Sphere Entertainment Co. announces the construction of a new venue in Abu Dhabi

Photo credit: Sphere Entertainment Co.

Today Sphere Entertainment Co. revealed the next chapter of its story. In collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, the company is now officially unveiling plans to double its visionary Las Vegas venue in the United Arab Emirates capital. This move follows tremendous response to Sphere’s first year of operations, in which the company achieved total revenue of more than $1 billion in the first four fiscal quarters and accelerates the global implementation of its revolutionary vision for entertainment.

“Sphere’s vision has always included a global network of venues, and today’s announcement is a significant milestone toward that goal,” said James L. Dolan, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Sphere Entertainment, in a press release. “Sphere is redefining live entertainment and expanding the reach of its transformative impact. We are proud to partner with DCT Abu Dhabi to develop Sphere in their city.”

Echoing this sentiment, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, commented: “We are delighted to bring Sphere to Abu Dhabi in collaboration with Sphere Entertainment and offer our residents and visitors an exceptional new form of entertainment.” Sphere Abu Dhabi will seamlessly combine advanced technology with captivating storytelling, creating unforgettable memories for all visitors. This partnership is in line with our Tourism Strategy 2030 and further establishes Abu Dhabi as a vibrant hub of culture and innovation. By introducing cutting-edge entertainment like Sphere, we are not only raising our global profile, but also setting new standards for immersive experiences and cultural offerings.”

Sphere in Abu Dhabi will reflect the original $2.3 billion venue’s unrivaled technical standards, from its 20,000 attendee capacity to its 160,000 square meter panoramic display, signature crystal-clear video format, ultra-high definition big sky camera system and more. For these proprietary designs, technological innovations and valuable branding – which have helped bring more than 24 million visitors to Sin City since September 29, 2023 – DCT Abu Dhabi Sphere Entertainment will pay a franchise launch fee. No timeline has been set, but Las Vegas’ Sphere was built over the course of five years – most likely stalled due to supply chain issues and the COVID pandemic.

The deal, which has yet to be finalized by both parties, will see construction financed by DCT Abu Dhabi, with the Sphere team remaining available to advise on development and construction. The agreements will be extended beyond inception, with annual fees expected to be paid to Sphere Entertainment Co. for, among other things, content licensing, continued use of intellectual property and operational services.

These may include programs such as “The Sphere Experience,” an interactive tour combined with a screening of Darren Aronofsky’s specially created works Postcard from Earthwhich brought the premiere venue $74.5 million in revenue through 208 performances. In August, Dolan commented on the conclusion of Sphere Entertainment Co.’s first year of business and looked forward to more offerings, both event-based and otherwise, as the venue continues to explore its experiential options. “We are actively developing new cinema experiences and expect to launch our next attraction in the coming weeks,” Dolan said. “We believe this growing content library will benefit our Las Vegas business and strengthen our value proposition for new markets.”

Sphere’s stellar year runs through the end of 2024. This coming weekend, October 18th and 19th, the venue will host its fourth series of performances at the Eagles’ sprawling residence, now running through the end of February. Other upcoming attractions include screenings of The Edge’s V–U2: An immersive concert filmand Anyma’s extended New Year’s Eve residency “The End of Genesys,” which will mark the venue’s first electronic music performances. For tickets and more information about the venue’s ongoing projects, visit thesphere.com.