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Abu Dhabi is getting its own version of Sphere Las Vegas, which has become one of the world’s most recognisable live entertainment landmarks. Named, unsurprisingly, Sphere Abu Dhabi, it will be built on Yas Island between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, with construction expected to be completed by the end of 2029.
The 112-metre-high venue is set to bring the future of live entertainment to the Middle East, with its wraparound interior LED screen and vast speaker system designed to immerse visitors in concerts, events and cinematic experiences unlike anything else in the region. Sphere Abu Dhabi is expected to echo the scale, ambition and technological innovation of the Las Vegas original, with capacity for up to 20,000 people depending on the event configuration.
Announced by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism and Sphere Entertainment Co., the team behind the original Vegas venue, the project will be the first Sphere venue outside the United States. “Sphere Abu Dhabi will seamlessly integrate advanced technology with captivating storytelling, creating unforgettable memories for everyone who visits,” said DCT Abu Dhabi chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak. “By embracing cutting edge entertainment like Sphere, we're not only elevating our global profile but also setting new standards in immersive experiences and cultural offerings.”
After cementing its icon status in the US, Sphere Las Vegas launched in September 2023 with U2’s concert residency U2 Achtung Baby and has since become one of the most talked about entertainment venues in the world. It has hosted major residencies, appeared in a Beyoncé Super Bowl commercial and turned its exterior screen into a pop culture attraction in its own right, so international expansion was only a matter of time.
Plans for Sphere London were cut short after the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, refused planning permission, citing the potential impact on residents in Stratford, east London, including light pollution and traffic. But Sphere Entertainment Co. has long been confident that the concept can resonate with a global audience. “The vision for Sphere has always included a global network of venues,” said the company’s executive chairman James L Dolan. “Sphere is redefining live entertainment and extending the reach of its transformative impact. We are proud to collaborate with DCT Abu Dhabi to develop Sphere in their city.”
Everything we know about Sphere Abu Dhabi
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Where is Sphere Abu Dhabi located? And when will it open?
Yas Island has typically played host to the biggest concerts and international musicians that have performed in the city, and Sphere Abu Dhabi will now add another major venue to its entertainment lineup. It has been confirmed that Sphere Abu Dhabi will be built on Yas Island, on a plot between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2029, although an exact public opening date has not yet been announced.
How much will the Sphere Abu Dhabi cost to build?
Sphere Abu Dhabi will cost US$1.7 billion during its construction phase. For context, Sphere Las Vegas was originally estimated to cost US$1.2 billion in 2018, before design changes, supply chain disruption and inflation pushed the final cost to around US$2.3 billion by the time it was completed in 2023.
Who is designing Sphere Abu Dhabi?
The design team behind Sphere Abu Dhabi has not yet been confirmed. Populous, the global design firm specialising in stadiums and large scale event venues, designed Sphere Las Vegas and also submitted plans for the scrapped Sphere London project. In Vegas, the futuristic interior design and lighting were masterminded by ICrave, a Miami and New York based studio chosen through an international competition.
How will Sphere Abu Dhabi work?
Sphere Abu Dhabi is expected to echo the scale and technology of Sphere Las Vegas, the 112 metre high and 157 metre wide venue that has become one of the most recognisable landmarks on the Strip.
Like its Las Vegas counterpart, Sphere Abu Dhabi is expected to light up the city’s skyline with a vast exterior LED display. The Exosphere of the American venue is fitted with approximately 54,000 square metres of LED display space, with 1.2 million LED pucks, each containing 48 individual LEDs capable of displaying 256 million colours. Inside, Sphere Las Vegas features a 15,000 square metre, 16K resolution wraparound LED screen, creating one of the most immersive entertainment environments in the world.
Expect something similarly monumental and mind boggling at Sphere Abu Dhabi, with the venue set to bring concerts, cinematic experiences and large scale live events to Yas Island.
Are there plans for a Sphere Dubai?
Technically, there are no plans for a Sphere Dubai. However, MGM Resorts, which has restarted plans for its Dubai properties MGM, Bellagio and Aria, is developing a mini spherical venue as part of the project. Expected to have a capacity of 300 people, the venue will sit on a podium connecting the three hotels. According to MGM Resorts CEO and president Bill Hornbuckle, the spherical concert venue in Dubai is “not as big as the Sphere in Las Vegas by any stretch but equally compelling.”
It is important to note that this spherical concert venue in Dubai is not related to Sphere Entertainment Co., the company behind Sphere Abu Dhabi.
