SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is currently the only Sea World park outside of the U.S., but that is likely to change soon. In the second‑quarter 2025 earnings call, United Parks & Resorts CEO Marc Swanson confirmed that the company plans to replicate the Abu Dhabi model with two international parks and expects to start signing off on plans by the end of 2025.
Swanson spoke about the upcoming projects, “On our international opportunities, we are in active discussions with multiple potential partners and expect to have two signed MoUs (memoranda of understanding) by the end of the year. More to share in the coming quarters.”
Sea World Abu Dhabi, located on Yas Island, has several distinct features in its business model. It is owned and operated by Miral under license from United Parks & Resorts. Additionally, it is completely inside due to the scorchingly hot weather of the United Arab Emirates.
Expansion Strategy
United Parks & Resorts plans to use a “capital‑light” expansion model similar to the one implemented in Abu Dhabi, in which a regional partner carries financial and operational responsibilities, while the company licenses branding and provides strategic support. The company is in talks and aims to finalize MoUs by the end of 2025, though no sites have been announced yet.
Capital‑light models require minimal upfront investment because American-entertainment firms often license brands or outsource key infrastructure instead of building and owning it outright. This reduces financial risk and preserves cash for other uses. With lower capital burdens, capital‑light projects often deliver higher profit margins and stronger free cash flow.
The drone show announcing the Disney Abu Dhabi theme park – Photo Credit: Miral
Theme park companies have seen growing success with this “capital-light” approach. Miral alone has three such parks already on Yas Island, of which Sea World Abu Dhabi is one. They also announced a Disney Abu Dhabi park in the works as of May 2025.
Background: SeaWorld Abu Dhabi’s Model
The development of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi was announced in December 2016, when SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and Miral agreed to build a marine life theme park. It opened on May 23, 2023, and is the first Sea World park without orcas. The facility spans approximately 183,000 square meters across five indoor levels and includes what is described as the world’s largest multi‑species aquarium, with a capacity of 25 million liters and housing more than 68,000 marine animals.
Its size makes Sea World Abu Dhabi world’s largest indoor aquarium-themed park. It appears in recent global listings that cite its total tank capacity at approximately 58 million liters, placing it among the top-tier aquarium attractions worldwide.
The park is organized into eight themed realms—One Ocean, Abu Dhabi Ocean, Rocky Point, MicroOcean, Tropical Ocean, Arctic, Antarctica, and Endless Ocean. Across the park, there are over 150 species, more than 15 rides, 13 retail outlets, and 17 dining venues. The Endless Ocean realm contains the main multi‑species aquarium, while One Ocean serves as the hub with immersive shows and media experiences.
The Port of Entry lighthouse at SeaWorld Orlando. Photo Credit: Jeremy Thompson, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center opened in February 2023 and is the UAE’s first facility dedicated to marine research, rescue, rehabilitation, and return. It includes dry and wet labs, aquaculture facilities, rescue pools, a veterinary hospital, and rescue vehicles. The center supports marine animal welfare regionally and offers visitor education via reservation-based programs.
Significance and Outlook
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi embodies a strategic expansion redirection away from traditional orca‑focused attractions toward immersive marine conservation and education.
A trainer surfs on the back of a killer whale at Sea World – Tim Ross, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Its indoor design and reliance on regional partnerships reflect an adaptive model. If MoUs for two new parks are executed by the end of 2025, it would indicate a broader global expansion strategy for the SeaWorld brand via United Parks & Resorts.
Where would you like to see the Sea World expansion plan new international parks? Let us know in the comments!
