Disney Stages Spectacular Production to Announce Historic Middle East Expansion

The Walt Disney Company announced plans to open its first permanent Disney Theme Park Resort in the GCC, with details revealed during a high-profile event. The announcement was made in front of an audience of industry leaders, media, and regional stakeholders. Hosted by Miral and produced by HQ Worldwide Shows, the event featured a large-scale technical production delivered by Creative Technology Middle East (CTME).

The announcement event underscored Disney‘s commitment to bringing its signature storytelling experience to Middle Eastern audiences. In a breathtaking global spectacle, Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island celebrated the historic announcement with an epic live show featuring a record-breaking 9,000 drones, a symphony of fireworks, and a star-studded live performance lineup that left audiences speechless.

Technically Ambitious and Logistically Complex

The production spanned multiple event phases—including a media announcement, press conference, and live show—each delivered to international broadcast standards. CTME worked closely with HQWS and Miral to ensure consistent delivery across each element of the program.

Dan Hughes, Key Account Manager at CTME, commented:
“Working alongside HQWS and Miral, our goal was to deliver each part of the event to the high technical and creative standards Disney is known for globally.”

The event demonstrated Disney’s commitment to leveraging advanced technology in storytelling. Through a comprehensive technical delivery spanning multiple components of the multi-event production.

• Groundbreaking: 11.5m x 8.5m 2.9mm outdoor LED screen with (Mickey Mouse face-shaped mask) on a pontoon structure.
• Press conference: 14m x 4m Absen 2.5mm LED Screen
• Main show IMAGs:  4m x 7m  InfiLED ART 4.6 LED Screen
• Overflow: 4m x 3m InfiLED ART 4.6 LED Screen

• 10 channels of Panasonic cameras including PTZ UE150 and Studio cameras UC4000
• Ross Ultrix Carbonite 4K PPU with full engineering racks and 12G record infrastructure.
• Disguise GX2C servers and Barco E2 for screen management

Lighting Systems

Over 600 lighting fixtures were deployed across three show segments, bringing to life the spectacular lighting vision designed by Durham Marenghi.

Fixtures included:

• Robe iFORTE, MegaPointe, Tetra2
• Ayrton Rivale Profile and Rivale Wash, Argo 6 fx
• SGM P10, Astera AX1/AX3/AX5/AX2, Elation KL Panels, and Zenit Cameo W600s

The Lighting control was handled via GrandMA3 Full Size and Light consoles, supported by a Luminex network and full rigging, mains, and distro infrastructure.

Delivery and Support

CTME deployed more than 60 crew members across lighting, video, audio, and show control, with support for previsualization and remote planning built into the project.

The project reflects the level of coordination and technical capability required for major international announcements. By integrating advanced systems across disciplines and working closely with partners, CTME continues to support world-class events in the region.

For Creative Technology Middle East, being entrusted by HQWS and Miral and delivering this event solidified its position as the premier technical partner for world-class productions in the region. From delivering live experiences for major global acts to powering culturally significant ceremonies across the Gulf, CTME’s portfolio demonstrates its growing influence in shaping the Middle East’s evolving entertainment landscape.

The trust placed in Creative Technology speaks volumes about the company’s established reputation for executing technically complex productions with precision and reliability. The event served as a compelling testament to the critical importance of integrated technical solutions, experienced technical crew management, and adaptive planning in achieving production excellence for announcements of this magnitude.

Looking Forward

Disney’s inaugural expansion into the Gulf region represents far more than just a new theme park—it signals the entertainment giant’s recognition of the Middle East as a crucial and viable market for immersive storytelling experiences. The spectacular announcement event revealed Disney’s ambitious expansion plans but also demonstrated the region’s proven capacity to host world-class productions that meet the exacting standards of global entertainment leaders.

The successful collaboration between Disney, HQ Worldwide Shows, Miral, and CTME sets a new benchmark for entertainment announcements in the region, showcasing how advanced technical capabilities and strategic partnerships can bring even the most ambitious creative visions to life.