Sphere Announces a Second Location Planned for Abu Dhabi

Las Vegas’s iconic concert venue is expanding globally. Earlier this week, Sphere Entertainment announced that Abu Dhabi will be the home of a second location of the orb-shaped performance space. A timeline for opening has yet to be announced.

The new Sphere is expected to be comparable in size to the 20,000-seat Vegas original. Since opening in September 2023, the Sphere has become a meme-able addition to the Las Vegas skyline, even inspiring a Facebook group called The Sphere Fan Club that has over 340,000 members. It has thus far hosted sold-out residencies from legacy bands with a flair for grandiose performance spectacles including the Grateful Dead and U2.

Sphere Abu Dhabi is in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism—Abu Dhabi (DCT). “This partnership aligns with our Tourism Strategy 2030, further establishing Abu Dhabi as a vibrant hub for culture and innovation,” said H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, in a press release.

“The arrival of the Sphere in Abu Dhabi will mark a groundbreaking moment for the city's cultural and entertainment landscape,” says Gael Hedding, director of Berklee Abu Dhabi. Hedding adds that the Sphere's novel combination of technology and creativity will inspire a new generation of artists to "explore new frontiers in art, innovation, and entertainment.”

Mayssa Karaa, Berklee Abu Dhabi’s artistic director, says the Sphere is well in line with the mission of Berklee Abu Dhabi, which has focused on local cultural partnerships since the program launched in 2020. “We look forward to collaborating with others within the city of Abu Dhabi who share our vision of fostering creative expression and utilizing state-of-the-art technologies."