Fans will soon be able to stroll from Diagon Alley directly to Hogwarts within a theme park on Yas Island, UAE.
Dubai: The owl post has arrived, and the news is magical. Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is developing a Harry Potter-themed land, and early plans suggest it will be unlike anything else in the wizarding world.
Think of it as the theme park equivalent of receiving your Hogwarts acceptance letter.
What makes this truly special
For the first time anywhere in the world, both Hogwarts Castle and Diagon Alley will be featured within the same land.
Currently, the closest comparison is Universal Orlando in Florida, where fans must travel between two separate parks to experience both iconic locations—essentially taking two Knight Bus rides just to see the full wizarding world.
The concept of combining both locations in a single park was initially planned for Universal’s Beijing park but was ultimately abandoned—Abu Dhabi is now bringing it to life.
Another option:
Universal had originally planned to unite both locations in its Beijing park but scrapped the idea; Abu Dhabi is set to make it a reality.
A government-issued construction permit has confirmed the plans, detailing a Harry Potter-themed land that will feature Diagon Alley, Hogwarts Castle, a Harry Potter ride, and an area believed to be themed to the Forbidden Forest—complete with Acromantula spiders and towering sentient trees that Hagrid would feel right at home in.
Current progress
Construction is already well underway at Warner Bros. World, housed in its distinctive golden, hangar-like building on Yas Island. Since opening in 2018, it has been the world’s largest indoor theme park, and the new expansion will increase the park’s footprint by approximately 26 percent.
In addition to the Harry Potter land, a Superman-themed roller coaster is also under development. The construction site is currently surrounded by barriers branded with the LexCorp logo—the fictional company run by Superman’s arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor—offering a clear hint of the attraction’s upcoming theme.
The project is estimated to cost between $545 million and $816 million, with themed entertainment specialists from TAIT’s Thinkwell division leading the effort—the same team behind the original Warner Bros. World and two other Yas Island parks.
Immersive Potter experience
The Thinkwell connection is significant, as the studio has previous experience with Harry Potter. It helped create the Warner Bros. Studio Tour at Leavesden in the UK, where fans can explore the Great Hall, pull a Mandrake from the Herbology greenhouse, and encounter full-size animatronic creatures from the films. The tour is widely regarded as the most immersive Potter experience currently available.
Applying that same level of craftsmanship and attention to detail to a full theme park land—with rides added—raises expectations even higher. If Diagon Alley follows the pattern of existing recreations, visitors can anticipate whimsical shopfronts, Gringotts-worthy architecture, and hidden details around every corner for fans who know exactly where to look.
Hogwarts, if it follows the precedent set elsewhere, will be a towering Gothic structure with grey turrets and arched windows—every bit as imposing as it appears from the window of the Hogwarts Express. The land’s flagship ride is expected to be housed inside the castle.
What remains uncertain
Several details are still unconfirmed. It is unclear whether the land will draw from the original films, the books, or the upcoming HBO series, which is currently in development. Since the HBO series will feature a recast of all the main characters, this is a significant creative decision. Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi has the luxury of time, allowing the park to gauge the series’ reception before finalizing the land’s storyline and characters.
An official announcement on which characters and storylines will anchor the land, initially expected in 2025, has now been delayed to 2026.
As Professor Dumbledore once said, “Help will always be given to those who ask for it.” For now, fans are certainly asking.
Why Abu Dhabi makes sense
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will be the seventh theme park worldwide to feature Harry Potter attractions—and the first not operated by Universal. Miral, the Abu Dhabi-backed company behind Yas Island’s parks, has earned a reputation for setting high standards with every new attraction.
Disney’s decision last year to place its seventh global resort on Yas Island further underscores the confidence the industry has in the quality of developments being built here.
For fans who have long dreamed of stepping out of Ollivanders wand shop and walking straight to the gates of Hogwarts—without crossing a car park or buying a second ticket—the wait is nearly over. The Sorting Hat has made its choice: it chose Abu Dhabi.
