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Disney Abu Dhabi Expansion Raises Eyebrows as Virtue Signaling American Company Partners With Restrictive Middle Eastern Regime

May 7, 2025 ·

Marvin Montanaro

Bob Iger via New York Times Events YouTube

The Walt Disney Company made waves this week with its announcement of a brand-new theme park and resort coming to Abu Dhabi in the United Aram Emirates. While the project marks Disney's seventh global theme park destination, it also marks a new chapter in the company’s corporate strategy: doing business in regions that impose significant restrictions on personal freedoms, expression, and dissent.

This was an ironic twist from a company that spends so much time at home making sweeping changes to its domestic parks and experiences for the sake of virtue signaling.

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Author: Marvin Montanaro

Marvin Montanaro is the Editor-in-Chief of That Park Place and a seasoned entertainment journalist with nearly two decades of experience across multiple digital media outlets and print publications. He joined That Park Place in 2024, bringing with him a passion for theme parks, pop culture, and film commentary. Based in Orlando, Florida, Marvin regularly visits Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, offering firsthand reporting and analysis from the parks. He’s also the creative force behind The M4 Empire YouTube channel, bringing a critical eye toward the world of pop culture. Montanaro’s insights are rooted in years of real-world reporting and editorial leadership. He can be reached via email at mmontanaro@thatparkplace.com SOCIAL MEDIA: X: http://x.com/marvinmontanaro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinmontanaro Facebook: https://facebook.com/marvinmontanaro YouTube: http://YouTube.com/TheM4Empire Email: mmontanaro@thatparkplace.com