The new theme park will be built in partnership with Miral Group, an Abu Dhabi-based entertainment company that owns and operates other theme parks on Yas Island. But, despite fans begging Disney for a new park, this announcement has garnered backlash.
The new resort will be fully developed, built, and funded by Miral (an arm of the Abu Dhabi government), with Disney and its Imagineers leading creative design and operational oversight to provide the best experience. Miral will operate the resort (this is similar to how Shanghai Disney Resort operates).
Once the park is completed, it will offer signature Disney entertainment, themed accommodations, unique dining and retail experiences, and storytelling in a way that “celebrates both the heritage of Disney and the futuristic and cultural essence of Abu Dhabi.”
In the announcement, Disney pointed out that the UAE is within a four-hour flight of one-third of the world’s population. Tourism is a huge part of the country’s economy, with India being one of the largest sources.
Following the announcement, Disney CEO Bob Iger shared his thoughts in the company’s May 7th earnings call, and 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.”
Iger added, “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.”
The response to this new park announcement has largely been mixed, however. Fans who live near the park are excited, while others have concerns that Disney is partnering with a government that is so different from Disney’s goal of inclusivity.
When Disney first posted the news on its Instagram page, fans and critics were quick to share their thoughts in the comments — largely about how unsafe the location of the new park is for many Disney fans.
Even Iger’s recent comments about the Abu Dhabi government and building a park there are a far cry from what he has said in the past. At a Council on Foreign Relations event in 2018, Iger shared that the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, had made an “impassioned plea” for a Disney theme park in his kingdom, according to the New York Times.
He added, “I explained when we make decisions like this, we consider cultural issues, economic issues, and political issues,” declining to comment further on the “very frank” discussion. Iger said that the region had “not been at the top of our list in terms of markets that we would open up in.”
Per 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.”
It wasn’t too long ago that Disney butted heads with the Florida government regarding the Parental Rights in Education bill, also known as the Don’t Say Gay bill, which ultimately passed despite Disney being the largest employer and taxpayer in the state. Disney later dropped its lawsuit against Florida for what it claimed was retaliation with the takeover of Disney’s special tax district.
Disney has also made a very clear focus on ensuring a comfortable and accommodating work environment with its Inclusivity Key, so choosing Abu Dhabi as the location for this new park is proving to be controversial. The UAE was also one of the countries that banned the Disney movie Lightyear due to a same-sex kiss.
Abu Dhabi (and the United Arab Emirates) is also often criticized for its legal practices regarding women. Women can drive, own property, work, and get an education, but some of these actions require approval from a male guardian like a father or husband, according to the Human Rights Watch. The United Arab Emirates is ranked 119 out of 165 on the Human Freedom Index, which measures human freedom regarding the rule of law, safety, movement, religion, relationships, and more. The United States is ranked 17th, for comparison.
Despite this, the UAE is still considered to be progressive for the region.
While both Disney fans and critics have voiced concerns about whether or not this new park aligns with the company’s core values, the United Arab Emirates is hardly the first country with controversial human rights violations that Disney has partnered with.
There are currently two Disney resorts in China — Hong Kong Disney Resort opened in 2005, and Shanghai Disney Resort opened later in 2016. Disney owns 48% of Hong Kong Disney, and the government owns the remaining 52%. In Shanghai’s case, Disney owns 43%, while the state-controlled Shanghai Shendi Group owns the remaining 57%.
China is ranked 150 out of 165 countries on the Human Freedom Index, while Hong Kong is ranked at 50 (due to its separate government). In addition, Disney will be sailing its new Adventure cruise ship out of Singapore later this year, which ranks 43rd on the Human Freedom Index.
Fans have also raised the question of just how Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be built. Most companies in the United Arab Emirates are government-owned and operate under the kafala, or sponsorship system. The kafala system can prevent migrant workers from changing jobs without an employer’s consent, and the Human Rights Watch says that workers often face widespread abuses. Between wage theft, illegal recruitment fees, and passport confiscation, these workers can be left in situations that ultimately amount ot forced labor or slavery.
At this point, it’s still not clear who will actually be building the park — and how much say Disney will actually have.
While this project is still in the early stages and Disney hasn’t revealed too many details thus far, we’ll be on the lookout for additional news and updates about this new theme park. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney news and more.
Disney has cut back its DEI initiatives (as has many American companies) from three years ago when Chapek lead the company and butted heads with the Florida government over the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Ultimately, as much as many American companies like to promote inclusion and diversity, they are companies in the business making money, and they will go wherever there is money to be made.
I really am shocked Disney would put this country on a list of countries to consider. Doubly shocked they are actually choosing to build there. What are they thinking? The human rights abuses abound in UAE. Come on. There’s got to be someone in the Disney company who doesn’t prioritize money and profit over everything else.
It’s a dark dark day for Disney.