Global engineering services company AtkinsRéalis has joined UAE-based construction group ALEC to deliver Sphere Abu Dhabi, an immersive entertainment venue planned for a site located between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi on Yas Island.
The appointment confirms the principal design and construction team for the first full-scale Sphere outside the United States, following the original venue in Las Vegas.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is investing $1.7bn in the construction phase, with completion expected by the end of 2029. The project is being delivered through a Design and Build framework.
AtkinsRéalis to lead multidisciplinary design
AtkinsRéalis has been appointed lead multidisciplinary design and supervision consultant, responsible for coordinating the architecture, structural engineering, and specialist immersive technologies.
ALEC, which received the construction award from DCT Abu Dhabi, will oversee procurement, construction, and project completion.
The companies are also involved in Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia. AtkinsRéalis is serving as a design consultant there, while ALEC is carrying out construction work on several venues.
“Sphere Abu Dhabi is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a completely new kind of immersive destination for the Middle East,” said Peter Willmott, chief operating officer for the Middle East at AtkinsRéalis. “Together with ALEC, we are integrating cutting-edge design, advanced engineering, and immersive technologies.”
Sean McQue, managing director of ALEC Construction, described Sphere Abu Dhabi as one of the company’s most technically demanding projects. He said AtkinsRéalis’ design leadership and ALEC’s construction expertise would provide the basis for its integrated delivery.
Abu Dhabi venue to match the scale of Las Vegas Sphere
Sphere Abu Dhabi will accommodate up to 20,000 people, depending on the configuration, giving it a capacity comparable to the Las Vegas venue, which opened in September 2023.
Its exterior will function as a fully programmable LED Exosphere. A wraparound internal display is planned to deliver 16K-resolution imagery, supported by beamforming audio technology capable of directing sound towards individual seats.
Flexible configurations will allow the venue to host purpose-made immersive productions, concert residencies, combat sports, conferences, product launches, and other events.
Plans also include displaying Emirati artwork on the Exosphere and developing immersive productions based on Emirati culture and heritage. Concert programming is expected to include local and Arabic performers, as well as international artists.
Planning for the development covers road improvements, site access, utilities, and connections to the surrounding infrastructure on Yas Island.
Sphere Abu Dhabi developed under a 25-year franchise agreement
DCT Abu Dhabi is developing the venue under a franchise agreement with Sphere Entertainment, the live entertainment and media company behind the Sphere format.
The department will fund, build, and operate the venue using Sphere Entertainment’s proprietary designs, technology, patents, trademarks, and licensed content. Sphere Entertainment will provide development, construction, and pre-opening services.
Following completion, DCT Abu Dhabi will pay royalties for the use of the company’s intellectual property and Sphere content. The franchise has an initial term of 25 years from the venue’s opening, with options for two further ten-year terms.
DCT Abu Dhabi has also secured the exclusive right to pursue additional Sphere venues in the Middle East and North Africa for at least ten years after Sphere Abu Dhabi opens, subject to separate terms being agreed.
Image: Courtesy of DCT Abu Dhabi
