Disneyland Abu Dhabi Will Be Divided Into 'Biomes' Instead of 'Lands'

Key Points:

• Disney’s upcoming Abu Dhabi theme park will be organized into “biomes” inspired by the region’s diverse landscapes, rather than traditional themed “lands,” as revealed in the Disney+ documentary by Leslie Iwerks.
• The design approach draws from Abu Dhabi’s natural environments such as coral reefs and deserts, aiming to enhance storytelling through placemaking, according to Walt Disney Imagineering Executive Creative Director Tom Fitzgerald.
• The documentary features Disney executives, including former CEO Bob Iger and current CEO Josh D’Amaro, meeting with Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of UAE’s Department of Culture and Tourism and Miral Group, which will build and operate the resort.
• Disney announced the Abu Dhabi project in May 2025, with an estimated timeline of up to two years for design and four to six years for construction, and reaffirmed its commitment to the resort despite regional conflicts during their Q3 earnings call.
• Producer Leslie Iwerks compared the excitement of developing the new park to Walt Disney’s early days at Disneyland, highlighting the sense of opportunity and creative potential at the project’s outset.