Yas Island announced as location for Sphere Abu Dhabi project

Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism and Sphere Entertainment Co. have announced Yas Island as the location for Sphere Abu Dhabi.

Due to be completed by the end of 2029 with a construction cost of US$1.7 billion and capacity of 20,000, Sphere Abu Dhabi will be built on a plot of land between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and proximity to other Yas Island theme parks and attractions.

It will be just the second operational Sphere venue in the world after the first in Las Vegas opened its doors in 2023.

Sphere Abu Dhabi will host three main categories of events: Sphere Experiences, proprietary immersive productions that feature multi-sensory storytelling; concert residencies; and marquee and brand events supported by flexible configurations to host everything from combat sports to conferences to product launches.

While still in development, plans include featuring fully immersive experiences that are the signature of Sphere in Las Vegas, in addition to the creation of Sphere Experiences that convey Emirati culture and heritage, and displaying Emirati artists’ work on the Exosphere, the spherical LED screen that forms the venue’s exterior.

Concerts will feature local and other Arabic artists, as well as global stars, and will also be broadcast worldwide in the background of the annual Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Sphere Abu Dhabi’s ongoing operations will create thousands of jobs locally.

With a construction phase investment of US$1.7bn from @dctabudhabi, Sphere Abu Dhabi, the first Sphere outside the US, has been announced for Yas Island. With a capacity of 20,000, it will offer immersive, multisensory experiences powered by advanced experiential technologies. pic.twitter.com/YWCkbQjsHx

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) May 14, 2026