Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is the world's second largest indoor theme park in
Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates, owned and developed by
Miral at a cost of $1 billion.[2] The park features characters from
Warner Bros.'s franchises, such as
Looney Tunes,
DC Comics,
Hanna-Barbera, and others. The park is located on
Yas Island near
Ferrari World,
Yas Waterworld and
CLYMB Abu Dhabi, and is the third Warner Bros. theme park.[3] The WB Hotel is the first Warner Bros. themed hotel and is located adjacent to the theme park. The park contains 29 rides, and several shows.[4]
History
Plans for the park began in 2007, but were halted by the
Great Recession. Warner Bros. had signed a development contract with
Aldar Properties in that year.[2][5]
In May 2015, Miral signed the general construction contract with Belgian contractor
Six Construct, thus resuming construction that year.[2] On April 19, 2016, Miral and Warner Bros. announced plans for the park's first phase to open in 2018.[3]
Miral announced in February 2017 that ride delivery and installation had begun with many of the 29 rides being tested.[4] On April 25, 2017, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Miral announced that the park was on schedule at 60% completion, and revealed information about its six themed lands.[1]
On November 10, 2022, a
Harry Potter themed land was announced to be coming to the park.[7]
Design
The theme park is indoor and fully air-conditioned, as is typical of most major theme parks in the region due to the extreme heat in the summer. Standing at 1,650,000 square feet (153,000 m2), Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi was named the world’s largest indoor theme park by Guinness World Records in 2019, though this has since been surpassed by
Chimelong Spaceship in
Hengqin,
Zhuhai,
China.[8][9]
The facade features a 61-metre-tall (200 ft) tower inspired by the iconic
Warner Bros. Water Tower in Burbank, California. The theme park was designed by
Thinkwell Group.
Layout
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi features six themed lands; Gotham City, Metropolis, Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch and
Warner Bros. Plaza.
Gotham City and
Metropolis are based on the fictional settings of
DC Comics superheroes
Batman and
Superman, respectively, with attractions and live performers featuring costumes based on
The New 52's character designs. DC Comics superheroes Superman, Batman and
Wonder Woman, Warner Bros.'s Looney Tunes and
Hanna-Barbera cartoon libraries are represented in Dynamite Gulch and Cartoon Junction, along with Bedrock, which is themed around
The Flintstones. Warner Bros. Plaza is meant to mimic the Hollywood of the past.[10]