Sphere Entertainment Co (NYSE: SPHR) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) have selected Yas Island as the site for Sphere Abu Dhabi, a $1.7bn venue that will be the first Sphere outside the United States, the parties said on May 14.
The venue will sit on a plot between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, close to the island’s existing cluster of theme parks and the Yas Marina Circuit. Construction is scheduled to finish by the end of 2029.
Capacity will run up to 20,000 depending on configuration, matching the scale of the original Sphere in Las Vegas, which opened in September 2023. The Abu Dhabi venue will host three event categories: proprietary immersive Sphere Experiences, concert residencies, and marquee brand events ranging from combat sports to product launches.
| “Abu Dhabi has always built for the long term, and Sphere Abu Dhabi is a powerful demonstration of that commitment. Together, we are creating a venue that will draw our community, visitors, creators and investors to Yas Island and Abu Dhabi for decades to come.” — Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, DCT Abu Dhabi |
| “Sphere Abu Dhabi is the first step in realising our vision for a global network of venues. Abu Dhabi is a premier international capital city, and its ambition, infrastructure, and position as a cultural crossroads make it a natural home for Sphere.” — James L. Dolan, Executive Chairman and CEO, Sphere Entertainment |
Programming plans include Emirati cultural content alongside the immersive productions that have anchored the Las Vegas venue, with the exterior Exosphere LED screen earmarked for displays of work by local artists. Concert bookings are expected to feature Arabic and global acts.
The venue sits within a wider integrated tourism build-out that includes the Saadiyat Cultural District and the planned Disney resort on Yas Island, announced in 2025. Operations are expected to create thousands of local jobs once the venue opens.
DCT Abu Dhabi said it would coordinate road upgrades, site access and supporting infrastructure with the Department of Municipalities and Transport, the Department of Energy, Taqa, Etihad Rail and master developer Aldar.
What the venue will offer
Sphere Abu Dhabi will match the scale of the original Las Vegas venue, which opened in September 2023, with capacity of up to 20,000 depending on configuration. The format is built around three event types:
| • Sphere Experiences — proprietary immersive productions using the venue’s wraparound LED interior and multi-sensory technology |
| • Concert residencies — extended runs by international and regional artists, with Arabic acts confirmed in the booking plans |
| • Marquee and brand events — flexible configurations covering combat sports, conferences and product launches |
Sphere Entertainment’s Las Vegas venue cost roughly $2.3bn to build and has been a drag on group earnings since opening, with the company reporting widening segment losses through 2025 as it sought to extend the format beyond a single site.