New Sphere to be made in Abu Dhabi after success of Las Vegas venue

The debut of Las Vegas new spectacle venue was only the beginning.
A second Sphere arena will be built in the United Arab Emirates’ capital Abu Dhabi, the venue’s company announced Tuesday.
Sphere Abu Dhabi will emulate the size of the original Vegas venue with standing room for 20,000 people. Similarly, the venue will feature stunning visuals and advanced audio system to produce enthralling storytelling and entertainment experiences.
“The vision for Sphere has always included a global network of venues, and today’s announcement is a significant milestone toward that goal,” Sphere Entertainment CEO James L. Dolan said in a news 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.”
The company has partnered with the city’s Department of Culture and Tourism to further establish Abu Dhabi as entertainment hub through its Tourism Strategy 2030. The initiative aims to boost annual visitor numbers to 39.3 million by 2030 and adding 178,000 jobs either directly or indirectly.
An expected timeline for when the new Sphere will open has not been released.
After four years of construction, the Las Vegas Sphere debuted in September 2023 kicking off with a 40-show residency by the rock band U2.
Since then, the venue has hosted several artists from Phish to The Eagles and has offered visual experiences like the “V-U2 An Immersive Concert Film.”
The venue also settled right into the Las Vegas Strip with its massive 160,000-square-foot wraparound LED screen regularly displaying visuals for tourists and locals. Whether for ad campaigns or seasonal events, the globe has displayed visuals ranging from a snowglobe, Jack-o’-lantern, an eyeball and Earth itself.
The arena is also home to 167,000 individual speakers and is the size of two city blocks.
Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri