The Visionary Behind Abu Dhabi's World-Class Theme Park Ecosystem

When Disney announced its partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Miral in May, it sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry. But the real story wasn’t about Disney choosing Abu Dhabi—it was about why a CEO who built one of the world’s most ambitious theme park portfolios finally earned the House of Mouse’s trust.

How Mohamed Al Zaabi Built a Theme Park Empire

Mohamed Al Zaabi doesn’t run his company from a glass tower thousands of miles away. Instead, his headquarters sits on Yas Island, mere minutes from Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and a short drive from Ferrari World. This proximity is no accident—it’s central to the operating philosophy that has made Abu Dhabi attractions the envy of the global theme park industry.

“I love being in theme parks and enjoy my time,” Al Zaabi told reporters. It’s this passion that drove him to oversee every detail personally, much like Walt Disney himself once did at Disneyland California.

The results speak for themselves. Over the past 15 years, Miral has transformed Yas Island into a destination that competes directly with Disney and Universal parks worldwide. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi launched the strategy. Then came SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, which surpassed every other SeaWorld facility globally and outshone Disney’s own Living Seas pavilion. Each park raised the bar higher than the last.

The Indoor Park Innovation That Changed Everything

Abu Dhabi’s brutal heat posed a challenge that became an advantage. Every park on Yas Island operates entirely indoors, requiring a level of environmental immersion and technical sophistication that few theme parks worldwide have mastered. The result is spotless facilities with cutting-edge attractions and flawless operations—standards that now define Abu Dhabi attractions at every level.

When Al Zaabi walked past Flying Aces, Ferrari World’s 52-meter roller coaster that reaches speeds of 120 kilometers per hour, he noticed a young girl crying at its entrance. She was below the 130-centimeter height requirement. That moment sparked creation of Ferrari World’s children’s area, which has become one of the park’s most popular zones. “I see dads and mums enjoying their time,” Al Zaabi reflected on the decision.

This attention to detail explains why Miral’s parks look nearly identical to their original concept art—something uncommon in the industry where initial designs often serve as loose guidance. At Miral, blueprints are sacred.

Assembling Disney Veterans to Run Abu Dhabi Attractions

The secret behind maintaining consistent excellence across multiple Abu Dhabi attractions lies in Miral Experiences, the company’s internal creative and operations division. This 3,000-person team doesn’t just operate parks; they design experiences, manage entertainment, oversee costumes, and handle retail strategy.

The division’s leadership reads like a who’s who of Disney veterans. CEO Julien Kauffmann spent 15 years at Disneyland Paris as chief transformation officer. Nicolas Gougenheim worked 14 years with Disney, starting as director of business optimization in Paris where he managed overlays for attractions like It’s a Small World. He now oversees retail, food and beverage, ride maintenance, facility management, safety, security, and warehousing.

Naz Güven leads costume design and production across all properties. Entertainment creative manager Matt Cardy handles performer casting, show writing and direction, audio production, and character training. John Rowland, a 20-year theater veteran who worked with impresario Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s Theatrical division, manages entertainment development across all Abu Dhabi attractions.

As Rowland explained, his role encompasses “the creative development and production delivery of world-class entertainment across some of the UAE’s most iconic destinations – including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Yas Island, and the highly anticipated Disney Abu Dhabi.”

Why Disney Said Yes to Abu Dhabi

Disney CEO Bob Iger cited several factors when explaining the Abu Dhabi choice to media. The catchment area was compelling—approximately 500 million people with sufficient disposable income live within a four-hour plane flight. The region’s commitment to building modern, high-quality infrastructure mattered too, as did Abu Dhabi’s cultural investments including the Louvre, soon-to-be Guggenheim, Natural History Museum, and National Museum.

But Iger glossed over the most significant advantage: Abu Dhabi already operates some of the world’s finest theme parks. Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi became the first Middle Eastern theme park to appear in the Themed Entertainment Association’s Global Attractions Attendance Report. The three theme parks and water park on Yas Island don’t just lead the region—they set global standards for indoor park operations, immersive design, attraction technology, and cleanliness.

This wasn’t just about money. Saudi Arabia, known for unlimited spending to attract tourism titans, received no Disneyland proposal. Abu Dhabi won because it had already proven it could deliver world-class Abu Dhabi attractions at standards matching Disney’s own properties.

A Different Model from Other Disney Parks

Unlike most Disney resorts where creative control remains entirely in-house, Abu Dhabi’s Disneyland will follow the Tokyo Disneyland model. The Oriental Land Company in Tokyo operates independently while collaborating with Disney’s creative teams on specific projects. Similarly, Miral will handle creative development, entertainment, merchandise design, and operations for Abu Dhabi attractions, while Disney subsidiary Walt Disney Imagineering focuses on designing the parks, hotels, and attractions themselves.

This arrangement reflects reality: Miral is the local expert. The size, location, and specifications of Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be Miral’s decisions, informed by 15 years of experience building parks that now rival anything Disney or Universal has created.

With a leadership team composed largely of former Disney Paris executives and a track record of operational excellence, Miral isn’t entering unknown territory. Instead, it’s bringing Disney into an ecosystem it has already perfected—one where Abu Dhabi attractions have become destinations in their own right, not merely venues bearing famous names.