Clifford Chance is advising The Walt Disney Company on its strategic partnership with Miral for the development and operation of a new Disney theme park resort on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
It will be Disney’s first theme park resort in the Middle East and its seventh worldwide. It will also be Disney’s first new resort in nearly a decade.
UAE-based Miral, which has developed a number of entertainment destinations on Yas Island, including Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, and SeaWorld, is understood to be receiving legal advice from Akin, who declined to comment.
Miral will develop and operate the new resort, while Disney will supply imagineers who provide creative design and operational oversight, according to a statement.
Disney is understood to be licensing its intellectual property to Miral, and will earn royalties based on the project’s revenues as well as service fees.
The new resort will seek to combine Disney’s stories, characters, and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s culture, architecture, and technological innovation. Disney chairman Josh D’Amaro said the new destination will be the most advanced and interactive in its portfolio yet.
Upon completion, the new resort will offer Disney’s signature entertainment, themed accommodations, dining, and retail experiences. Miral chief executive Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi said the new resort will support sustained economic growth in the UAE capital and beyond.
Disney is yet to confirm the Abu Dhabi destination’s opening date.
Clifford Chance’s multidisciplinary team is being led by real estate and hospitality partner Tariq Imam and corporate partner Lynn Ammar, who are based in the UAE. They are supported by Clifford Chance lawyers specialising in antitrust, construction, corporate, dispute resolution, intellectual property, and real estate across the UK and UAE.
Imam said: “It is an enormous honour and privilege for Clifford Chance to represent Disney on such a landmark and historic transaction. Disney theme park resorts are unique, once-in-a-generation projects, so we are grateful to the talented and dedicated team at Disney for placing their trust in our firm.”
Ammar added: “For over a century, Disney’s enchanting stories have captivated audiences worldwide, mesmerising children and adults alike. We are delighted to help bring Disney’s timeless magic to the Middle East, right here in Abu Dhabi, the crown jewel of regional attractions.”
