2026-09-07
Miral and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences announced on 7 September 2026 that Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi on Yas Island will get three Harry Potter-themed lands, Diagon Alley, Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest, on approximately 63,000 sqm (678,000 sq ft), with construction targeted for completion in 2029. Together with the two DC attractions announced in June 2026, Kryptonite Collider and Superman Up and Away, the expansion adds around 70,000 sqm (753,478 sq ft) of new theme park space and increases the size of the region’s largest indoor theme park by more than 50%. The rides in the new lands will be world-exclusive, created only for Abu Dhabi. The investment amount and the public opening date have not been disclosed.
What was announced on 7 September 2026
The announcement was published by the Abu Dhabi Media Office and Miral, the Abu Dhabi developer that owns and operates the park under licence from Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences. The three lands recreate the best-known locations of the wizarding world: the shopping street Diagon Alley, Hogwarts castle and the Forbidden Forest. According to the release, the lands will “bring the wizarding world to life through immersive storytelling, innovative design, and engaging experiences” and will offer rides “created only for Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi”.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, called the project “a significant milestone in the continued evolution of Yas Island and the emirate of Abu Dhabi” and linked it to the emirate’s “broader vision for economic diversification, enhanced tourism appeal, and the continued growth of a dynamic entertainment landscape”. Simon Robinson, President Global Experiences and Studio Operations at Warner Bros. Discovery, said the expansion “represents a significant step forward in our commitment to building world-class destinations anchored in the strength of our storytelling”.
Khaleej Times noted that this will be the first Harry Potter destination in the world to house all three environments, Diagon Alley, Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest, within a single park, and that themed dining and shopping will be part of the lands. The park’s official page for the project describes it as the first time fans in the Middle East will be able to explore the wizarding world and invites visitors to register for updates.
Key figures of the expansion
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Potter-themed lands | Three: Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, the Forbidden Forest | Abu Dhabi Media Office, 7 September 2026 |
| Area of the three lands | About 63,000 sqm (678,000 sq ft) | Same release |
| Construction completion | Targeted for 2029 | Same release |
| Total new theme park space, including two DC attractions | About 70,000 sqm (753,478 sq ft) | Same release |
| Growth of the park | More than 50% of its current size | Same release |
| Existing lands | Six: Gotham City, Metropolis, Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch, Warner Bros. Plaza | Park materials |
| Park opening | 25 July 2018, about 1.65 million sq ft (153,000 sqm), reported construction cost about USD 1 billion (AED 3.7 billion) | Forbes, November 2018 |
| Attendance in 2024 | 1.6 million visits, up 12.5% | TEA, cited by The National, 6 September 2026 |
| Kryptonite Collider | Opened 26 July 2026 in the Metropolis land | Khaleej Times, 26 July 2026 |
| Superman Up and Away | Flying roller coaster, completion expected in 2028 | Miral, June 2026 |
From the 2022 announcement to the 2029 target
The Harry Potter land was first announced on 10 November 2022, when Miral and Warner Bros. Discovery said the Middle East’s first Harry Potter-themed land would join the six existing lands of the park. For almost four years the size, content and timeline stayed unconfirmed. On 25 August 2026 Blooloop reported that Entertainment + Culture Advisors, a consultancy working on the project, had mentioned an expected 2029 opening in a recruitment advert, while earlier reports had put the area at about 40,000 sqm. The 7 September release replaced those estimates with official figures: three lands instead of one, 63,000 sqm, and construction completion in 2029.
The expansion follows the first new permanent attraction at the park since its opening. Kryptonite Collider, a 32-seat spinning ride set in Lex Luthor’s laboratory in the Metropolis land, opened on 26 July 2026. The second DC attraction, the flying roller coaster Superman Up and Away, is expected to be completed in 2028. Both were announced in June 2026 and are now counted as part of the 70,000 sqm expansion.
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi opened on 25 July 2018 as the world’s first Warner Bros. branded indoor theme park. The whole park is under one roof, and in 2019 Guinness World Records recognised it as the largest indoor theme park in the world. The park is served by The WB Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton, described as the world’s first Warner Bros. themed hotel, and stands next to Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, CLYMB and SeaWorld Yas Island.
Yas Island’s pipeline to 2029
The Harry Potter lands are one of several projects that will change Yas Island by the end of the decade. Disney and Miral announced a Disney theme park resort for the island on 7 May 2025, with Miral building and operating the destination and Disney Imagineers responsible for creative design; no opening date has been given. Sphere Abu Dhabi, announced on 14 May 2026 by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and Sphere Entertainment Co., is a USD 1.7 billion (AED 6.2 billion) venue for up to 20,000 guests between Yas Mall and SeaWorld, also due for completion by the end of 2029. Topgolf Yas Island, another Miral project with 82 hitting bays, is scheduled for completion in 2026.
The wider industry context is set out in our article on the UAE attractions industry, which generated USD 5.4 billion in revenue and 64 million visits in 2024, according to the IAAPA study prepared by Oxford Economics. Abu Dhabi is also positioning Yas Island as a venue for business events: the BRIDGE Summit 2027 will take place on the island, and ADNEC Group has scheduled 290 events in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in the second half of 2026.
What the expansion means for business in Abu Dhabi
A construction programme of 70,000 sqm inside an operating park, followed by a permanent increase in visitor capacity, creates demand along the whole chain, from contractors to hospitality. Companies that want to take part should check the following points:
- Construction and fit-out. Themed construction, special effects, ride systems, show control, lighting, audio and scenic fabrication are procured by the developer and its main contractors. A supplier needs a UAE legal entity with the relevant licensed activity, a corporate bank account and, for regulated works, the approvals of the Abu Dhabi authorities.
- Hospitality and food and beverage. Yas Island hotels and restaurants will absorb the additional visitor flow when the lands open in 2029 and during the Disney and Sphere construction period. Operators planning capacity for that period should count the time needed to set up a company, sign a lease and obtain food and tourism permits.
- Retail and licensed merchandise. Themed dining and shopping will be part of the new lands; the rights to Warner Bros. Discovery brands belong to the rights holder, so retailers work through official licensing channels rather than directly with the park.
- Staffing. A park that grows by more than half needs operations, maintenance, entertainment and guest services staff. Employers on Yas Island issue employment visas through their licensing authority; family sponsorship and Emirates ID follow the standard federal procedure.
- Real estate. The additional jobs and visitor numbers support demand for housing on Yas Island and in the surrounding districts, where Abu Dhabi recorded AED 67.8 billion of residential sales in the first half of 2026.
The figures published so far do not include the investment amount, the contractor or the exact opening date; companies planning bids or leases should follow Miral’s procurement announcements and the park’s official updates rather than media estimates.
How Atlant Capital can help
Atlant Capital sets up companies in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE for contractors, suppliers, hospitality operators and service providers who want to work with projects of this scale. We select the jurisdiction and licensed activities for the actual scope of work, whether it is a mainland licence for on-site works or a free zone company for consulting, design and trading, and take the client through company formation, corporate bank account opening and work visas and residency for owners, directors and employees. Accounting, audit, VAT and corporate tax filings are handled by licensed accounting firms from our partner network.
Conclusion
Miral and Warner Bros. Discovery have turned a 2022 concept into a defined project: three Harry Potter-themed lands on 63,000 sqm, a total of 70,000 sqm of new space with the two DC attractions, a park that grows by more than 50%, and construction completion in 2029. For the Abu Dhabi economy the announcement adds a third large leisure project to the Yas Island pipeline alongside Disney and Sphere Abu Dhabi. For businesses it sets a clear timeline: the construction phase runs to 2029, and the operating demand starts when the lands open.
FAQ
What Harry Potter lands are being built at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi?
Three themed lands: Diagon Alley, Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest, on approximately 63,000 sqm (678,000 sq ft) inside Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi on Yas Island. Miral and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences announced the project on 7 September 2026; the rides will be world-exclusive and created only for Abu Dhabi.
When will the Harry Potter lands in Abu Dhabi open?
Construction is targeted for completion in 2029, according to Miral’s announcement of 7 September 2026. The exact public opening date and ticket details have not been published; the park offers registration for official updates on its website.
How much bigger will Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi become?
The three Harry Potter-themed lands together with the two DC attractions, Kryptonite Collider (opened 26 July 2026) and Superman Up and Away (completion expected in 2028), add around 70,000 sqm (753,478 sq ft) of new theme park space and increase the park’s size by more than 50%. The park opened on 25 July 2018 with six lands on about 1.65 million sq ft.
What other projects are planned on Yas Island by 2029?
A Disney theme park resort developed by Miral (announced 7 May 2025, no opening date yet), Sphere Abu Dhabi with up to 20,000 seats and a USD 1.7 billion (AED 6.2 billion) budget due by the end of 2029, and Topgolf Yas Island scheduled for 2026. In 2024 the UAE attractions industry generated USD 5.4 billion in revenue and 64 million visits.
