If Universal builds in Saudi Arabia, how might Disney respond, if at all?

[Haymarket]

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts recently visited Saudi Arabia, and the media are generally saying it's about getting their backing to fund an acquisition of Warner.

NY Post today:

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts recently visited Saudi Arabia as he has been exploring a possible bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.

While abroad, the exec met with reps for the Middle Eastern Country’s deep-pocketed Public Investment Fund, Puck News reported Tuesday.

Theme park community journalists are speculating that Comcast and the Saudi investment fund might also be discussing building a theme park resort in the kingdom.

In May 2025 after Disney announced its new resort in Abu Dhabi, Robert Niles of Theme Park Insider wrote:

I wrote yesterday that sources in the Middle East claim that Saudi Arabia made Disney a huge offer to place its next Disneyland in the KSA. Now that Disney has chose Abu Dhabi, Saudi has suffered a real setback in its attempt to establish itself as the premier secular tourist destination in the region - a designation long held by the UAE. If Saudi is to catch and surpass the UAE, it will need to align itself with brands that can challenge Disney.

On the theme park front, Six Flags ain't it. Even the world's fastest roller coaster - the under-construction Falcon's Flight - cannot surpass the Disney brand name. If it could, Miral's Yas Island - the current home of the world's fastest roller coaster, Formula Rossa - would not have been so inclined to sign a deal to bring Disney in to boost its profile and attendance.

So who can challenge Disney? Universal. And who has a space for a "movie theme park" designated on its site plan for the upcoming Qiddiya mega resort? That would be Saudi Arabia. C'mon. It doesn't take Tinder to make this match. Especially if Saudi Arabia is willing to write Comcast a big check to entice Universal to license its IP for that movie studio theme park, plus promising a heavy flow of royalty checks into the future.

Yesterday, a journalist at Inside the Magic wrote about the CEO's trip to Saudi Arabia, in which noted:

The whispers say Comcast may be in negotiations to open a Universal Studios theme park in Saudi Arabia.

• Rumor: Comcast is in negotiations to open a Universal Studios theme park in Saudi Arabia – @universalapex on X
• Rumor: Comcast is in negotiations to open a Universal Studios theme park in Saudi Arabia pic.twitter.com/mO0yqFvyaD — Universal Apex (@universalapex) November 11, 2025

This is where all the threads start to connect.

A Saudi Arabian Universal park would be a massive financial, tourism, and cultural investment. But to make such a project work — to justify the costs, land, and international attention — Universal would need every major franchise it can possibly bring to the table. The more powerful the intellectual property portfolio, the more feasible an expansion of that scale becomes.

Which brings us right back to Warner Bros. Discovery.

The rumored Saudi Arabia project suddenly becomes a lot more realistic if Universal gains control of:

• Harry Potter
• DC
• Looney Tunes
• HBO worlds
• Discovery franchises

Warner Bros. animation and film classics

A new “global hub” park needs global IP recognition. WBD’s library brings exactly that.

Is it coincidence that the Saudi Arabia rumor and the WBD merger exploration surfaced at nearly the same moment? Industry watchers aren’t so sure.

What (if any) actions might Disney consider taking in response to a Universal announcement to build in Saudi Arabia?

 

[Disney Irish]

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts recently visited Saudi Arabia, and the media are generally saying it's about getting their backing to fund an acquisition of Warner.

NY Post today:


Theme park community journalists are speculating that Comcast and the Saudi investment fund might also be discussing building a theme park resort in the kingdom.

In May 2025 after Disney announced its new resort in Abu Dhabi, Robert Niles of Theme Park Insider wrote:



Yesterday, a journalist at Inside the Magic wrote about the CEO's trip to Saudi Arabia, in which noted:



What (if any) actions might Disney consider taking in response to a Universal announcement to build in Saudi Arabia?

In my opinion its the other way around, this is Uni responding to Disney's recent announcement of building a Park in Ubu Dhabi -

Disney Announces Plans for New Theme Park and Resort with Miral in Abu Dhabi | The Walt Disney Company

Disney and Miral announced an agreement to create a landmark Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

thewaltdisneycompany.com

So I don't think Disney needs to respond again and build in SA.

 

[Haymarket]

In my opinion its the other way around, this is Uni responding to Disney's recent announcement of building a Park in Ubu Dhabi -

Disney Announces Plans for New Theme Park and Resort with Miral in Abu Dhabi | The Walt Disney Company

Disney and Miral announced an agreement to create a landmark Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

thewaltdisneycompany.com

Sure, but will they respond to Universal's response, if it takes the form of a Saudi resort? Or is there no need because the back and forth has always been about Disney acting and Universal responding?

 

[Disney Irish]

Sure, but will they respond to Universal's response, if it takes the form of a Saudi resort? Or is there no need because the back and forth has always been about Disney acting and Universal responding?

Why would they need to respond again? Both will be each others first parks in the Middle East, so its not like Uni would have some advantage with more Parks, it'll be the same number. So really there isn't a need to build another for Disney, unless some rich Prince wants to pay for it.

 

[Comped]

From everything I understand, from discussing with people who'd know, Uni is much more interested in their UK property (and managing the fallout from HHN Vegas not going great, plus who knows how well the Frisco kids "resort" will go). Saudi may be a long term thing, but it's probably out past UniUk.

I think Universal will also likely push to own and operate it, if it happens, unlike Disney's UAE licensing deal.