Disney, which infamously sparred with Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., over what the company claimed was a “Don’t Say Gay” bill, now plans to build a new theme park in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a Middle Eastern country that criminalizes homosexuality.

The entertainment company announced on Wednesday that it will open its seventh park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE.

“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,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said, adding that Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be “authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.”

The UAE, however, has a history of human rights violations, including the criminalization of “consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults.”

According to a 2023 report from the U.S. State Department, penalties for individuals guilty of “consensual sodomy with a man” included a minimum of six months in prison. Penalties for men dressed up as women or entering women’s spaces were up to one year in prison and an approximately $2,700 fine.

The UAE even banned the Disney-Pixar animated feature “Lightyear” from showing in movie theaters in 2022 after reports emerged that the film included a kiss between two female characters.

The decision to partner with the nation marks a stark contrast with Disney’s past stance on LGBTQ issues.

In 2022, then-Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against DeSantis’ Parental Rights in Education bill, which aimed to ban classroom instruction on “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” in kindergarten through third grade, during the company’s annual shareholder meeting. He also pledged $5 million in donations to LGBTQ organizations.

The Walt Disney Company released a statement condemning the Parental Rights in Education bill in 2022.
“I called Gov. DeSantis this morning to express our disappointment and concern that if the legislation becomes law, it could be used to unfairly target gay, lesbian, non-binary, and transgender kids and families,” Chapek said at the meeting.

The Walt Disney Company also released a statement condemning the legislation and incorrectly labeling the bill as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

“Florida’s HB 1557, also known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law,” the statement read. “Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that.”

This opposition kicked off a multi-year litigation battle between Disney and DeSantis after the latter dissolved the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the self-governing tax district for Walt Disney World, in response.

Disney has previously supported LGBTQ causes.
In its annual SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) report in 2023, the company seemed to acknowledge that weighing in too much in the culture wars damaged their brand after a string of movie flops.

Disney announces new theme park in Abu Dhabi

Mickey Mouse welcomes visitors near an entrance to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida (JOE RAEDLE)
JOE RAEDLE/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP
The Walt Disney Company announced plans Wednesday for a new theme park in the United Arab Emirates, highlighting the country’s growing prominence as a global financial and entertainment hub.

The waterfront resort will be located on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island and developed in partnership with local firm Miral.

Disney stated that it aims to attract tourists from “the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond.”

The announcement comes ahead of US President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates next week.

“Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati,” said Disney CEO Robert Iger in a statement, promising “an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world.”

The company stated that the new resort will blend Disney’s “iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture.”

Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be the seventh Disney resort since the original Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California in 1955.

Other Disney destinations are located in Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Iger told analysts that the location was chosen to bring the Disney experience closer to hundreds of millions of customers for whom visiting its other six locations “was pretty lengthy in nature and expensive.”

He also noted the success of existing attractions in Abu Dhabi, including the Louvre museum and the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim, which is currently under construction.

Miral group operates numerous hotels, resorts, and amusement parks in Abu Dhabi including Warner Brothers World, Ferrari World and Sea World.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro described the new park and resort as the company’s most “modern” and “tech-forward” destination.

He added that in an unusual arrangement for Disney, the park would be funded, built, and ultimately operated by the Miral group “with oversight of course from us.”

“But we’re very confident in this part of the world, with this partner, that this is the appropriate business arrangement,” he added.

The new park announcement coincided with Disney reporting a robust increase in quarterly revenues, which sent its shares skyrocketing.

The company said overall sales increased seven percent to $23.6 billion in the January to March period.

Crucially, subscribers to its Disney+ streaming service grew to 126 million, adding 1.4 million new subscriptions, contrary to analysts’ expectations of a decline.

The Experiences segment, which includes theme parks, saw revenue increase to $8.9 billion.