NEWS: Universal Starts Work on NEW Theme Park

Universal Studios is planning to build another theme park.

Universal Orlando

According to The Wall Street Journal, Universal Studios is in the early planning stages of building a new theme park in Saudi Arabia, as it seeks to compete with Disney in the Middle East market following Disney’s announcement of its Abu Dhabi park earlier this year.

The Wall Street Journal says, “Comcast unit is doing initial concept work for the park, which might be financed by a Saudi government-backed entity as part of a licensing deal with Universal.”

Universal Orlando

Disney made a very similar agreement earlier this year when it announced plans to build a new theme park in Abu Dhabi. The deal for Universal and the theme park in Saudi Arabia hasn’t yet been completed, but it could be a multibillion-dollar project that most likely wouldn’t be completed until the 2030s.

Universal Studios Orlando

This is not the first theme park in the area, by far. A Six Flags theme park is set to open soon in Qiddiya, and there’s also a Dragon Ball Z park and a water park under construction in the city, about 40 minutes southwest of Riyadh. The Disney park coming to the Middle East is being planned for Yas Island, which also has Formula One, Ferrari, Warner Bros., and SeaWorld destinations.

Hanging out at Universal Studios!

Building in Saudi Arabia would add to Universal’s long list of theme park destinations, which already includes Orlando, Los Angeles, Singapore, Beijing, and Osaka, Japan. A kids-based theme park is being built in Texas, and one in the United Kingdom is also in the works. Epic Universe, the third gate at Universal Orlando, opened in May 2025 as well.

Universal attempted to enter the Middle East in 2008, breaking ground with a partner on Universal Studios Dubailand. However, not much more than a grand entrance arch was built before financing fell apart during the global financial crisis. That ultimately led to the project getting cancelled entirely.