Disney reaffirms Abu Dhabi theme park in D’Amaro’s first earnings call

Disney Confirms Abu Dhabi as Its Seventh Theme Park Resort

The Walt Disney Company used its fiscal second-quarter 2026 earnings call on Wednesday to reaffirm its commitment to building a theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, with new CEO Josh D’Amaro signaling the project is moving forward immediately as part of the company’s broader expansion of its Experiences division.wdwnt

A New Era Under D’Amaro

The earnings call marked D’Amaro’s first as CEO since succeeding Bob Iger in March 2026. In the company’s Q2 report, Disney stated it has multiple experience expansions underway, including a new cruise ship in Japan and Disneyland Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi park represents the seventh Disney theme park resort globally and its first in the Middle East.cinemablend

The Abu Dhabi Project

Disney initially announced the Abu Dhabi partnership in 2025 alongside Miral, the UAE-based entertainment company responsible for developing attractions on Yas Island such as Ferrari World and Warner Bros. World. The waterfront resort will be located on Yas Island, positioning it to connect travelers from the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, and Europe.thewaltdisneycompany

Under the arrangement, Miral will fully finance, build, and operate the park, while Disney provides intellectual property and creative oversight through its Imagineers, earning revenue through licensing fees and royalties without investing its own capital. The park is expected to be fully indoor — a first for Disney — and will combine the company’s storytelling heritage with Abu Dhabi’s cultural identity.disneyfoodblog

Broader Growth Ambitions

The Abu Dhabi confirmation came as Disney reported a revenue beat that sent shares higher in early trading. Analysts had projected revenue of $24.83 billion for the quarter. The Experiences segment has been a central pillar of Disney’s growth strategy, with the division achieving record quarterly revenue of over $10 billion in the prior quarter. Wall Street analysts maintain a bullish outlook on the stock, with an average price target suggesting roughly 30% upside from recent levels.cnbc

D’Amaro has previously described the Abu Dhabi park as featuring a “beautiful waterfront” and aimed at bringing more families into the Disney ecosystem in a region where the company has had no physical presence.nypost