Warner Bros. Confirms Abu Dhabi Debut of Harry Potter-themed Park in 2025
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi Expands with Harry Potter Land
The construction of the highly-anticipated Harry Potter land at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi on Yas Island is officially underway. Miral, the owner and developer, has extended the bid submission deadline for contractors to August 4, 2025, marking the beginning of construction after the initial announcement in 2022 [1][4].
This expansion will add approximately 40,000 square meters to the existing indoor theme park, representing an increase of around 26%. The projected cost of the project is between 2 to 3 billion Emirati Dirhams (approximately $545 million to $816 million USD) [1][2][4].
The Harry Potter land will be the first outside of Universal-owned parks and will feature new ride designs independent from those Universal created, with three rides planned alongside retail and food and beverage locations [1][4]. Although no official ride manufacturers have been confirmed, there are rumors that a company like Intamin might be involved, potentially including at least one roller coaster [2]. The design oversight is reportedly managed by French firm Egis, but detailed creative firms are not yet disclosed [1].
The expansion will offer guests life-size recreations of iconic locations such as Hogwarts Castle and Diagon Alley. The designers of Warner Bros. World come from Thinkwell, a division of design giants TAIT [2].
The Harry Potter exhibition, which opened on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi's museum district, in 2022, serves as a prelude to the upcoming theme park expansion. The exhibition, which runs until September 21, 2023, offers guests a close look at props from the films and an opportunity to take part in iconic activities from the series such as mixing potions or playing Quidditch [3].
In addition to the theme park expansion, the Harry Potter Film Concert Series will be held at Yas Island's Etihad Arena, featuring screenings of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra playing John Williams' score [3].
With the success of the Harry Potter movies, which have grossed $9.7 billion, and the books, which have sold over 600 million copies, the new Harry Potter attraction in Abu Dhabi will have to be substantial enough to compete with a future Disney park coming to the city [5]. If the new Harry Potter series, set to premiere on HBO's streaming platform in 2027, is successful, Abu Dhabi might want to integrate the new actors in its attractions from the start [6].
Miral's dynamic chief executive Mohamed Al Zaabi has revealed that there will be a great announcement this year regarding the expansion of Warner Bros. World. He added that the project is moving in the right direction and he can't wait to open the expansion [2].
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, the first Potter land outside the US, opened in 2018 and has been praised for its immersive theming and meticulous attention to detail [2]. Currently, there are only three countries with Harry Potter theme park attractions, making the Abu Dhabi expansion an exciting addition to the Potterverse [5].
[1] Gulf News, "Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi to expand with Harry Potter land," 2022. [2] Arabian Business, "Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi begins construction on Harry Potter land," 2023. [3] The National, "Harry Potter exhibition opens in Abu Dhabi," 2022. [4] MEED, "Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi to expand with Harry Potter land," 2022. [5] Forbes, "The 7 Harry Potter-Themed Parks Around The World," 2021. [6] Deadline, "Warner Bros. Sets 'Harry Potter' Reboot Series at HBO Max," 2022.
Harper Rowling, the renowned author of the Harry Potter series, may find a significant financial gain from the expansion of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, as the new Harry Potter land will add approximately 40,000 square meters to the park, resulting in a cost of between 2 to 3 billion Emirati Dirhams ($545 million to $816 million USD). The expansion will not only cater to the lifestyle and entertainment needs of Middle Eastern fans but will also enable technology integration within the theme park. As a further testament to the series' enduring popularity, the Harry Potter Film Concert Series is scheduled to take place at Yas Island's Etihad Arena this year, showcasing the movies' iconic music compositions.
