Abu Dhabi Expands Sphere Venues to MENA

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has signed an exclusive agreement to develop and operate state-of-the-art Sphere entertainment venues across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for a minimum of ten years.

The deal was confirmed in a filing by the American Sphere Entertainment Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The agreement grants DCT Abu Dhabi the exclusive rights to construct and manage these innovative complexes throughout the region. The first-of-its-kind venue was unveiled in Las Vegas in 2023.

Similar to its Las Vegas counterpart, a Sphere is a massive, spherical structure standing 115 meters tall and 157 meters wide, with a capacity for roughly 20,000 attendees. Its most distinctive feature is a groundbreaking immersive interior screen with 16K resolution.

In October 2024, the emirate had already announced its own project, Sphere Abu Dhabi, which is set to be only the second such venue in the world. While the exact location and opening date in the UAE capital have not yet been disclosed, this new regional agreement significantly expands Abu Dhabi’s role.

Under the terms of the partnership, DCT Abu Dhabi will be responsible for financing the construction of the venues and will pay licensing fees to Sphere Entertainment for the use of its proprietary technology and copyrighted content. This move solidifies Abu Dhabi’s position as a major hub for large-scale entertainment and technological innovation in the region.

Source: Gulf Business