The Wizarding World is heading to the Middle East in spectacular fashion. Abu Dhabi is set to become home to the first-ever HARRY POTTER theme park land to feature full-scale recreations of both Hogwarts Castle and Diagon Alley within the same park.

The ambitious project is part of a major expansion of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, the indoor theme park located on Yas Island. When it opened in 2018, the park was recognized as the world’s largest indoor theme park, covering 153,000 square meters. The new expansion is expected to increase its size by roughly a quarter and it appears the Wizarding World will be its crown jewel.

A historic first for the Wizarding World

According to a government-issued construction permit, the expansion will include:

• A recreation of Diagon Alley
• A Hogwarts Castle structure
• A new Harry Potter-themed ride
• A Superman-themed roller coaster

This will mark the seventh theme park worldwide to feature HARRY POTTER attractions but notably, it will be the first not operated by Universal Studios.

Since signing a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. in 2007, Universal has developed Wizarding World lands at nearly all of its resorts. These lands, inspired by the original HARRY POTTER films and the FANTASTIC BEASTS spin-offs, have dramatically boosted attendance thanks to the enduring strength of the brand. With over 600 million books sold, $9.7 billion in global box office revenue, and massive success in gaming, the franchise remains one of the most powerful in entertainment history.

What makes Abu Dhabi different?

Universal’s parks in Orlando, Hollywood, and elsewhere feature stunning recreations of Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts, but never all major elements together in one single park. For example, in Orlando, Diagon Alley and Hogwarts Castle are located in separate parks.

Plans once suggested that Universal’s Beijing resort might unite both iconic locations, but that concept was ultimately dropped. Abu Dhabi now appears set to achieve what no other destination has: bringing Hogwarts Castle and Diagon Alley side by side in one immersive land.

Construction is already well underway, with building permits referencing “Harry Potter Castle“, “Harry Potter Diagon Alley“, and even what appears to be a themed area inspired by the Forbidden Forest.

Immersion on a new level?

The Abu Dhabi project is being developed by Miral, the government-backed company behind Yas Island’s entertainment portfolio. The permit lists Egis Middle East Engineering as consultant and Zublin Construction as contractor, with themed entertainment specialist TAIT serving as creative consultant.

TAIT’s Thinkwell division previously worked on Warner Bros. World and also helped develop the acclaimed studio tour at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.

A major investment

The expansion is estimated to cost between $545 million and $816 million, a staggering investment that underscores Abu Dhabi’s ambition to position Yas Island as a global entertainment powerhouse.

Miral’s CEO, Mohamed Al Zaabi, has previously described the project as a potential “gamechanger”, emphasizing that the design has gone through multiple revisions to ensure it meets, or exceeds, global standards.

Interestingly, it remains unclear whether the new land will be based primarily on the original films, the books, or the upcoming HBO series. That decision could have long-term implications, particularly for Universal, whose attractions prominently feature the original film cast.

Source: Forbes