SeaWorld Announces New Theme Park With No Orcas
Early Tuesday morning SeaWorld announced a partnership with the Abu Dhabi government-backed Miral with plans for a new theme park.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is expected to open in 2022, with no killer whales. The development will be “a first-of-its-kind marine life theme park” and will be on Abu Dhabi’s manmade Yas Island.
“Abu Dhabi is becoming a first choice destination for regional and global travelers by combining culture, heritage and unique leisure experiences into one compelling proposition. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi further strengthens Yas Island’s position as the global tourism destination,” said His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, said in the SeaWorld release.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will include the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) first dedicated marine life research, rescue, rehabilitation and return center. It will have world-class facilities and resources for the care and conservation of local marine life, which is all planned to open before the theme park.
Miral is the funding for the project and SeaWorld is licensing the brand and will incur no capital expense. Mira’s expertise in developing Yas Island’s with SeaWorld’s 50-plus years of theme park, veterinary medicine, marine science and zoological practice and experience.
SeaWorld has been planning a Middle Eastern theme park for several years. It will be the first new SeaWorld without orcas, and will integrate up-close animal experiences.
Last month a definitive agreement for the project was reached. The Middle East is becoming an increasingly popular place for theme parks.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will complement Miral’s Yas Island portfolio of four parks: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, and the Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and Clymb.