Abu Dhabi Gets 10-Year License for Sphere Venues in MENA Region

Key Points

• Abu Dhabi secured a 10-year exclusive license to develop and operate Sphere venues across the Middle East and North Africa.
• Potential future Sphere venues are hinted at by trademark filings in locations such as Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Israel.
• Sphere Entertainment plans to introduce smaller, more affordable venues in international markets, alongside large-scale Spheres like those in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi.

Summary

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism has obtained a 10-year exclusive license to develop and operate Sphere venues throughout the Middle East and North Africa, beginning with a major venue in Abu Dhabi likely to open around 2030. Sphere Entertainment has filed trademarks suggesting future venues in Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Israel, and is also designing smaller, more cost-effective venues for international markets. This expansion aims to blend high-tech entertainment with live tourism, replicating and adapting the Las Vegas Sphere model for the region.