The gleaming Sphere will light up Abu Dhabi skyline: Here's what you need to know

The Sphere, located east of the Las Vegas Strip, is an iconic venue redefining the future of live entertainment. Now, a second Sphere will light up the Abu Dhabi skyline, bringing a fully immersive entertainment experience to the UAE.

The Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi (DCT) has signed an exclusive 10-year agreement to build Sphere venues across the Middle East and North Africa. The deal follows a filing by the US-based Sphere Entertainment at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last month.

Here’s a quick overview of the Sphere project:

Sphere is a next-generation venue designed for immersive live entertainment. It allows artists, creators, and technologists to craft experiences that push the boundaries of storytelling and transport audiences to places “both real and imagined”. The first Sphere opened in Las Vegas in September 2023, attracting over 24 million visitors in its first year.

The original Sphere is located in Paradise, Nevada, east of the Las Vegas Strip. Owned by Sphere Entertainment Company, the venue incorporates cutting-edge technologies to deliver shared experiences on an unprecedented scale.

Designed by global architecture firm Populous, the project was initially announced in 2018 by the Madison Square Garden Company and was then known as the MSG Sphere. It officially opened in 2023.

The Las Vegas Sphere seats 17,600 people and has a total capacity of 20,000. Its standout features include a 16K resolution wraparound interior LED screen, advanced speaker systems using beamforming and wave field synthesis, and 4D physical effects.

The exterior is equally impressive, featuring 54,000 m² of LED displays — the largest in the world. Measuring 112 metres high and 157 metres wide, the venue cost $2.3 billion to construct, making it the most expensive entertainment venue ever built in the Las Vegas Valley.

Sphere Entertainment Company is a US-based entertainment holding company headquartered in New York City and controlled by the family of Charles Dolan. It owns the Las Vegas Sphere and the regional sports network MSG Networks.

Announced in October, Sphere Abu Dhabi will be the second venue of its kind. Under the agreement, DCT will be licensed to use Sphere’s creative content, including Sphere Experiences, as well as its brand, technology, patents, and intellectual property. Sphere Entertainment will provide operational services, along with commercial and strategic advisory support.

“Construction will be funded by DCT Abu Dhabi, with Sphere Entertainment’s team of experts providing services related to development, construction, and pre-opening of the venue,” a DCT statement said in October.

Sphere Entertainment Group confirmed the agreement with DCT to bring the second Sphere to Abu Dhabi. The initial deal spans 25 years from the venue’s opening, with DCT having the option to extend for two additional 10-year terms.

According to a July 28 SEC filing, DCT has also been granted exclusive rights to build and operate Sphere Abu Dhabi, and may build additional venues across the Middle East and North Africa for at least 10 years after the Abu Dhabi opening.

According to the filing: “DCT has agreed to pay Sphere Entertainment Group a franchise initiation fee and royalties for the use of Sphere Entertainment Group’s intellectual property (including The Sphere Experience content and other creative content).”

No construction or opening dates have been announced. The company stated only that Sphere Abu Dhabi will be built in a “prime spot” in the UAE capital.

Following the $2.3 billion launch of the Las Vegas venue, Sphere Entertainment plans to expand its global footprint. Executive Chairman and CEO James Dolan confirmed earlier this year that a smaller version of the Sphere is in development, with potential for roll-out in other markets.