The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Sphere Entertainment announced that Yas Island has been selected as the location for Sphere Abu Dhabi, a landmark project with a construction phase cost of $1.7 billion.
The venue will attract
tourists from around the world, boost economic diversification, and strengthen
Abu Dhabi's sense of place for residents and visitors alike.
Sphere Abu Dhabi, which will be the first Sphere venue outside the US, will be built on a plot of land between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, with lush green surroundings and proximity to other Yas Island theme parks and attractions.
Construction on the venue is expected to be completed by
the end of 2029.
Mohamed Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi,
said: “Abu Dhabi has always built for the long term, and Sphere Abu Dhabi
is a powerful demonstration of that commitment. In a region where the appetite
for world-class experiences continues to grow, our $1.7 billion investment in
its construction phase sends a clear signal: Abu Dhabi is open, ambitious, and
unwavering in its direction. This project reflects the strength of Abu Dhabi’s
international partnerships, built on shared ambition and mutual confidence in
what this emirate represents as a global destination. 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. And at its heart, Sphere Abu Dhabi
will be a platform for Emirati culture, Emirati talent and Emirati
storytelling, shared with the world on the grandest stage ever built.”
James Dolan, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Sphere Entertainment, said: “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. Sphere Abu Dhabi will
establish Yas Island as a destination in the region for immersive experiences,
and we look forward to working with DCT Abu Dhabi to see this venue come to life.”
Sphere Abu Dhabi will host three main categories of events,
all powered by Sphere’s advanced experiential technologies: Sphere Experiences,
proprietary immersive productions that feature multi-sensory storytelling;
concert residencies; and marquee and brand events supported by flexible
configurations to host everything from combat sports to conferences to product
launches.
While still in development, plans include featuring fully
immersive experiences that are the signature of Sphere in Las Vegas, in
addition to the creation of Sphere Experiences that convey Emirati culture and
heritage, and displaying Emirati artists’ work on the Exosphere, the spherical
LED screen that forms the venue’s exterior. Concerts will feature local and
other Arabic artists, as well as global stars.
The world’s first Sphere venue opened in Las Vegas in
September 2023.
Like the venue in Las Vegas, Sphere Abu Dhabi will be an
experiential medium powered by advanced technologies that will transform the
traditional venue model.
The venue will also echo the scale of Sphere in Las Vegas,
with a capacity of up to 20,000, depending on the configuration for a given
event.
Once open, Sphere Abu Dhabi’s ongoing operations will create
thousands of jobs locally.
DCT Abu Dhabi will work with entities including the
Department of Municipalities and Transport and its Integrated Transport Centre,
the Department of Energy, Taqa, Etihad Rail and Aldar to ensure all components
of the master plan including road enhancements, site access and site-wide
infrastructure are coordinated with surrounding assets on Yas Island. -TradeArabia News Service
