Yas Island to be home to Sphere Abu Dhabi

• Site between Yas Mall and SeaWorld
• Completion set for end of 2029
• DCT Abu Dhabi to fund construction

Yas Island has been selected as the location for the Sphere Abu Dhabi entertainment venue, with the landmark development set to be built between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi.

The project, announced jointly on Thursday by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Sphere Entertainment Co, will become the first Sphere venue outside the US.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said the development “sends a clear signal: Abu Dhabi is open, ambitious and unwavering in its direction”.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2029.

The venue will mirror the $2.5 billion, 111-metre-tall Las Vegas Sphere – the LED-covered arena known for immersive concerts and entertainment experiences – and will have a capacity of up to 20,000.

DCT Abu Dhabi will fund construction and pay Sphere Entertainment a franchise fee for access to its designs, technology and intellectual property, as previously reported by AGBI. Sphere will also receive annual fees covering content, operations and advisory services.

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

Yas Island is already home to a Ferrari World, a SeaWorld and other major amusement parks, as well as the circuit for the annual Formula One Grand Prix.

In May 2025 The Walt Disney Company announced plans to partner with Abu Dhabi’s leisure-focused developer Miral to build a theme park located on the island.