Visitors to Yas Island will soon have new wizarding realms to discover as part of the expansion of a major indoor theme park.
Miral and Warner Bros. Discovery have confirmed plans to construct themed areas at Warner Bros. World Yas Island Abu Dhabi, expanding the indoor destination to accommodate iconic fictional settings.
The development will introduce three dedicated themed lands based on the Harry Potter franchise: Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, and the Forbidden Forest. The addition will add more than 63,000 square metres of space to the existing park. According to Miral, the new lands will feature world-exclusive rides created specifically for the Abu Dhabi park. Construction work across all three areas is targeted for completion in 2029.
Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, noted that the expansion marks a major step for the venue, which recently became the first theme park in the Middle East to receive the Liseberg Applause Award.
“Warner Bros. World Yas Island Abu Dhabi has always been more than a theme park to me,” said Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi. “It is a destination I have watched grow, evolve and surprise me at every turn. Eight years after we opened our doors, and only months after becoming the first theme park in the Middle East to receive the Liseberg Applause Award, the industry’s oldest and most prestigious honour, I could not be prouder to announce our next chapter.”
He added that bringing the wizarding world to Abu Dhabi reflects both the ambition for the destination and the strength of Miral’s partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, supported by the leadership of the UAE and Miral Chairman His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak.
A whole new world
The Harry Potter addition comes alongside other developments managed by Miral on Yas Island. Last year, Miral and The Walt Disney Company announced an agreement to build a landmark Disney theme park resort on the island. The waterfront development will mark the seventh Disney theme park resort globally and the first in the Middle East region.
Under the agreement, Miral will fully develop, build, and operate the resort, while Walt Disney Imagineering leads creative design and operational oversight.
Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, described the project as an oasis of entertainment at a global crossroads, adding that Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.
Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, stated that the resort will be the most interactive destination in Disney’s portfolio. Meanwhile, His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak described the creation as a new world of imagination resulting from visionary leadership and creative excellence.
The expansion of Yas Island’s attractions portfolio leverages the UAE’s position as an international travel hub. Located within a four-hour flight of one-third of the global population, the UAE sees approximately 120 million passengers pass through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year. Miral expects the expanding array of world-class experiences to support long-term economic growth across the emirate.
