Yep, that’s right. Abu Dhabi, yes that Abu Dhabi. Though, tellingly, they’re not actually going to run or even pay for the park. Just oversee creative matters. How that’s going to translate into guest experience, I don’t know. Bob had some glowing words to say about his new UAE partners:

[Miral has] already demonstrated a commitment to quality in that regard. This is essentially a license arrangement, but with considerable involvement from us. So although they will operate it, we will have employees embedded in the organization with them to help them operate a Disney theme park, basically at the quality level that everybody is used to.

So, they’ll be working it from the inside. How long that’ll last is anyone’s guess. However, I’m concerned about the rampant human rights abuses that the UAE seems to revel in, is going to play with a theme park. Disney is not shy about controlling their message, but having to bend to the will of a crown prince in a literal monarchy is going to be an interesting line to walk. I wouldn’t be expecting any pride parades or merch, let alone any actual welcoming behavior from the workers there. I wonder how they’ll handle talking shit about their government.

There are reports of forced disappearances of foreign nationals and Emirati citizens, who have been abducted, illegally detained and tortured in undisclosed locations, and denied the right to a speedy trial or access to counsel during investigations by the UAE government. The non-governmental organization (NGO) Human Rights Watch, states that Emirati laws maintain capital punishment and discriminate against women, migrants and LGBTQ individuals. Wikipedia

Yeah, very Disney.

Bob. This is a boondoggle. I hope you have some very good guarantees about visitor safety.

No thanks. I’ll visit all but Shanghai and, now, Abu Dhabi. It’s a shame, because both look like nice places. I just can’t trust the government there to not black-bag me. Hell, I can’t trust the government here to not black bag me.