When Mickey Mouse first arrived in Arabia - a century before Disneyland Abu Dhabi

Mickey Mouse is ready to make his way to the Middle East after Disney announced plans to open its first new theme park development for 15 years on Yas Island.
The much-anticipated attraction is set to swing open its doors in the early 2030s, delivering a boost to tourism, jobs and the wider economy as well as a sprinkling of family-friendly magic.
The grand opening of Disneyland Abu Dhabi will come about a century after the world's most famous mouse first arrived on Gulf Shores.
It was back in 1932 that the short animated cartoon Mickey in Arabia was brought to the screen, in one of the earliest productions of its kind from Walt Disney.
Mickey in Arabia is seven minutes long and in black and white. This version of Mickey differs from the one used today. His earliest cartoon was Steamboat Willie in 1928.
There are some things that Disney got right about life in the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf. Sand dunes. Palm trees. Camels. As for the rest? Well, to be charitable, not much was known about the region to the general public in the West.
The plot involves Mickey, voiced by Disney himself, visiting a 'typical' Arab town, while his nemesis Pete makes a doomed attempt to kidnap Minnie. Perceptions of the Arab world as viewed from Hollywood included snake charmers, the fez or tarboosh, and belly dancers. The people are depicted in a crude style that modern audiences would not recognise.
This orientalist view of not just the Arab world but the entire Middle East was narrow. The region was seen by the western public as exotic, mysterious, perhaps even dangerous thanks to films like The Sheik, starring Rudolph Valentino, and songs such as The Sheik of Araby, performed by artists including Django Reinhart and the Beatles.
Arab children loved the Mouse, though, and from the late 1950s Mickey featured in Arabic comics, in particular Megalet Mickey (Mickey Magazine) by Dar Al Hillel, published in Cairo under licence from Disney and distributed across the Middle East.
For one cover, released around the time of the 1964 Arab Summit, he is shown in a variety of dress, including keffiyehs, turbans, djellaba and what appears to be a military uniform. In other versions, Mickey was shown playing the rababa, a stringed instrument, making kunefe, and celebrating the Prophet Mohammed's birthday in front of a building on where the banner 'There is No God But Allah' appears. A special Ramadan issue was published every year.
By the 1980s, the Disney corporation was beginning to explore bigger collaborations with the Middle East and in particular the Gulf countries. The Epcot theme park in Florida, opened in 1982, originally envisage a UAE pavilion in its World Showcase, although this was not realised.
Ten years later, Disney opened Disneyland Paris, then called EuroDisney. The park struggled to attract visitors in its early years and was making heavy losses. A rescue by Saudi billionaire Prince Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud involved a $345 million injection into the theme park in exchange for a 24 per cent stake. The economic potential of the Gulf could not be clearer.
Moving forward, it emerged this year that Disney had begun exploring the possibility of a theme park in Abu Dhabi as early as 2017 with a pitch from the Miral Group, the entertainment and leisure company that developed Ferrari World, Seaworld, Yas Waterworld and others on Yas Island.
Bob Iger, Disney chief executive, said that negotiations began in earnest in February, concluding in the announcement of a Disney theme park in May.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi, he says will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Khaleej Times

10 hours ago

• Khaleej Times

'First teacher': Dubai's royal family hail Sheikh Mohammed on Father's Day

We all love our parents, and while we are pampered by our mother's love, it is our father we look to for guidance. As the UAE celebrated Father's Day 2025 on Saturday, June 21, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council (DMC), and Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, wrote touching tributes to their father Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. "I learned from my father that giving is a value that makes life flourish.. and that responsibility does not mean a position.. but rather the ability to give," Sheikh Hamdan wrote in a post on X. "From his wisdom we derive our strength.. and from his words we draw our determination.. and with his vision we move forward with confidence and reassurance towards a more beautiful tomorrow, God willing," the Dubai Crown Prince added. Meanwhile, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed said they were raised to believe that "building a person is more important than building a structure." "At Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid School, we were raised to believe that fatherhood is a message and a responsibility... and that building a person is more important than building an urban structure... and the father remains the support and role model... and the truest story told throughout life," Sheikh Ahmed said. Sheikh Mansoor called Sheikh Mohammed his "first teacher." "On Father's Day, we remember the great role fathers play in building people and shaping nations. A father is not just the head of a family; he is the first teacher and an inspiring role model. I learned from my father, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, that a true father is one who instills values ​​before words and leads with actions before words. Happy Father's Day," he said. Meanwhile, Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, said: "Every year, you are my source of strength and support, my inspiration and the light that I follow."

The National

14 hours ago

• The National

Sheikh Mohammed pays tribute to father with excerpt from new book Life Taught Me

, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has paid tribute to his father by publishing an excerpt from his new book Life Taught Me, which is to be released in the coming months. Sheikh Mohammed posted the message on X on Father's Day, which is celebrated in the UAE on June 21. The post included part of the ninth chapter of the book and reflects on the enduring lessons passed down by his late father, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed, former ruler of Dubai. The book will offer reflections on leadership, character and life values. Sheikh Mohammed has said he learnt many of the lessons from his father. 'Every time I think about my father's shrewdness and wisdom … his life and his biography … I realise how much I learnt from him … and how I was influenced by his personality,' Sheikh Mohammed said on X. The tribute paints a vivid portrait of Sheikh Rashid as a calm, composed and principled leader who shaped Dubai's development and inspired his son. 'I learnt from my father the simplicity of life, self-control, not to be preoccupied with trivialities and not to believe weak-minded and frivolous people,' Sheikh Mohammed wrote. 'I learnt from him how to listen … and when to be tough and when to be gentle.' Describing his father as dignified and compassionate to all, Sheikh Mohammed said: 'His mere presence commanded reverence from everyone. My father was rarely angry or upset. He was kind and good-natured. He did not like deception. He did not get alarmed or panicked by anything. Rather, he was steadfast, confident and serious.' The post offers a rare insight into how Sheikh Rashid's legacy has shaped Sheikh Mohammed's approach to governance. 'I learnt from my father to love my family, relatives, brothers and to be close to my sisters … and I still do,' he said. 'I learnt from him to love honesty and justice.' Sheikh Mohammed said his father's strong character left a lasting impression. 'My father did not like a lot of food, or a lot of talking or a lot of buildings and palaces. Rather, he tended towards simplicity, lightness and self-control.'

Khaleej Times

14 hours ago

• Khaleej Times

'He had an eye for people': Dubai Ruler pens poignant tribute to father Sheikh Rashid

As the UAE celebrates Father's Day on Saturday, June 21, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, penned a poignant tribute to his father the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Sheikh Mohammed reflected about his father's numerous qualities like "simple living, self-restraint" and "love for family" and how deeply he was shaped by his character. The Dubai Ruler, who has authored many books, quoted from his upcoming literary endeavour 'Life Taught Me,' where he has dedicated an entire chapter to his father. The book will be published in the coming months. In the chapter, titled 'May God Have Mercy on My Father,' Sheikh Mohammed says: "The more I reflect on my father's wisdom, insight, life, and legacy, the more I realise how much I learned from him — how deeply I was shaped by his character. "I learned from him how to carry oneself with dignity — naturally, without pretense — and to be tolerant toward those who are ignorant, kind and gracious with everyone." Sheikh Mohammed touched upon how Sheikh Rashid taught him to love his family, giving readers a rare glimpse into the father-son relationship. Read the post below: "رحÙ� اÙ�Ù�Ù� أبÙ� ".. اÙ�Ù�صÙ� اÙ�ذاسع Ù�Ù� Ù�ذابÙ� اÙ�جدÙ�د "عÙ�Ù�Ø°Ù�Ù� اÙ�Ø­Ù�اة " اÙ�Ø°Ù� سÙ�صدر Ø®Ù�اÙ� اÙ�أشÙ�ر اÙ�Ù�ادÙ�Ø© .. رحÙ� اÙ�Ù�Ù� أبÙ� .. Ù�Ù�Ù�ا Ø°Ù�Ù�رذ Ù�Ù� Ø­Ù�Ù�Ø© أبÙ� Ù�Ø­Ù�Ù�Ø°Ù� â�¦ Ù�Ø­Ù�اذÙ� Ù�سÙ�رذÙ� .. أدرÙ�Ø° Ù�Ù� ذعÙ�Ù�Ø° Ù�Ù�Ù� .. Ù�Ù�Ù�Ù� ذأثرذ بشخصÙ�Ù�Ø°Ù� .. ذعÙ�Ù�Ø° Ù�Ù� أبÙ� بساطة اÙ�عÙ�Ø´ .. Ù�ضبط اÙ�Ù�Ù�س .. Ù�Ø£Ù� Ù�ا Ø£Ù�شذÙ�â�¦ — HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) June 21, 2025 "He taught me to love my family, my relatives, and my siblings, and to stay close to my sisters — and I still do," the Dubai Ruler wrote. "His very presence commanded respect," Sheikh Mohammed added. Leadership qualities Sheikh Mohammed also spoke about the leadership qualities that he inherited from his father. "He taught me how to accept criticism, to have confidence in myself, and to balance kindness with people and the gravitas and firmness that my position requires," he reflected. "He never judged matters by first impressions. Instead, he pondered, reflected, consulted, and asked questions. I learned from him to listen carefully to those with sound judgment and wise minds. "He had an eye for people — especially the youth. He supported those with entrepreneurial talents and entrusted administrative tasks to those with capability. He had foresight and was thorough in his thinking. He disliked haste, but once he made a decision, he acted without hesitation, doubt, or confusion," he added. Towards the end of the tribute, Sheikh Mohammed concludes with the words: "May God have mercy on my father."