Abu Dhabi will get a Sphere

The Las Vegas Sphere venue will soon have a twin in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, Sphere Entertainment and the city’s Department of Culture and Tourism announced yesterday. The project is part of the country’s effort to boost tourism and innovation.

Abu Dhabi’s government will cover the construction costs and pay Sphere Entertainment a franchise fee and annual fees for creative content.

The Sphere in Las Vegas, which stands 111 meters tall, 157 meters wide, and seats around 20,000 people, cost $2.3 billion to build. Details about the cost and timeline for the Abu Dhabi version haven’t been shared yet.

A London plan for a second Sphere was recently rejected due to concerns over light pollution. Sphere Entertainment’s stock rose by over 6% on Tuesday despite concerns about its financial outlook after the Las Vegas venue reported a $98.4 million loss in its first financial quarter.