Warner Bros. World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi has been named the best theme park in the world at the 2026 Liseberg Applause Award, becoming the first attraction in the Middle East to receive one of the global amusement industry’s most prestigious honors. The recognition marks a major milestone for Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector and for Yas Island, which has rapidly grown into one of the region’s most important leisure and entertainment hubs.
The Liseberg Applause Award, presented every two years, is widely regarded as one of the highest distinctions in the theme park industry. Since it was launched in 1980, only 22 parks worldwide have received the award. Past winners include Universal Studios Japan, Tokyo DisneySea, Siam Park in Spain and Xcaret Park in Mexico, placing Warner Bros. World in a highly selective global group.
The award was presented as part of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Honors Event. Warner Bros. World was recognized for excellence in management, operations, guest experience and creative achievement – areas that have become increasingly important as theme parks compete not only on rides, but on immersion, storytelling and the consistency of the visitor journey.
Opened on Yas Island in 2018, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is the region’s largest indoor theme park. Developed in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, the park brings together characters and stories from DC, Looney Tunes and other Warner Bros. franchises across six immersive lands. Guests can move between worlds built around Batman, Superman, Bugs Bunny, Scooby-Doo and other familiar names, with a mix of rides, live entertainment and themed environments.
Yas Island Gains Another Global Tourism Signal
For Miral, the Abu Dhabi-based developer and operator behind Warner Bros. World, the award reinforces a long-term strategy built around destination-scale entertainment. The company also owns and operates major Yas Island attractions including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, helping turn the island into a concentrated visitor district for families, leisure travelers and international events.
The timing is also important. Abu Dhabi has been investing heavily in tourism, culture and entertainment as part of its broader economic diversification strategy. Yas Island already benefits from theme parks, hotels, shopping, sports venues and the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, while future developments are expected to further widen its appeal. Recognition from the global attractions industry adds credibility to that strategy, especially as Abu Dhabi competes with other major leisure destinations in the Gulf and beyond.
Warner Bros. World is also preparing for its next phase of growth. A Harry Potter-themed land has already been announced, along with two new DC-themed rides. Those additions are likely to deepen the park’s appeal to international visitors, particularly fans of globally recognized entertainment franchises.
For travelers, the award may help reposition Abu Dhabi as more than a stopover or luxury city break. It strengthens the case for Yas Island as a complete entertainment destination, where families can build entire itineraries around theme parks, water parks, beaches, shopping, dining and events.
The win also shows how far the Middle East’s attractions industry has moved in a relatively short time. Warner Bros. World is not simply being recognized as a strong regional park. It is now being placed alongside some of the most celebrated theme parks in the world, giving Abu Dhabi a new global benchmark in experience-led tourism.
