Sphere Entertainment Co. Announce New Venue to Be Constructed in Abu Dhabi

Photo Credit: Sphere Entertainment Co.

Today, Sphere Entertainment Co. has unveiled the next chapter in its story. In partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism, the company now formally sets forth plans for duplicate its visionary Las Vegas venue in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. This move follows a tremendous reception in Sphere’s first year of operations, posting total revenue in its first four fiscal quarters of more than $1 billion and forging ahead towards a global execution of its revolutionary vision for entertainment.

“The vision for Sphere 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 extending the reach of its transformative impact. We are proud to collaborate with DCT Abu Dhabi to develop Sphere in their city.”

Echoing this sentiment, DCT Abu Dhabi Chairman H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak commented, “We are excited to bring Sphere to Abu Dhabi in partnership with Sphere Entertainment, providing our residents and visitors with an extraordinary new form of entertainment. Sphere Abu Dhabi will seamlessly integrate advanced technology with captivating storytelling, creating unforgettable memories for everyone who visits. This partnership aligns with our Tourism Strategy 2030, further establishing Abu Dhabi as a vibrant hub for culture and innovation. 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.”

Sphere in Abu Dhabi will mirror the unexceeded technical standards of the initial $2.3 billion venue, from its 20,000 attendee capacity to its panoramic 160,000 square foot display, signature crystal clear video format, ultra-high-definition Big Sky camera system and more. For these proprietary designs, technological innovations and prized branding–which helped usher north of 24 million visitors to Sin City since Sept. 29, 2023–DCT Abu Dhabi will pay Sphere Entertainment a franchise initiation fee. No timeline has been established, but Las Vegas’ Sphere was constructed over th course of five years–in all likelihood stalled by supply chain issues and the COVID pandemic.

The deal, which is still yet to be finalized by both parties, determines that construction will be funded by DCT Abu Dhabi, with the Sphere team remaining on hand to advise development and construction. Contracts will extend past the opening with likely annual fees paid to Sphere Entertainment Co. for licensing content, continued use of intellectual property and operational services, among others.

This may include programming like The Sphere Experience, an interactive walkthrough combined with a showing of Darren Aronofsky’s specially created Postcard from Earth, which brought a revenue of $74.5 million to the premiere venue through 208 performances. In August, remarking on the close of Sphere Entertainment Co.’s first fiscal year, Dolan looked forward to further offerings, event-based and otherwise, as the venue continues to explore its experiential capabilities. “We are actively developing new cinematic experiences and expect to launch our next attraction in the coming weeks,” said Dolan. “We believe this expanding content library will benefit our Las Vegas business and strengthen our value proposition to new markets.”

Sphere’s banner year continues through the end of 2024. This coming weekend, Oct. 18 and 19, the venue will stage the fourth frame of performances in the Eagles’ sprawling residency, which now continues through to late February. Other upcoming attractions include showings of The Edge’s V–U2: An Immersive Concert Film, and Anyma’s extended NYE residency “The End of Genesys,” which will mark the venue’s first showings of electronic music. For tickets and more information on the venue’s ongoing projects, visit thesphere.com.