On 14 September 2026, Miral, the developer behind Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, announced a plan worth more than AED 12 billion (USD 3.26 billion) over five years for new hotels and attractions. Disneyland Abu Dhabi is not part of this budget.
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Yas Island investment is stepping up: on Monday 14 September 2026, Miral, the company developing Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, announced a programme worth more than AED 12 billion (USD 3.26 billion) over the next five years. Group CEO Mohamed Al Zaabi presented it at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. The money will expand the island's hotel supply and theme parks, and Miral will fund it mainly from its own profits. Miral's chairman, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, ties the programme to Abu Dhabi's Tourism Strategy 2030. Disneyland Abu Dhabi, developed with The Walt Disney Company, is progressing, but it sits outside this budget and still has no opening date.
Key points
- On 14 September 2026, Miral announced an investment of more than AED 12 billion (USD 3.26 billion) on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, over five years.
- Miral aims to increase Yas Island's hotel room count by around 35% within five years. The plan includes a 250-room extension to a Warner Bros-themed hotel and a new lifestyle hotel on Yas Bay.
- Two of Yas Island's future hotels will draw on well-known brand universes, answering demand for immersive stays.
- A Harry Potter-themed extension at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and new attractions at Ferrari World are due to open in 2029.
- Disneyland Abu Dhabi is not funded from Miral's AED 12 billion and has no announced opening date yet.
What the AED 12 billion Yas Island investment pays for
Hospitality comes first: Miral wants Yas Island to have roughly 35% more hotel rooms than today within five years. Two projects have already been named: a 250-room extension to the Warner Bros-themed hotel, and a new lifestyle hotel on Yas Bay, the island's lively waterfront. Two of the new properties will be built around brand universes, as the world's major leisure hubs know how to do.
The second strand covers attractions. Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will gain a Harry Potter-themed extension, and Ferrari World will get new rides. Both openings are scheduled for 2029. Miral added that further experiences will be announced as the programme unfolds. The group is funding the plan mainly from profits, a sign of a model that already works: Miral did not close any of its parks during the recent regional conflict.
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Disneyland Abu Dhabi: a separate project, no date yet
Abu Dhabi's Disney park remains a distinct project, funded outside this budget. Mohamed Al Zaabi said he was pleased with its progress. According to him, Miral's teams meet Disney's "literally every month". No opening date has been given, however.
For the island, that means two horizons. The first is close: new hotels and, in 2029, major attractions that will draw even more visitors. The second comes later: Disneyland could make Yas Island one of the world's leading leisure destinations.
What it means for investors
In our view, this announcement confirms Yas Island as Abu Dhabi's leading leisure hub. A developer funding more than AED 12 billion from its own profits believes in the island's long-term footfall. More hotel rooms and new attractions mean more visitors, more employees and year-round activity. That supports rental demand, both short-term and long-term, especially near Yas Bay and the theme parks. In Abu Dhabi, individuals pay no tax on rental income, which makes every dirham of rent count for more. We remain clear-eyed, though: the new hotel rooms will also compete with apartments let by the night. Choosing the right development, layout and location matters more than ever.
For an off-plan purchase, timing matters. A property handed over between 2028 and 2030 will arrive roughly as the 2029 openings do. Disneyland is an asset for the future, but we advise against building a plan around its opening date, which is not yet known. No future capital gain is guaranteed: our role is to compare developments, developers and payment plans, then secure every step of the purchase.
To place Yas Island within the wider capital, see our guide Investing in Abu Dhabi. Lucretia supports you on the ground to find the development that fits your strategy.
Source: thenationalnews.com — 2026-09-14
This article is part of our guide
Abu Dhabi Property Investment Guide: Buy, Let and Resell with Confidence
About the author
Sofiane ABDELAZIZ
Real Estate Consultant
Sofiane is a real estate investment expert in Dubai with a solid background in finance and investment strategy. He specializes in financial market analysis and risk management, treating real estate as a true asset class. After gaining experience in the secondary market, he moved into Off Plan investment, developing in-depth knowledge of the Dubai real estate market. At Lucretia Immobilier, he supports an international clientele in acquiring high-potential properties with a structured, transparent, and performance-driven approach.
