It’s hard to believe it, but it is already the end of 2025! It seems like just yesterday we were picking the top five stories of 2024. In the coming days, Daps Magic will be sharing the top five stories of the year that came from the realm of Disney and positive stuff. Many factors were taken into account when picking these five stories. This included the impact of the story on the past, present, and future of The Walt Disney Company, how it impacted the Disney community, and how it impacted the world beyond Disney. These are just a few of the big-picture thoughts that were taken into account when picking the Top 5 Stories of 2025. There are a lot of exciting things that happened, so let’s get to the top five stories of the year!

#5 Disneyland Abu Dhabi

The 5th story of 2025 is the announcement that there will be a new Disney theme park built in Abu Dhabi! This will be a waterfront resort located on Yas Island. This new Disney destination promises to combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters, and attractions with the vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture that are found in Abu Dhabi. At the time, Disney CEO Bob Iger said, “Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.” 

This new resort will be done in partnership with Miral, which will both build and operate the new destination. Disney and Walt Disney Imagineering will lead the creative design and provide operational oversight to ensure the full Disney experience that guests have come to know and love. Miral already owns and operates several resorts on Yas Island.

Once the new Disneyland Abu Dhabi is completed, it will offer signature Disney entertainment, themed accommodations, unique dining and retail experiences, and storytelling. This will all be done in a way that celebrates the history and heritage of Disney, along with the futuristic and cultural essence of Abu Dhabi.

The new resort will be found in a place that is within four hours by flight to a third of the world’s population. 120 million people travel through Abu Dhabi and Dubai yearly. With no Disney resort presence in the region, this will open up a whole new area of the world to new potential customers and fans of the Disney brand. It will open and connect travelers from the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond with the company.

An official timeline and opening date have not been announced for this Disney resort in Abu Dhabi. If any previous projects are an indication, this resort will be opening sometime in the early 2030s. While this new Disney destination has been referred to as Disneyland Abu Dhabi, it may end up with a more unique name that fits with the regionand the story being told.

The announcement of Disneyland Abu Dhabi is just one of the top five stories of the year that were covered by Daps Magic. In the coming days, we will work our way up to the top story of the year! Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media so as not to miss any of the other four.

What do you think the top five stories of the year should include? What would you put at number five? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!

Disneyland Abu Dhabi News: