‘Harry Potter’ to Leave Universal Theme Parks for Overseas Theme Park Giant

Harry Potter is expanding beyond Universal-branded theme parks in a major way. Miral and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences have revealed that Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi on Yas Island will add three Harry Potter-themed lands: Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, and the Forbidden Forest, with construction targeted for completion in 2029.

The announcement matters because it gives the franchise a major theme-park destination outside Universal’s park portfolio. But it does not mean Warner Bros. has removed Harry Potter from Universal, nor has either company announced that Universal’s existing Wizarding World lands are closing. The more consequential change is that Universal will no longer be the only theme-park operator offering a large-scale Harry Potter land once Abu Dhabi’s project is completed.

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi Harry Potter Expansion Grows to Three Lands

Miral originally announced a Harry Potter-themed land for Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi in November 2022. At the time, the companies described the project as a significant new land but did not disclose the three-land structure now planned.

That changed on September 7, 2026. Miral’s latest Harry Potter expansion announcement says the expansion will span approximately 63,000 square meters, or 678,000 square feet, across Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, and the Forbidden Forest. The company says the three lands will include world-exclusive Harry Potter-themed rides created specifically for Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.

The park’s official Harry Potter page confirms the three environments and lists 2029 as the targeted construction-completion year, while making clear that an official launch date has not been announced. A construction target is not a confirmed public opening date.

Universal’s Long Harry Potter Theme-Park Run Is Entering a New Era

Universal has been the defining theme-park home of Harry Potter for more than 15 years. Hogsmeade opened at Universal Islands of Adventure in 2010, followed by Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida in 2014. Epic Universe added the Ministry of Magic in 2025, giving Universal Orlando three separate Wizarding World lands.

That Orlando footprint remains active. Universal has continued updating its Harry Potter offerings, from Epic Universe’s Ministry of Magic to Hogsmeade entertainment such as Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle.

The franchise is not exclusive to Orlando, either. Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Beijing Resort all operate Wizarding World experiences.

So the Abu Dhabi project should not be described as Harry Potter’s first move outside Universal Orlando. The genuinely new development is a major Harry Potter theme-park expansion being built at a Warner Bros.-branded park rather than a Universal destination.

Abu Dhabi Is Getting Experiences Universal Guests Won’t Have

The strongest competitive wrinkle is exclusivity at the attraction level. Miral says the Abu Dhabi lands will contain world-exclusive Harry Potter rides, meaning at least some experiences are being designed specifically for Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi rather than duplicated from Universal’s existing lineup.

That could give international Harry Potter fans a new reason to travel to Yas Island. Miral says the broader Warner Bros. World expansion, including two previously announced DC attractions, will increase the park’s overall size by more than 50%.

For American fans, however, there is no announced equivalent Warner Bros. Harry Potter theme-park project in the United States tied to this news. Universal Orlando continues operating Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and Ministry of Magic, while Universal Studios Hollywood continues to offer its own Hogsmeade experience.

That makes “abandoned” too strong a description for domestic fans. They are not losing their existing Harry Potter lands; Abu Dhabi is gaining exclusive ones.

What This Means for Universal’s Wizarding World

The expansion does change the competitive picture. For years, Universal’s Harry Potter environments have been synonymous with the franchise’s theme-park presence. Once Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi opens its version, fans will have a second major operator building permanent Harry Potter lands.

There is no official evidence that Warner Bros. is stripping the franchise from Universal. In fact, Miral’s original 2022 announcement explicitly described the Abu Dhabi project as an addition alongside the Harry Potter lands at Universal Studios.

Universal, meanwhile, continues updating its existing experiences. Recent changes have touched Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and wand merchandise at Epic Universe.

The meaningful shift is choice: Warner Bros. can now develop a distinct Harry Potter park experience with Miral while Universal continues operating its established Wizarding World destinations.

The Biggest Questions Are Still Unanswered

Miral has revealed the lands, scale, construction target, and promise of exclusive rides, but major details remain unknown. The companies have not announced a public opening date or a complete attraction lineup, and the official park page says more information will come in future announcements.

That leaves the most interesting comparison for later: how Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi’s Diagon Alley and Hogwarts will differ from versions already familiar to Universal guests. The Forbidden Forest also gives the project a setting with room to establish a more distinct identity.

For now, Universal has not lost Harry Potter. What it has lost is the prospect of being the franchise’s only large-scale theme-park home indefinitely. If construction reaches its 2029 target, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will give Harry Potter fans a new destination—and Universal its clearest Wizarding World counterpart yet.