New Sphere Venue Set to Open in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Matching Las Vegas Capacity
The launch of the new entertainment venue in Las Vegas marked just the start of an exciting journey.
On Tuesday, the venue’s company announced plans for a second Sphere arena in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
Sphere Abu Dhabi will mirror the capacity of the original venue in Las Vegas, accommodating up to 20,000 spectators. The arena will showcase breathtaking visuals along with a state-of-the-art audio system designed to deliver captivating storytelling and entertainment.
“Our vision for Sphere has always included establishing a global network of venues, and today’s announcement marks a crucial step towards achieving that goal,” stated James L. Dolan, CEO of Sphere Entertainment, in a press release. “Sphere is revolutionizing the live entertainment scene and expanding its transformative influence. We are thrilled to work alongside DCT Abu Dhabi to bring Sphere to their city.”
The organization has partnered with the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi to further promote the city as an entertainment destination, aligning with its Tourism Strategy 2030. This plan aims to increase annual tourist arrivals to 39.3 million by 2030 and create approximately 178,000 job opportunities, either directly or indirectly.
Currently, there is no timeline available for the opening of the new Sphere venue.
Las Vegas Sphere Marks One Year
The Las Vegas Sphere, after four years of construction, opened its doors in September 2023, featuring a 40-performance residency by the band U2.
Since then, the venue has hosted various artists, including Phish and The Eagles, as well as showcased unique visual experiences such as “V-U2 An Immersive Concert Film.”
Settled along the Las Vegas Strip, the venue boasts an impressive 160,000-square-foot LED screen that often displays captivating visuals for both tourists and locals. The screen has showcased everything from a snow globe and Jack-o’-lantern to an eyeball and even the planet Earth.
The arena is equipped with 167,000 speakers and covers an area equivalent to two city blocks.
