Sphere Entertainment and Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) have confirmed plans to construct a Sphere venue on Yas Island, with a construction price tag of $1.7 billion (€1.5bn).

The first Sphere venue outside the United States is scheduled for completion by the end of 2029. It will be a full-scale mirror of the flagship Vegas venue, boasting a capacity of 20,000, with the outside structure covered in 360° LED displays.

“Sphere Abu Dhabi is the first step in realising our vision for a global network of venues,” says James Dolan, Sphere Entertainment executive chairman/CEO.

“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.”

In addition to hosting concert residencies, the venue is being set up to host major sporting and conference events and multi-sensory experiences. Immersive experiences, like the Wizard of Oz 4D film screening, accounted for 75% of the Vegas venue’s $108m (€93m) YOY revenue boost, per the company’s Q1 2026 results.

“Abu Dhabi has always built for the long term, and Sphere Abu Dhabi is a powerful demonstration of that commitment,” says DCT chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak.

“Abu Dhabi is open, ambitious, and unwavering in its direction”

“In a region where the appetite for world-class experiences continues to grow, our US$1.7 billion investment in its construction phase sends a clear signal: Abu Dhabi is open, ambitious, and unwavering in its direction.”

It is slated to be located on the UAE capital&#

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