News Disney and Miral Announce New Seventh Theme Park Planned for Abu Dhabi

[Tha Realest]

Makes sense that Disneyland Paris had an effect on him. It's the most beautiful and holistically harmonious park WDI has ever built.

But what time of year did he visit the WDI offices? Hmm...

Keen eye.

 

[Tha Realest]

So uhh…I wonder how world events may affect this project in the short and long term.

 

[Comped]

So uhh…I wonder how world events may affect this project in the short and long term.

Probably nothing. I cannot say definitively though!

 

[SoFloMagic]

Probably nothing. I cannot say definitively though!

It would be an obvious target, but likely a stupid one. UAE is so full of other nations' citizens that they'd essentially be declaring war on the entire world if they attacked it.

WWE has a show in Saudi Arabia next week - that should be an interesting decision.

 

[Robbiem]

Probably nothing. I cannot say definitively though!

For a sense of scale Tehran and Abu Dhabi are about 750 miles apart which is about the same as WDW to Cincinnati.

 

[Comped]

For a sense of scale Tehran and Abu Dhabi are about 750 miles apart which is about the same as WDW to Cincinnati.

I'm well aware. Ive been associated with the football industry in the GCC for yerars, including the UAE... It'd be a UAE choice to end the deal if things went bad, not Disney's. They stuck with HK years after they could have easily had an out, after all...

 

[peter11435]

For a sense of scale Tehran and Abu Dhabi are about 750 miles apart which is about the same as WDW to Cincinnati.

Yes but less than 140 miles from the Iranian coast. So closer to Iran than WDW is to West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, or Tallahassee.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

It would be an obvious target, but likely a stupid one. UAE is so full of other nations' citizens that they'd essentially be declaring war on the entire world if they attacked it.

WWE has a show in Saudi Arabia next week - that should be an interesting decision.

Whose target? Who would be attacking UAE?

 

[SoFloMagic]

Whose target? Who would be attacking UAE?

If Iran wanted to attack the US, a park in Abu Dhabi would be a symbolic target within range for them. I'd imagine if it existed now that it would be on high alert.

 

[Tha Realest]

I ask because travel to the UAE and events there have already been affected by the increased tension vis a vis Iran. I also wonder because Disney is so largely viewed as an American company, and wonder if there will be collateral blowback in the region.

 

[BrianLo]

Extremely doubtful. Florida and the US have gone through more challenging geopolitics as of late for tourism and construction.

UAE does not have an antagonistic relationship with Iran and would not be a target for them. This project is also like six years out and I’d be pretty surprised if the situation has not dramatically evolved.

If anything, oil prices make this project more likely to occur.

 

[Lilofan]

Iran qualified for the World Cup and will here in the USA during the tournament. That should be interesting.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Whose target? Who would be attacking UAE?

I had a similar thought, I don’t think the park would be in physical danger, I think the threat would be from decreased tourism in the region and the financial chaos it will create if they manage to close the Strait of Hurmoz, if the Strait is blockaded the UAEs economy is going to take a massive hit.

 

[Robbiem]

I had a similar thought, I don’t think the park would be in physical danger, I think the threat would be from decreased tourism in the region and the financial chaos it will create if they manage to close the Strait of Hurmoz, if the Strait is blockaded the UAEs economy is going to take a massive hit.

I think an attack at DLP would be as or more likely than one in Abu Dhabi but saying that I think there are there more likely targets.

I agree the impact on wider tourism would be the main impact, especially as the resort will rely heavily on international tourists rather than locals

 

[SoFloMagic]

Probably good news here - Iran retaliated by firing the same number of missiles at a us base in Qatar after warning Washington and Doha of the strike.

Sounds like a similar strike to the "saving face" strikes we've seen in the past.

 

[hopemax]

You have a lot more faith than I do, that the other 2 players will see it as a face-saving dance and not weakness that should be exploited.

If economic volatility is bad for long term planning, this situation still doesn't feel great.

 

[Lilofan]

It would be an obvious target, but likely a stupid one. UAE is so full of other nations' citizens that they'd essentially be declaring war on the entire world if they attacked it.

WWE has a show in Saudi Arabia next week - that should be an interesting decision.

Iran not wasting time. Missile attacking US military bases in Gulf Region instead.

 

[Tha Realest]

I think there are a few issues at play here:

1) Global tourism travel
2) Tourism travel to/from/within ME
3) Developmental travel for WDI execs and construction crews to UAE to work on this project (have to imagine some of those plans now canceled / put on hold)
4) Vibe check at how willing TPTB in UAE/Qatar will want to build such a uniquely American enterprise in that region given increase tensions

 

[Splash4eva]

Iran not wasting time. Missile attacking US military bases in Gulf Region instead.

After they warned the US they were “attacking”

 

[Lilofan]

After they warned the US they were “attacking”

If Iran closes Hormuz Straight the world is affected since it’s travel point for oil.