Yas Island Named Home of $1.7B Sphere Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is going big — Sphere big.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Sphere Entertainment Co. have confirmed Yas Island as the future home of Sphere Abu Dhabi, a new immersive entertainment venue carrying a construction-phase cost of $1.7 billion.

The venue will be the first Sphere outside the United States, following the Las Vegas original, which opened in September 2023. Expected to be completed by the end of 2029, Sphere Abu Dhabi will sit between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, placing it in the middle of one of the region’s busiest leisure corridors.

DCT Abu Dhabi framed the project as a long-term investment in the emirate’s global tourism and cultural ambitions. HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said Abu Dhabi “has always built for the long term,” calling Sphere Abu Dhabi “a powerful demonstration of that commitment.”

He added that the $1.7 billion construction-phase investment sends “a clear signal” that Abu Dhabi is “open, ambitious, and unwavering in its direction,” while positioning the venue as a major platform for both tourism and culture.

“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,” Al Mubarak said. “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.”

At its heart, he said, Sphere Abu Dhabi will serve as “a platform for Emirati culture, Emirati talent and Emirati storytelling, shared with the world on the grandest stage ever built.”

James L. Dolan, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sphere Entertainment, called Sphere Abu Dhabi “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,” Dolan said in a press release. “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.”

When complete, Sphere Abu Dhabi is expected to echo the scale of Sphere Las Vegas, with capacity of up to 20,000 guests, depending on event configuration. Programming will span three core categories: proprietary Sphere Experiences, concert residencies, and major brand or marquee events, with flexible configurations to support everything from combat sports to conferences and product launches.

The venue’s entertainment mix is expected to combine signature immersive productions associated with Sphere Las Vegas with new experiences rooted in Emirati heritage. Plans also include showcasing Emirati artists on the Exosphere, the venue’s giant exterior LED display, alongside concerts from Arabic and international artists.

For Yas Island, the announcement adds another heavyweight attraction to a destination already anchored by theme parks, hospitality assets and the annual Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Sphere Abu Dhabi will also join a broader pipeline of major destination projects in the emirate, including Saadiyat Cultural District and the planned Disney theme park resort on Yas Island.

Hear about Sphere Abu Dhabi news and updates here.