What do Warner Bros. World, Ferrari World Yas Island, and the Middle East’s future Disney theme park have in common? They are all the work of one company – Miral.
The organisation is credited for transforming Abu Dhabi’s leisure and entertainment scene with an extensive portfolio of innovative and immersive attractions from those listed above to the West Yas Plaza, White Nightclub, Yas Marina and so much more.
The company says it is “transforming landscapes and enriching lives”, which is right on the money given Miral’s attractions contributed to record-breaking visitation to Yas and Saadiyat islands last year. In case you missed it, Yas Island recorded more than 38 million visits in 2024 (10% more than 2023), while Saadiyat Island welcomed 10% more visitors to its hotels and museums.
“These exceptional results are testament to our commitment to contributing to the achievement of Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming a leading global destination,” Dr. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, said last year.
“Through the development of world-class destinations and immersive experiences, we are not only attracting visitors from around the world but also creating joyful moments that leave a lasting impact. The continued success of Yas Island and Saadiyat Island stands as a powerful testament to the strength of our strategic partnerships and our shared dedication to elevating Abu Dhabi’s global appeal.”
Given Miral’s direct contribution to Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector, we thought we’d delve deeper into some of the company’s other cool initiatives.
Where have you seen their work?
All of Miral’s major tourism projects can be found in the heart of the Emirates – Abu Dhabi. They’re responsible for designing and constructing some of the city’s most iconic leisure and entertainment attractions such as SeaWorld Yas Island, Warner Bros. Movie World, CLYMB Yas Island, Etihad Arena, and the White Nightclub.
They are also planning for the Middle East’s first Disney theme park, which we’re hoping will include these four ‘lands’, as well as the Saadiyat Cultural District’s Natural History Museum which will bridge the world’s past and present with the future of scientific knowledge and innovation.
Do they only design and build theme parks?
Negative. Miral’s portfolio extends beyond attractions to include hotels such as the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, Doubletree by Hilton Yas Island Residences, and The WB Abu Dhabi.
Miral also developed the Presidential Palace’s visitor experience Qasr Al Watan which showcases the Arab world through interactive experiences, as well as the community mosque Yas Bay Masjid.
Do they have any responsibility after their projects are built?
Miral doesn’t just build and walk away. The company manages and operates each of their sites and attractions. This contribution ranges from day-to-day operations, through to creating unique workshops to amplify the visitor’s experience.
An example of this is the ‘Gear Up for Knowledge: Ferrari Workshop Experience’ that’s being held at Ferrari World Yas Island on 21 June. Open to visitors aged 10 and above, the experience delves into the world of automotive engineering inspired by the Ferrari brand.
Miral has such great projects, but what about their ethical footprint?
Environmentalists will be happy to know that Miral cares about the planet and its people, so-much-so that the company carried out 175 impactful initiatives over a two-year period from 2023-25. These projects engaged more than 3,000 community members and included events such as the Miral Pink Run raising awareness for breast cancer, Life of Pi charity screenings raising money for orphans and hosting the Miral Reading experience aimed at fostering a culture of reading.
Despite the significant impact, Miral hasn’t slowed down its ethical initiatives. More recently Miral unveiled a Sustainability Strategy outlining the company’s ambitions to become a regional benchmark for sustainable leisure, entertainment, and tourism. Part of the strategy involves implementing sustainable practises within its operations, prioritising the well-being of its employees and reducing its carbon footprint by 2030 aligns with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategy. Read more here.
Miral is a top place to work
With everything you’ve read so far, it should come as no surprise that Miral was recognised as one of the top places to work in the UAE.
Miral ranked 1st in Abu Dhabi and 10th in the UAE on Linkedin’s 2024 Top Companies list for its supportive, inclusive, and empowering work environment.
Mariam Al Musharrekh, Executive Director Human Resources at Miral, said last year, that the recognition underscored the company’s commitment to empowering team members in a “supportive, dynamic and rewarding” work place.
“At Miral, we firmly believe that our people are our greatest asset, and fundamental to our company’s success,” Ms Al Musharrekh said. “We will continue to invest in our people through initiatives aimed at providing them with a dynamic work environment where they can thrive”.
