Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
As Disney cuts jobs across its California operations, a new theme park project in Abu Dhabi is poised to create tens of thousands more.
In one part of the world, The Walt Disney Company is scaling back its workforce. In another, it’s fueling a hiring surge. The announcement of Disneyland Abu Dhabi has drawn international attention not only for its location—the first Disney theme park in the Middle East—but also for the scope of economic activity it’s expected to generate.
Credit: Disney
Disney confirmed in May that it would license the brand to Miral, a UAE-based development firm that will own and operate the park on Yas Island. Known for hosting entertainment destinations like Warner Bros. World and Ferrari World, the island has become a hub for global tourism. Disney’s addition to the mix signals further ambition, both for the company and the region.
30,000 New Jobs Expected in UAE
According to Khaleej Times, the arrival of Disneyland Abu Dhabi could be a game changer for local employment.
“More than 30,000 jobs are expected to be created in the construction, operations, and tourism-related service sectors as a result of Disneyland Abu Dhabi,” said Pedro Lacerda, Senior Vice President and Executive Team Member at TASC Group. “It is projected that the park will create more than 20,000 jobs in the retail, transportation, and hospitality sectors in addition to direct employment. The project will open up new business prospects in real estate, logistics, and entertainment industries related to Disneyland’s growth.”
Credit: Disney Parks Blog
The park will also drive recruitment in core Disney functions—from food and beverage to guest services, creative roles, finance, and more. Shayan Sultan of Fragomen told Khaleej Times that many positions will require multilingual talent or specialist skills. He added that Emiratisation targets, which aim to increase the number of UAE nationals in the workforce, could further shape the hiring landscape. Changes to immigration policy may follow, especially to enable large-scale international recruitment.
As Disney expands its technological capabilities, job opportunities in AI and innovation are also expected to grow. The park is likely to rely on real-time systems that help personalize guest experiences without compromising the human touch. New roles such as prompt engineers and experience designers are already in focus as part of that future-forward strategy.
Layoffs Continue in California
Meanwhile, back in the United States, Disney has implemented yet another round of layoffs—this time targeting its TV business. Affected units include ABC and span departments such as casting, marketing, development, publicity, and finance. Most of the cuts are in Los Angeles.
Credit: Disney
While Disney hasn’t released official numbers, sources confirmed that the layoffs began on Monday. It’s the latest cost-cutting move in a challenging year for traditional broadcast media, which continues to lose viewers and ad dollars to streaming platforms.
Last year, CEO Bob Iger announced that 7,000 positions would be eliminated company-wide as part of a $7.5 billion cost-saving initiative. Despite the cuts, Iger has emphasized plans to grow Disney’s theme parks and experiences portfolio globally—an area that continues to generate reliable revenue.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi marks one of the most ambitious steps in that expansion plan. For now, the project remains in early development, with the park expected to open sometime within the next decade.
