Disneyland Abu Dhabi breaks with tradition: the park will be divided into "biomes"
No Fantasyland, no Tomorrowland – Disneyland Abu Dhabi is taking a completely different route. Instead of classic themed lands, the park will be organised into "biomes" inspired by the region's natural landscapes. Coral reef and desert are already confirmed. Here are the details!
Ever since it was announced in May 2025, Disneyland Abu Dhabi has been one of the most intriguing Disney projects around – and now it's clear the park is charting a new course structurally as well. Instead of the classic themed lands familiar from the original Disneyland – Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland – Abu Dhabi will be organised into so-called "biomes."
The reveal came via the Disney+ documentary "Disney Worldbuilders" by Leslie Iwerks. In it, Tom Fitzgerald, Portfolio Executive Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering, presents the concept during a meeting with representatives from the United Arab Emirates.
The idea: each area takes its cue from the natural habitats that actually exist in the region. Two examples are visible in the presentation photos so far – a coral reef and a desert landscape. No further biomes have been named yet, though Fitzgerald made a point of highlighting the diversity of Abu Dhabi's biomes.
His reasoning doubles as a neat lesson in theme park design: placemaking is key to storytelling – after all, in classic narratives, "once upon a time" is always followed first by a place.
The resort is being built and operated by the Miral Group. Up to two years are set aside for the design phase, with construction expected to take four to six years. Despite conflicts in the Middle East, Disney reaffirmed its commitment to the project during its August 2026 earnings call.
Written by DPM-VIDS · August 21, 2026, 17:39