Disneyland Abu Dhabi’s dazzling debut on Yas Island: Hollywood stars Naomi Campbell, Ed Westwick, and Tyrese Gibson shine

Dubai: Global stars descended on Yas Island last night as The Walt Disney Company unveiled plans for Disneyland Abu Dhabi, its first-ever theme park and resort in the Middle East. To mark the historic announcement, Disney hosted a lavish nighttime spectacular — a dazzling blend of drone choreography and fireworks set against the striking Yas Island waterfront. Among the A-listers spotted at the celebration were supermodel Naomi Campbell, Gossip Girl actor Ed Westwick, and Hollywood star Tyrese Gibson, adding serious star power to an already monumental evening.

The entertainment continued with a world-class live performance by acclaimed pianist Lang Lang, who shared the stage with celebrated Emirati singer Rashed Alnuaimi and international vocalists Kerry Ellis and Sonya Balsara.

The event also introduced the region to the future home of Disney magic in the UAE. Slated to become the seventh Disney resort globally, Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be built in collaboration with Miral — the creators behind Yas Island’s leisure and entertainment transformation.

While the project is still in its early phases, Disney CEO Bob Iger noted that the timeline will likely follow the company’s standard process: “It typically takes us between 18 months and two years to design and develop, and around five years to build.” No official opening date has been confirmed yet.

When completed, the resort is expected to serve as a gateway connecting travellers from the Middle East, India, Africa, Asia, and Europe — all within a four-hour flight radius. The region already sees a tourism market of over 500 million visitors annually.

Disney also emphasized its commitment to blending its iconic characters and storytelling with Abu Dhabi’s unique culture, shoreline, and architecture, with Walt Disney Imagineering overseeing the creative and operational direction.

This announcement is more than just a new theme park — it signals Disney’s growing footprint in the UAE, following the success of productions like Disney on Ice and The Lion King musical, alongside expanded retail presence.

As questions around cultural integration and Disney’s Five Keys — Safety, Courtesy, Inclusion, Show, and Efficiency — arise, all eyes will be on how the brand navigates this unprecedented expansion.

For now, the stars have spoken — and Disneyland Abu Dhabi’s debut has officially entered the spotlight with a bang.