ALEC Engineering and Contracting has been awarded the construction contract for Sphere Abu Dhabi, the next international venue from Sphere Entertainment.
The contract, valued at US$1.7 billion, was awarded by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, according to reports in UAE media. ALEC will be responsible for delivering the landmark venue on Yas Island, with completion expected in 2029. Public reports say the financial impact of the project will be recognised over the delivery period.
Sphere Abu Dhabi is planned as the first Sphere venue outside the United States, following the opening of Sphere Las Vegas. The Abu Dhabi venue is expected to have a capacity of around 20,000 and host immersive Sphere Experiences, concerts, residencies, brand events, conferences and other large-scale live experiences.
The project will be located on Yas Island, between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, adding another major attraction to the island’s entertainment and leisure district. DCT Abu Dhabi and Sphere Entertainment confirmed the project earlier this month, with DCT Abu Dhabi investing in the construction phase and Sphere Entertainment providing technology, creative and operational expertise.
For the AV and experience technology sector, the project will be closely watched as one of the most high-profile immersive entertainment builds currently planned outside the US. Sphere Las Vegas has already become a reference point for large-format LED, spatial audio, show control and content-led venue design, and its Abu Dhabi counterpart is expected to bring similar attention to the Middle East’s growing immersive entertainment market.
The award also adds to ALEC’s recent work in large-scale cultural and experiential destinations in the UAE. ALEC Holdings was shortlisted in the Arts & Experience category at the 2026 Inavation Awards for its work on teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, a project delivered in the Saadiyat Cultural District.
Top image credit: DCT Abu Dhabi