The UAE isn’t shy of big announcements; Universal Studios, Six Flags, 20th Century Fox and several other themed parks never saw the light of day. So what makes this time different?

There are real-world challenges not to be overlooked: the heat, the sun, and the speculation around whether a full-scale theme park can thrive year-round in the hot desert. Clearly not a place to repeat what has been done elsewhere, so the perfect occasion for innovation and progress?

We're exploring what’s possible, what should be considered and what remarkable scenario could unfold in the future.

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Big news has dropped—Disneyland is coming to Abu Dhabi’s YAS Island, enforced by an agreement between Miral and Disney. The often rumoured 7th Disney resort has finally found its place in the desert.

Why did Disney choose the Middle East now, and what do they see in the region that has convinced them to develop a new resort and continue their legacy in the United Arab Emirates? Above all, what is Miral? What is YAS Island?

Does this signal a business decision or something bigger? Could it signal a cultural shift, a new kind of storytelling frontier, or even a reimagining of how global brands engage with the Arab world?

Of course, with opportunity comes controversy. How will Disney navigate the complex social, political, and cultural landscape of the region?

In this episode, we unpack the layers behind the headline: the motivations, the implications and the questions that should be asked.

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To wrap up our series about the United Arab Emirates based parks, we have discussed a Face Off for the theme parks. For 20 categories in total, we choose our individual top 3 favourites across the 5 theme parks that compete.

We take a closer look at what IMG World of Adventure, Dubai Parks & Resorts & YAS Island have to offer as themed entertainment. Even though we are often on the same page, there are also some interesting differences between us. You’re able to see the winners for each category in images on our instagram or on www.triponpodcast.com. Hopefully this will also clear things up regarding the different theme park offerings in the Middle East. We might make it much easier for you to choose where to go if you decide to make the trip to this part of the world.

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