Disney Announces a Whole New Theme Park and Resort — and It’s Not in Florida or California

• Disney is opening a theme park in Abu Dhabi, its first in the Middle East
• The waterfront resort will open on Yas Island with immersive attractions, hotels and dining
• An opening date has not yet been set

Mickey Mouse is packing his bags for a new destination!

On Wednesday, May 7, the Walt Disney Company announced it will be opening its first-ever theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi, bringing the House of Mouse’s signature magic to the United Arab Emirates.

The destination — dubbed Disneyland Abu Dhabi — marks Disney’s seventh global theme park resort and its first in the Middle East. It’ll be built as a waterfront resort on Yas Island, a hub for entertainment that already draws millions of visitors from across the Middle East, Africa, India, Europe and beyond.

Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, will oversee development and operations of the resort, while Disney’s famed Imagineers will lead creative design and offer operational guidance to ensure the park captures the immersive storytelling and world-class experiences the brand is known for.

“This is a thrilling moment for our company,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, promising the park “will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting-edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways.”

“Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati — an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world that will bring to life our timeless characters and stories in many new ways and will become a source of joy and inspiration for the people of this vast region to enjoy for generations to come,” Iger said.

An opening date has not been set yet, Iger noted in an interview with CNBC’s David Faber on Wednesday. “We’re not pinning down a date yet,” he said. “It typically takes us between 18 months and two years to design and fully develop and approximately five years to build, but we’re not making any commitments right now.”

The UAE’s strategic location and status as a major air travel hub were also key factors in the expansion. With over 120 million travelers passing through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year, and one-third of the world’s population within a four-hour flight, the park is poised to become a major draw for families worldwide.

“Abu Dhabi is a place where heritage meets innovation, where we preserve our past while designing the future,” said His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Miral. “What we are creating with Disney in Abu Dhabi is a whole new world of imagination — an experience that will inspire generations across the region and the world, creating magical moments and memories that families will treasure forever.”

“This groundbreaking resort destination represents a new frontier in theme park development,” added Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences. “The location of our park is incredibly unique—anchored by a beautiful waterfront—which will allow us to tell our stories in completely new ways.”

Disneyland Abu Dhabi will feature themed accommodations, one-of-a-kind dining and shopping experiences, and all-new attractions that blend Disney’s heritage with Abu Dhabi’s architectural beauty and cultural identity. It’s a historic addition to Yas Island’s growing slate of world-class entertainment offerings — and a milestone moment for both Disney and the region.

“Together, we are creating a place of boundless innovation,” said Miral’s Group CEO Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi. “This marks a historic milestone in our journey to further advance the island’s position as a global destination for exceptional entertainment and leisure.”

Disney’s first park opened in 1955 in Anaheim, California, followed by Walt Disney World in Florida in 1971. Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983, Disneyland Paris in 1992, Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005 and Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016.