In a world where Disney magic is spreading across continents, one proposed kingdom never even made it past the planning stage—and the reason why is sparking intense debate.
Just days after Disney sent shockwaves through its fanbase with the announcement of a new Disneyland park in Abu Dhabi, a surprising revelation emerged: Disney CEO Bob Iger allegedly rejected a prior pitch to bring a Disneyland to Saudi Arabia. Why turn down one Middle Eastern nation only to embrace another with similar values?
And more importantly—what does that decision really say about Disney?
The Rumor That’s Got Everyone Talking: Disney CEO Bob Iger Had Other Plans Before Disneyland Abu Dhabi
Entertainment journalist and Puck News co-founder Matt Belloni dropped the rumor on his podcast The Town, during a conversation with Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw about Disney’s recent Abu Dhabi deal.
“I heard there was a proposal on the table for this to be in Saudi, and Iger vetoed it,” Belloni stated, adding that Iger “would not go into business with the Saudis.”
According to Belloni, the idea was floated, considered—and firmly shut down. No details were given about when this alleged proposal happened, but it appears to have been seriously weighed before Iger pulled the plug.
So why the cold shoulder for Saudi Arabia?
Drawing Lines in the Sand… Selectively?
Belloni explained that while Saudi Arabia was deemed off-limits by Iger, Abu Dhabi—part of the United Arab Emirates—was seen as an acceptable alternative. Still, the differences between the two are marginal in key areas.
“Abu Dhabi is like one step removed [from Saudi Arabia],” Belloni noted. “They still don’t allow gay people. Homosexuality is illegal, and that’s sort of burning up the Disney message boards this week.”
This nuance matters. Disney, long celebrated (and criticized) for its increasingly inclusive storytelling—especially its LGBTQ+ representation—has now inked a major theme park deal in a country where those same identities are criminalized. For many fans, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, the decision feels like a betrayal.
Surprisingly, despite the serious ethical concerns raised by fans, the Abu Dhabi announcement didn’t draw much public criticism from major media outlets. Belloni and Shaw both noted that Disney has largely sidestepped mainstream backlash, even though Pixar’s Lightyear was banned in the UAE for including a same-sex kiss.
The hypocrisy, some argue, is hard to ignore.
“There is a level of hypocrisy at play here that Iger and Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro are seemingly perfectly fine looking the other way to,” Belloni said, implying that financial incentives may be outweighing ethical ones.
And indeed, Iger himself called the UAE and Abu Dhabi the “perfect” location for the new Disneyland. That comment is especially jarring for fans aware of the region’s human rights history.
Why This Decision Hits Deeper Than Headlines
This rumored Saudi rejection versus UAE approval isn’t just a logistical footnote in Disney’s global strategy—it’s a moral Rorschach test. For some, Iger’s refusal to do business with Saudi Arabia shows that Disney does have ethical boundaries. For others, the pivot to Abu Dhabi only reinforces the idea that those boundaries are fluid, driven by optics and opportunity.
The fact that Disney has been eyeing the Middle East since at least 2017 adds further weight to the story. Iger’s return as CEO in 2022 reignited these conversations, and the Abu Dhabi deal appears to be the result of a long courtship.
But now, with the spotlight back on the company’s values, fans and observers alike are asking: What does Disney really stand for when the stakes are high and the profits are even higher?
The Bigger Picture for Disney, Bob Iger, and Disneyland Abu Dhabi’s Future
In an era where corporations are expected to walk their talk, Disney’s choices abroad are becoming just as important as the stories it tells on screen. The company has built its brand on the idea of magic, dreams, and inclusion—values that can clash hard with the realities of operating in regions with deeply conservative laws.
The reported rejection of Saudi Arabia may have been a stand against doing business with a country infamous for its human rights violations. But if Disney’s compass still points toward places with similar records—what does that say about the direction it’s heading?
For now, fans are left with more questions than answers. And as the Abu Dhabi project moves forward, the conversation about Disney’s global identity is far from over.
Source: BlogMickey
