This news marks a historic first for the Middle East
Warner Bros. World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi has just pulled off a major blockbuster moment, and this one comes with global bragging rights.
The indoor theme park has officially been crowned Best Theme Park in the World at the 2026 Liseberg Applause Award, one of the most respected honours in the attractions industry.
And in true superhero style, it’s a historic one. This marks the first time a theme park in the Middle East has ever taken the title, putting Abu Dhabi firmly on the global entertainment map in a way that feels straight out of a cinematic finale.
Presented during the IAAPA Honors Event by a panel of senior industry leaders, the award recognises excellence in creativity, operations, and guest experience.
In other words, it’s about creating worlds people genuinely want to step into again and again.
Accepting the award on behalf of the team, Hind Galadari, General Manager of Warner Bros. World™, and Daniel Wills, Executive Director of Projects Delivery at Miral, celebrated what the win truly represents: years of storytelling, design, and immersive detail coming together under one roof.
As Dr. Mohammad Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, put it, the recognition is a testament to the “passion, creativity, and dedication” behind delivering unforgettable guest experiences, while also strengthening Yas Island’s position as a global entertainment heavyweight.
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Step inside Warner Bros. World and you’re not just entering a theme park, you’re stepping into a fully realised universe.
From Gotham’s shadowy skyline to the colourful chaos of Cartoon Junction, it’s six immersive lands where you can quite literally walk through the movies.
This is the kind of place where kids meet their favourite characters, adults rediscover nostalgia, and everyone ends up grinning at something unexpectedly over the top in the best way.
Behind the scenes, the park is also gearing up for its next big chapter.
A major expansion is on the horizon, including a highly anticipated Harry Potter-themed land and new DC-inspired rides, which basically means things are about to get even more spellbinding (and possibly more super-powered) than before.
With this win, Yas Island doesn’t just stay in the conversation, it leads it. And Warner Bros. World? It’s officially gone from reel fun to real-world legend.
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