Theme Park Report
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will add three Harry Potter-themed lands as part of a major expansion on Yas Island, with construction targeted for completion in 2029. The development will include Diagon Alley, Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest, along with rides created exclusively for the indoor theme park.
Miral and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences announced the plans on September 7. The project was initially announced in 2022, but the latest reveal provides the first detailed look at the environments planned for the expansion.
The three lands will cover approximately 63,000 square meters, or 678,000 square feet. Along with the previously announced DC attractions Kryptonite Collider and Superman Up and Away, the additions will expand Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi by approximately 70,000 square meters—more than 753,000 square feet—and increase the park’s size by more than 50%.
Diagon Alley is described as a wizarding shopping street, while Hogwarts will center on the school of witchcraft and wizardry. The Forbidden Forest will become a dedicated land based on the woodland bordering Hogwarts. Attractions Magazine reported that the project is expected to be the first permanent theme park land built around the Forbidden Forest.
The companies have confirmed that all three areas will feature Harry Potter-themed rides found nowhere else. Interactive experiences will also be incorporated into the environments, according to reporting from WDW News Today. Specific ride systems, attraction names and additional details have not yet been announced.
A flying Ford Anglia appeared in promotional material, but its possible connection to an attraction remains unconfirmed. The official Warner Bros. World website said further information about the rides and immersive experiences will be released later.
The timing has not been stated consistently across the initial reports. Theme Park Insider described 2029 as a target for the lands’ debut, while the other reports specified that construction is targeted for completion that year. An official opening date has not been announced, so completion of construction should not be treated as confirmation that the lands will open to guests in 2029.
The Harry Potter expansion will be the first Harry Potter theme park development not operated by Universal, according to WDW News Today. It will also mark the franchise’s first theme park presence in the Middle East. Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is owned by Miral and currently features six indoor lands based on Warner Bros. properties.
