The Disney Worldbuilders documentary, debuting on Disney+ on Aug 20, gives UAE viewers a first‑hand look at the upcoming Disneyland Abu Dhabi. The film follows former Disney chief Bob Iger as he tours the future Yas Island site and includes interviews with senior Disney creatives.
Bob Iger appears in the trailer, walking the park’s future location and saying, “You have to dream big, you have to have a wild imagination.” The same footage was used for an Instagram post he shared in January, captioned “Walking the site of what will one day be Disneyland Abu Dhabi! Lots of work ahead, but all very exciting!”
Behind the camera: creators and stories
Directed by Oscar‑ and Emmy‑nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, Disney Worldbuilders blends interviews with Disney chief executive Josh D'Amaro, filmmaker James Cameron, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, animator Pete Docter, Disney Legend Jon Favreau and former animation chief Jennifer Lee. The documentary traces how beloved franchises such as Avatar, Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Pixar, Frozen and Zootopia move from screen to ride.
“I wanted to understand what ignites the imaginations of the storytellers behind some of the world’s most beloved stories,” Iwerks says.
— Leslie Iwerks, Director
Each interviewee points to a childhood moment – often a walk through a Disneyland gate – that sparked the belief that impossible dreams can become real. The film uses those memories to frame the design of new lands and resorts under development worldwide.
Disney’s capital‑light model powers Abu Dhabi project
Disneyland Abu Dhabi, announced in May 2025, is being built by Miral on Yas Island. Under Disney’s “capital‑light” model, Miral will fully fund, construct and operate the resort while Disney provides creative oversight and receives royalties.
“The strategic logic of our Abu Dhabi plans is unchanged. Major new theme parks are necessarily long‑term in nature given the lead time of these projects,” D'Amaro wrote in a shareholder letter.
— Josh D'Amaro, Disney Experiences Chairman
Disney has said the park will feature themed accommodation, retail, dining and entertainment, and Iger described the vision as “authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.” Despite regional instability, Disney reaffirmed in May that the project remains on schedule.
The documentary will have its world premiere at Disney’s D23 fan event on Aug 16 before streaming globally on Disney+ four days later, offering fans worldwide a rare peek at the future of Disney in the Middle East.
