Disney4me Posted 6 hours ago Report Share Posted 6 hours ago The Walt Disney Company is building a seventh landmark theme park in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). ©Disney The new resort will be located on Yas Island, a spot known for entertainment and tourism, and Disney has announced it will partner with Miral Group to bring it to life. Although fans have been begging for a new Disney park for a while, the announcement has proven controversial — largely because of the strict laws the UAE is known for. Disney’s Abu Dhabi announcement revealed a new partnership with Miral, “Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences.” Disney Imagineers will lead creative design and operational oversight of the park, but the new resort will be fully funded, developed, and built by Miral (similarly to how Tokyo Disney Resort operates). Miral — which is a branch of the Abu Dhabi government — has developed other attractions in Abu Dhabi, such as SeaWorld Yas Island, Warner Bros. World Yas Island, and more. The Walt Disney Company and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, announced an agreement to create a landmark Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The waterfront resort will be located on Yas Island, a world-class destination for entertainment and leisure, connecting travelers from the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond. This seventh Disney theme park resort will combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture. This new Disney resort will be located on Yas Island, a spot known for entertainment and tourism. It is expected to connect travelers from the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and more. According to Disney, the theme park “will combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture.” Disney pointed out 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.”According to Travel and Tour World, India is one of the largest sources of tourism for the UAE. ©Disney During the May 7th Disney earnings call, just shortly after the new park was announced, CEO Bob Iger said, “This is a thrilling moment for our company as we announce plans to build an exciting Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, whose culture is rich with an appreciation of the arts and creativity.” He continued, “We did study the region very carefully and we know that we had many opportunities…Obviously, building a theme park in a location is a huge endorsement of that location. It speaks volumes in terms of the ability of that location to sustain a theme park.” ©Disney However, the response to the announcement has been mixed. While some fans are excited — especially those living near the new park — others are concerned about Disney partnering with a government that seems to go against what Disney has previously maintained as a goal: inclusivity. On Disney’s original Instagram announcement, people flocked to the comment section to make their disappointment known, with comments about how unsafe the location is for many Disney fans and admonishing Disney for seemingly forgoing its commitment to inclusion for all. ©Disney Iger’s recent comments on building a Disney park in Abu Dhabi is a shift from past comments he made at a Council on Foreign Relations event in 2018, when he shared that the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, made an “impassioned plea” for Disney to build a theme park in his kingdom, according to the New York Times. Iger said, “I explained when we make decisions like this, we consider cultural issues, economic issues, and political issues,” not electing to give further details on the “very frank” discussion. He added that the region had “not been at the top of our list in terms of markets that we would open up in.” ©Disney According to Wikipedia, “Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the United Arab Emirates face discrimination and legal challenges. Homosexuality is illegal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and under the federal criminal provisions, consensual same-sex sexual activity is punishable by imprisonment; extra-marital sexual activity between persons of different sexes is also illegal. In both cases, prosecution will only be brought if a husband or male guardian of one of the participants makes a criminal complaint.” Pride Photo Wall at Disney World Disney went through a battle with the Florida government regarding the Parental Rights in Education bill, also known as the Don’t Say Gay bill, in the not-so-distant past. The bill did pass, despite Disney being the largest employer and taxpayer in the state and voicing its opposition. Disney later dropped a lawsuit against the state for what the company viewed as retaliation with the takeover of Disney’s special taxing district. The company has also made a very clear focus on ensuring a comfortable and accommodating work environment with its Inclusivity Key, so the choice of Abu Dhabi as its next park destination is controversial. Cinderella Castle The UAE was even one of the countries that banned Disney’s film Lightyear for having a quick same-sex kiss. The film is still not available on Disney+ in the region. In addition to the strict laws regarding homosexuality, Abu Dhabi (and the broader UAE) is also criticized for its laws surrounding women. According to the Human Rights Watch, while women can drive, own property, work, and get an education, some of these actions require approval from a male guardian, like a father or husband. The 2024 Human Freedom Index ranks the United Arab Emirates 119 out of 165 on human freedom regarding the rule of law, safety, movement, religion, relationships, and more. For comparison, the United States is ranked 17th. Still, the United Arab Emirates is largely considered to be progressive for the region. Buzz Lightyear at Pixar Pier Both Disney fans and critics have questioned whether this is the right move for the company and whether it aligns with Disney’s core values, but the United Arab Emirates isn’t the first country Disney has partnered with that has been criticized for human rights violations. In 2005, Hong Kong Disneyland opened, with Shanghai Disney Resort opening in mainland China in 2016. Disney is also expanding its cruise line fleet, and the Disney Adventure will sail out of Singapore starting in late 2025. Castle of Magical Dreams at Hong Kong Disneyland In both cases, Disney does not fully own these parks. The government of Hong Kong (through a subsidiary) owns 52% of Hong Kong Disney Resort, with the Walt Disney Company owning 48%. Disney owns 43% of Shanghai Disney Resort, while the state-controlled Shanghai Shendi Group owns the remaining 57%. While Hong Kong ranks higher on the Human Freedom Index at 50 out of 165 countries (as it has a separate government), mainland China is ranked 150. ©Disney | Zootopia at Shanghai Disney There is also the question of exactly how Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be built — and who will build it. Many companies (which are typically government-adjacent) in the United Arab Emirates operate under the kafala or sponsorship system, which can prevent migrant workers from changing jobs without an employer’s consent. The Human Rights Watch reports that these migrant workers face widespread abuses like wage theft, illegal recruitment fees, and passport confiscation, leaving them in situations that can amount to forced labor or slavery. While it’s still unclear exactly how this partnership will play out and who will actually be building the park, it is clear that this announcement probably has not been received as well as Disney likely hoped. ©Disney We’ll keep an eye out for the latest updates on Disneyland Abu Dhabi and beyond. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more Disney news. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post Disney Fans Raise Concerns Over Controversial Abu Dhabi Park Announcement first appeared on the disney food blog.View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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