From Blank Canvas to 38 Million Visitors: Mohamed Al Zaabi on Building Yas Island

Send us Fan MailMohamed Al Zaabi is the Group CEO of Miral Group, the force behind one of the world’s most dramatic tourism transformations - turning an artificial island in Abu Dhabi into a global destination drawing tens of millions of visitors. Under his leadership since the mid-2010s, Miral has overseen the creation, operation and evolution of immersive attractions, resorts, sports venues and digital experiences that have re-imagined what a destination can be in the 21st century.Al Zaabi shares how he shaped strategy, consumer insight, global partnerships and execution to convert a “blank canvas” into a thriving tourism ecosystem, with plans that stretch well into the next decade.In this episode we cover:Vision and context — How Al Zaabi scoped out the opportunity in the UAE’s tourism sector, adopting a customer-centric strategy that matched global leisure trends with diverse visitor needs and expectations.From concept to creation — The tactical challenges in developing Yas Island from nearly nothing into an entertainment and hospitality hub featuring marquee attractions like Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and more, designed to appeal to families and travellers from emerging and developed markets alike.Customer-led innovation — Why listening to real customer feedback (including early lessons from international market visits) drove Miral to build customizable online ticketing systems and create dedicated marketing/sales companies to better serve global travelers.Future growth and global partnerships — Al Zaabi details major upcoming initiatives, including expansions of existing parks (e.g., waterpark capacity increases), immersive experiences like TeamLab Phenomena, and landmark collaborations with global brands such as The Walt Disney Company to create a Disney theme park destination on Yas Island. Sustainability and legacy — How Miral is aligning with the UAE’s net-zero ambitions through renewable energy adoption, plastic reduction, and eco-friendly hospitality — and why the legacy Al Zaabi wants to leave is people-centred (leaders, teams, communities) rather than just built environments.Driving record visitation — Yas Island has emerged as a world-class tourism magnet with over 38 million visits in 2024, underscoring Miral’s impact on Abu Dhabi’s global leisure appeal.Find us on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Youtube.