revenues were down 69% and 71%, respectively, compared to 2019.

Dubai Parks is part of the government’s wider Dubai Holding Entertainment portfolio. Within that set, there are success stories.

Global Village is an outdoor park in the city, and it tends to draw in massive numbers. Importantly, it closes during the hotter months. During its opening period last year from October 2023 to May 2024, the site had more than 10 million visits.

Miral’s Success

The Disney project will be developed by Miral, the master developer behind Yas Island, which will also fund, construct, and operate the park under Disney’s oversight and licensing.

In 2024, Yas Island recorded more than 38 million visits, a 10% increase on the previous year. Hotel occupancy reached 82%, peaking at 90% in August, with a 17% rise in average daily rate compared to 2023.

The island’s indoor theme parks, including Warner Bros. World and Ferrari World, allow for year-round operation, avoiding the seasonal drop-off seen at outdoor attractions. Combined with a year-round calendar of concerts, sports events, musicals, and business conferences, the destination has diversified its appeal.

While full details for the Disney project are still under wraps, a Miral spokesperson told Skift the Disney concept will be both indoors and outdoors: “We envision it as a hybrid design that will feature both indoor and outdoor areas. Stay tuned as more details will be shared as the project progresses.”

Theme park attendance on Yas Island grew by 20% in 2024. Visitors from the GCC rose by 56%, while international visits increased by 40%. Key source markets included India (up 44%), China (up 81%), the UK (up 40%), and Russia (up 29%).