A brand-new Disney theme park is coming to Abu Dhabi, and with visa-free access and a just over three-hour flight from Cyprus, it could become a top pick for Cypriot families looking for something new.

Disney confirmed last week it will open its first-ever theme park in the Middle East, calling it the company’s “most advanced park yet”. While a launch date has not been revealed, tourism and aviation experts say the move could reshape travel habits across the region.

Air links between Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates are already strengthening. Hermes Airports told Sunday Mail that three airlines now operate direct flights between the two countries, Wizz Air, Cyprus Airways and Emirates, with more growth expected in 2025.

“This destination is seeing heightened interest from the travelling public,” Hermes said. 

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“Three airlines currently operate scheduled flights between Cyprus and the UAE.”

Wizz Air runs up to seven flights a week from Larnaca to Abu Dhabi in the summer, Cyprus Airways offers daily winter flights to Dubai, and Emirates keeps a year-round daily route to the same city.

Hermes estimates around 285,000 passengers will travel between Cyprus and the UAE next year, a 20 per cent jump from 2024. Flight options may expand further if demand continues to climb.

“These routes cater not only to Cypriots but also to tourists and business visitors. Enhanced connectivity supports economic activity,” the airport operator said.

Asked about Disney’s potential pull, Hermes commented: 

“The creation of a theme park in a country like the UAE could attract increased interest from Cypriot travellers, particularly families. However, this would also depend on other factors, including the cost of the destination and the range of experiences on offer.”

Low-cost airline Wizz Air, which launched the Larnaca-Abu Dhabi route in 2023, has already seen “passenger traffic almost double”.

“Interest in travel to the UAE, particularly Abu Dhabi, has risen significantly in recent months. Ever since we started our route, our passenger traffic almost doubled. This highlights growing interest driven by cultural attractions and luxury experiences,” said Olivia Harangozo, corporate communications manager. 

She called Disney’s announcement “a reinforcement of the strategic value of Abu Dhabi as a long-term leisure destination”.

“Destinations that offer globally recognised attractions have a strong pull, particularly for family and multi-generational travel, a segment where demand remains resilient and growing,” Harangozo added.

Wizz Air operates its Abu Dhabi service as a joint venture with the Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ), and recently teamed up with tourism firm Miral to boost inbound travel with “exciting holiday packages”.

In Cyprus, officials are watching the trend closely, though their role is limited.

“The deputy ministry of tourism does not have authority over outbound tourism, except for licensing the agencies involved and ensuring the relevant legislation is followed,” said Kostas Konstantinou, permanent secretary at the deputy ministry of tourism. 

He noted that while Cyprus and the UAE maintain “good cooperation”, there is “no formal promotional collaboration in place”.

Vicky Lewis, managing director of Century Travel Group, said the UAE’s appeal has been growing steadily.

“The Emirates have been growing in popularity due to a large variety of things to do, such as Ferrari World, waterparks and malls, along with beaches and amazing hotel resorts,” she said. 

“The announcement of Disney is just adding to the appeal for visitors.”

For families, she said, theme parks play a big role.

“Theme parks are a great attraction for families as they offer something completely different to anything we have here in Cyprus. If kids are happy then parents are happy too!”

Lewis added that with more budget-friendly flight options, the UAE is now “comparable to many European cities cost wise”.

She said the region is not just about family fun, it also draws older travellers, event-goers and luxury seekers. 

“With Formula 1, concerts, and year-round sun, it has wide appeal.”

While an opening date for the Disney theme park is far from being announced, Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney’s Experiences theme park segment, has given a rough timeline.

He told Reuters that given the scale of the project, it could take a year or two to design, plus four to six years to build.

So best case scenario: one year to design plus four years to build – five years in total, which sets the opening date to 2030.

However, if things take longer to design and build, we could be looking at 2032.

For now, the park has started to be imagined (yes, they’re called the Imagineering team for a reason) by the professionals.

For many Cypriot households, the idea of a Disney park a short flight away may no longer be a fantasy, but a very real holiday plan.