Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, a self-contained world, is where Hollywood’s golden age comes to life, combined with the thrill of modern entertainment. Set in the confines of Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, this indoor wonderland, which opened in 2018, represents a climate-controlled cocoon of fun, beckoning families into six fantastically themed lands under one roof. The moment visitors step beneath the iconic Warner Bros. shield at the entrance, they are carried away by a larger-than-life architecture, beloved characters, and storytelling magic.
Sitting alongside a set of ambitious attractions, Warner Bros. World has quickly earned a significant claim, securing a Guinness World Record as the planet’s largest indoor theme park and receiving over 40 industry awards in just a few years.
A Design That Mirrors the Experience
The iconic entrance of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi hints at the cinematic adventures inside. The park’s façade is crowned by a 61-metre replica of the Warner Bros. water tower – a nostalgic nod to the studio’s Burbank lot. Crossing the gate of Warner Bros. Plaza, guests encounter a central hub designed as a 1930s Art Deco Hollywood boulevard.
Adorned by elegant neon marquees, jazz-era ambience, and twilight sky, the Plaza speaks to old-school glamour. The design theme immediately immerses guests in a Golden Age fantasy, complete with a cobbled street that resembles the 1930s backlot, evoking the times when Bugs Bunny and other Warner Bros icons were animated.
The entire park is indoors and spans an astounding 1.65 million square feet. Lighting, sound, and even the sky-like ceiling above are controlled by the designers, enabling whimsical touches like Gotham City’s eternal night or Cartoon Junction’s perpetual sunshine.
Six Lands with Thrilling Adventures
Beyond the Plaza, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi unfolds into five additional distinct “lands,” where each one presents a unique world known from the silver screen. Bedrock and Cartoon Junction are the park’s most light-hearted realms. Bedrock draws on The Flintstones and is structured around a gentle river ride through a prehistoric town, while nearby Dynamite Gulch captures classic Looney Tunes chaos with the Fast and Furry-ous roller coaster recreating Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner’s endless chase.
Cartoon Junction opens up as a pastel-toned animated town where Bugs Bunny, Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo, and others reside, with attractions ranging from the Scooby-Doo Museum of Mysteries dark ride to the swirling Swiss Cheese Spin and the interactive Ani-Mayhem adventure. All the way, visual humour and subtle cartoon references are present to further enrich the experience.
For fans of superheroes and comic book mythology, the park’s Batman and Superman-inspired worlds, Gotham City and Metropolis, are nothing short of spectacular.
Villains have their share of fun too, represented by The Riddler Revolution, a spinning coaster, and The Joker’s Funhouse, which offers a walk-through funhouse with tricks and traps laid by the Clown Prince of Crime.
All told, the park features 29 state-of-the-art rides and attractions – from gentle carousels and character meet-and-greets to adrenaline-pumping coasters – that are designed with storytelling at their core, as every attraction has its unique backstory.
Beloved Characters and Live Entertainment
Part of what makes Warner Bros. World truly enchanting is the way it brings face-to-face encounters with the characters we grew up with. Walking through the park’s lands, visitors would wander alongside legends, spot Gotham’s protector, Batman, or catch Superman in his classic pose as he greets young fans. Wonder Woman might be found near the Hall of Justice, inspiring girls and boys with her regal confidence.
At the centre of Warner Bros. Plaza, there is an ornate stage that often hosts shows where characters from different worlds come together in song, dance, and slapstick comedy. At some point, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig might be caught in a musical number, or Harley Quinn might be seen crashing the party with acrobatic mischief. Among the highlights, the park features a Cinema Spectacular nighttime show, which puts projection mapping and theatrical lighting to work on the Plaza’s art deco facades to create a dazzling music-and-light finale each evening.
Theatrical Dining and Shopping
Like any great adventure, a day at Warner Bros. World comes with its fair share of hunger pangs – and the park’s dining options keep pace with the experience. Themed and theatrical-style eateries serve a broad mix of preferences while keeping you firmly in whatever world you’re exploring. The Starlight in Warner Bros. Plaza is a full-service restaurant steeped in 1930s design details, where guests enjoy steak or pasta under a star-studded ceiling and get a visit at the table from Bugs Bunny dressed as a tuxedoed waiter. Bedrock’s signature diner, Bronto Burgers and Ribs, serves up giant brontosaurus-sized burgers and slabs of ribs, complete with stone-age décor and cartoon sound effects to boot.
Over in Metropolis, a classic American fare is on the menu at Big Belly Burger. The legendary fast-food joint from the DC universe is known for its juicy burgers, hot dogs, and thick shakes that are energy-restorative between rides. For a lighter bite on the go, Gotham City offers a healthier menu in a police-themed dinner. Sweet tooths aren’t forgotten with kids flocking to Penelope Pitstop Cotton Candy in Dynamite Gulch or to Mammoth Munchies in Bedrock for fluffy cotton candy and vintage carnival treats. Even the coffee stops are given a Hollywood flair, with Beverly Hills Boulangerie, offering cappuccino and hot beverages in an upscale café setting that feels straight out of Rodeo Drive, surrounded by pastries almost too pretty to eat.
Journeys are never complete without bringing home a souvenir. Richly themed retail shops such as the flagship Warner Bros. Studio Store in the Plaza are troves of memorabilia where you can find everything from high-end Looney Tunes fashion apparel to DC Comics souvenirs and home décor. What’s more is a dedicated DC Super Heroes Store in Metropolis, where fans can browse graphic novels, superhero gear, and limited-edition collectibles featuring the Justice League – a keepsake to remember the day.
Year-Round Festivities
One hallmark of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is the seasonal events, so the park feels newly minted for those who come back. The most anticipated is undoubtedly the Winter Spectacular. Twinkling lights festoon the facades of Warner Bros. Plaza, with giant wreaths and Christmas trees interspersed throughout, next to Acme rockets or even to the Daily Planet globes, complemented by cheerful seasonal music.
On the Plaza stage, an all-new theatrical extravaganza debuts during Winter Spectacular, lending the festivities a Broadway-style sheen. Families can also come across pop-up carolling performances by cartoon characters and join in whimsical winter games. Each evening during the festival, the Warner Bros. Cinema Spectacular lights up the Plaza sky in a sequence of projected light, imagery, and snow-like confetti that form a dazzling music and light show. Seasonal events aren’t limited to winter; the park has a calendar of festivities that span the entire year, from superhero-themed summer bashes to family events during school holidays.
Where Imagination Lives On
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi’s success lies in a masterful blend of nostalgia and innovation – a place where parents relive memories of their childhood cartoons and comic fantasies even as their children make brand new ones in real time.
The narrative continues to unfold. In 2022, plans were unveiled for a Harry Potter–themed land at Warner Bros. World, marking a regional first. This future expansion is eagerly awaited by fans and reflects a dedication to innovation and creativity, from introducing new characters and shows to embracing technology like the FacePass facial-recognition entry for convenience, and expanding its roster of lands.
Sitting at the heart of Yas Island’s leisure and cultural landscape – with Ferrari World’s high-speed thrills on one side and the Louvre Abu Dhabi on the other – Warner Bros. World represents the pure joy of make-believe and the innate pleasure of stepping into imagined worlds.
