Disney may be among the most LGBTQ-friendly companies in the world, but its next theme park is scheduled to open in a country where homosexual conduct is punishable by death.
The Walt Disney Company announced that its seventh theme park resort will be built in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, one of just a dozen nations that impose capital punishment for same-sex sexual contact, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
In other words, some Disney characters – we’re looking at you, LeFou – may want to stay back in Orlando.
The Wednesday morning reveal had conservatives spitting out their coffee, given Disney’s long history of LGBTQ advocacy, notably its fight with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the Parental Rights in Education bill, which passed in 2022.
That measure, dubbed the “don’t say gay” bill by critics, banned instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3.
“Disney, which sued FL’s DeSantis over a ‘don’t say gay bill’ which merely banned sex instruction for kindergarten to third graders, announced today it will build a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, where gay people can be beheaded,” said OutKick founder Clay Travis on social media.
Responses to his post included “Disney must be like, ‘we’re not gay no more,’” and “Hypocrisy at its finest, Disney.”
The conservative site Twitchy ran the headline: “After demonizing DeSantis, Disney Plans to Build Park in Abu Dhabi (Where They REALLY Don’t Say Gay).”
In 2022, the UAE’s Media Regulatory Office banned the Disney and Pixar animated film “Lightyear,” which features a same-sex kiss between two lesbian characters.
“Another hypocrisy move by a super woke company that doesn’t practice what it preaches,” said the conservative Legal Insurrection blog.
Major LGBTQ groups were mum on Disney’s decision to locate its seventh theme-park resort in Abu Dhabi, but the Disney fan website Inside the Magic raised concerns about security for LGBTQ as well as Jewish visitors.
“The success of the project will not only depend on the attractions it offers but also on how well it accommodates and protects all visitors, ensuring a safe and inclusive experience for everyone,” said Inside the Magic in a Wednesday post.
Disney came under fire in 2022 after a leaked video showed executives discussing how to add LGBTQ themes and characters into their children’s programming, or what one called her “not-at-all-secret-gay-agenda.”
Disney CEO Bob Iger, who took over last year, vowed to back away from politics, but the company continues to host Pride Nites at its theme parks and notch perfect scores on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
In other words, the Disney culture could hardly be more at odds with that of the UAE, where Islam is the official religion and the legal system is based on Sharia Law.
The country prohibits same-sex sexual activity under its law against “unnatural sex with another person,” which includes both men and women. The law carries a maximum penalty of 14 years, but the death penalty is an option under Sharia law, according to the Human Dignity Trust.
“In addition to potentially being captured by laws that criminalise same-sex activity, trans people may also face prosecution under the Federal Penal Code 1987, which criminalises a ‘male disguising as a female’ with a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment and a fine,” said the trust on its website.
The Washington Times has reached out for comment to HRC and Disney, which did not mention the UAE’s tough anti-LGBTQ laws in its press release or segment on “Good Morning, America,” shown on Disney-owned ABC-TV.
“The waterfront resort will be located on Yas Island, a world-class destination for entertainment and leisure, connecting travelers from the Middle East and Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond,” said the Disney press release. “This seventh Disney theme park resort will combine Disney’s iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture.”
This whole thing leaves an incredibly sour taste in my mouth, I can’t lie. Half of this video is just a state-sponsored ad for Abu Dhabi…
Disney should’ve stipulated an improvement in women’s and LGBTQ+ rights before committing to this. The UAE’s rights record is horrific. https://t.co/FvppmaQ8WC
— Luke Morris (@lukefmorris) May 7, 2025
The theme park will be built and operated by Miral, a development company based in Abu Dhabi. The $10 billion project will be entirely funded by Miral, not Disney, according to Status founder Oliver Darcy, a former CNN reporter.
Yas Island already hosts other theme parks, including Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld and Waterworld.
“Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati – an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world,” Mr. Iger said.
Disney, which did not announce when Disney Abu Dhabi would open, now has theme park resorts in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
