City Chosen for New Vegas-Style Sphere

The Sphere in Las Vegas has attracted tens of millions of visitors since opening last year and instantly become an iconic fixture in Sin City's skyline. Now, after some debate about where to build a second Sphere , officials have chosen the home of the world's second Sphere.

Sphere Entertainment and Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) just announced their partnership to bring a new Sphere to the United Arab Emirates capital in the coming years. The city's sibling Dubai often gets more global attention for its flashy and breathtaking buildings, but the decision to build in Abu Dhabi is part of local officials' effort to bolster the capital city's cultural and entertainment offerings in the future.

"The vision for Sphere has always included a global network of venues, and today's announcement is a significant milestone toward that goal," Sphere Entertainment CEO James L. Dolan said in a statement . "Sphere is redefining live entertainment and extending the reach of its transformative impact. We are proud to collaborate with DCT Abu Dhabi to develop Sphere in their city."

DCT Abu Dhabi chairman H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak is similarly looking forward to "providing our residents and visitors with an extraordinary new form of entertainment."

"Sphere Abu Dhabi will seamlessly integrate advanced technology with captivating storytelling, creating unforgettable memories for everyone who visits," he said. "This partnership aligns with our Tourism Strategy 2030, further establishing Abu Dhabi as a vibrant hub for culture and innovation. By embracing cutting-edge entertainment like Sphere, we're not only elevating our global profile but also setting new standards in immersive experiences and cultural offerings."

City officials are hoping to boost the number of annual tourists to the Emirati capital by the turn of the next decade and increase Abu Dhabi's contribution to the country's GDP. In the meantime, here in the States, the question of who will headline the venue in Vegas for its next residency remains up in the air.