Disney in Abu Dhabi: Where "Inclusion" Has Fine Print
The Magic Comes with Terms and Conditions
Picture this: Monday, Disney posts rainbow-saturated social media celebrating its LGBTQIA+ inclusion initiatives, showcasing diverse characters and selling Pride merchandise. Tuesday, the very same company announces a shiny new licensing deal with the government of Abu Dhabi, where being gay is literally illegal and gender nonconformity can land you in prison.
This wasn't decades ago. It was last week.
The newest Magic Kingdom will rise on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi's meticulously engineered playground of excess that already hosts Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, and a Formula 1 circuit. It's the kind of place where you don't accidentally end up; you deliberately arrive via business class, platinum credit card firmly in hand.
Which raises an interesting question: What happened to Walt's original promise that "Disneyland is your land"? The man didn't conceive of theme parks as exclusive resorts for the jet-setting class. He built them as democratic spaces where middle-class families could experience wonder together. Not "Disneyland is available pending wealth verification."
But hey, the mouse has discovered oil money now.
Inclusionâ„¢ (Terms and Conditions Apply)
Let's get specific about the United Arab Emirates for a second. This isn't just a country with "different cultural values." It's a place where:
Same-sex relationships are explicitly criminalized
"Cross-dressing" can result in imprisonment
Public displays of LGBTQIA+ identity (including something as simple as a rainbow pin) can trigger legal action
Penalties range from fines to prison sentences to, theoretically, death (though this hasn't been enforced for these specific "offenses")
So what happens? Selective erasure. A rainbow-free Magic Kingdom sanitized for censorship.
Disney's PR team, masters of corporate doublespeak, assure us they will "adhere to their own standards and values" while "respecting local culture." But this isn't a matter of chopstick etiquette or greeting customs. This is about fundamental human dignity.
Can you actually be inclusive in a jurisdiction where inclusion itself is criminalized?
The hypocrisy becomes particularly glaring when you recall that this is the same Disney that dramatically positioned itself as a bulwark against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' policies, spending months (and considerable legal resources) fighting what it framed as discriminatory legislation. The same Disney that threatened to pull production from Georgia over abortion restrictions. The same Disney that makes heartwarming videos about how "everyone belongs."
Everyone belongs. Except in Abu Dhabi.
Was the Florida showdown ever really about principles? Or was it just convenient branding for an American audience that increasingly expects corporations to take moral stands? Because the message now seems painfully clear: Disney's commitment to inclusion extends precisely to the point where it might cost them a lucrative licensing deal.
It's not principle. It's just profitable performance.
Places Where Magic Wouldn't Require Moral Compromise
If Disney genuinely wanted global expansion without compromising its supposed values, the options aren't exactly limited:
Canada: Rights-respecting, infrastructure-rich, and familiar with Disney's operating style. Yes, there's winter, but imagine Disney's first winter resort. Frozen-themed ice castles? Anna and Elsa in their natural habitat? The marketing writes itself.
Portugal: Progressive legislation, stunning landscapes, and a tourism economy already booming. The only downside might be cannibalizing Disneyland Paris attendance, which tells you everything about the real priorities at play.
Iceland: One of the world's most LGBTQIA+-friendly nations, with landscapes so otherworldly they've stood in for alien planets in countless films. You'd be hard-pressed to find a place that more naturally embodies "fantasy."
Australia's Gold Coast: Already a tourism powerhouse with perfect weather, and it would finally bring Disney magic to a region that's long embraced the brand without having a park to call its own.
Uruguay: Small but mighty, one of Latin America's most progressive nations, with strong democratic institutions and growing tourism appeal. It might not hit the same market size metrics, but if values mattered as much as spreadsheets, it would make the shortlist.
And then there's the option so obvious it hurts: Puerto Rico. A U.S. territory with beautiful beaches, sunshine year-round, an economy that could genuinely benefit from Disney's investment, and a culture that would welcome the brand with open arms. They could even create perfect synergy with Disney Cruise Line, imagine disembarking from a Disney ship and walking directly into a Disney park. It's not just more aligned with their supposed values, it's logistically brilliant.
So with all these alternatives that wouldn't require moral gymnastics, why Abu Dhabi?
Follow the Money (It Always Leads to the Truth)
Because the UAE pays. Because Yas Island is already a turnkey luxury playground. Because Disney doesn't even have to finance construction; Miral, the government-backed developer, covers those billions. Disney simply licenses its intellectual property, collects royalty checks, and maintains creative control. It's the same arrangement they have with Tokyo Disneyland, which is owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company.
The key difference? In Tokyo, being LGBTQIA+ isn't criminalized by the state, and Disney's presence there doesn't require anyone to hide who they are.
Disney gets to expand its global footprint and revenue streams without capital risk, while conveniently sidestepping any messy conversations about human rights. More selective erasure, but this time of inconvenient ethical questions. It's corporate colonialism, profit without responsibility, branding without consequence.
The Magic Only Works If Everyone's Invited
At its core, Disney sells a promise: that wonder is accessible to everyone, that joy is universal, that imagination transcends boundaries. It's why we forgive the $15 ice cream cones and the endless merchandise, because somewhere underneath the capitalist machinery, there's still that spark of genuine magic.
But this move signals something unavoidable: Disney's magic is conditional. It's for sale to the highest bidder. It's inclusion when profitable, selective erasure when expedient.
Disney wants to wear its ally badge in Orlando, where doing so generates positive press and consumer loyalty. But in Abu Dhabi, where allyship might jeopardize government approval? Suddenly principles become "complex cultural considerations."
You don't get to be the global symbol of wonder and welcome, then license yourself to a regime where some of your guests aren't legally permitted to exist authentically.
Because if the happiest place on Earth excludes people based on who they love or how they identify, then who exactly is it for?
Or is it just another luxury product with a price tag, and fine print that some people aren't meant to read?
Walt's original vision wasn't built on exclusivity or compromise. It was built on the radical notion that magic should be accessible to everyone. As Disney continues its global expansion, it might be worth remembering what made the magic work in the first place: the promise that when you step through those gates, you, all of you, belong there.
In Abu Dhabi, that promise comes with asterisks. And magic with asterisks isn't magic at all. It's just business.