An interview in Gulf Business has revealed that work on The Sphere Abu Dhabi has now moved from early-stage preparation into active delivery. Ground works and piling are also under way.
It is scheduled to be completed in 2029 at a cost of Dhs6.4bn ($1.7bn). Speaking to Gulf Business, ALEC Holdings CEO Barry Lewis said the project has already advanced significantly since the award.
Sphere Abu Dhabi will be approximately 150 metres in diameter and comprise two distinct envelopes. The internal envelope contains the amphitheatre and immersive LED screen, while the external envelope — the Exosphere — houses individually controllable LED elements.
The finished Sphere will resemble the Las Vegas versions, but Lewis told Gulf Business the engineering underneath it cannot simply be replicated. “The essential thing to note here is that an identical public experience does not mean an identical construction solution. The dome will be immediately recognisable, but almost every layer beneath that appearance has to be adapted for Abu Dhabi.”
The internal IMS display will be assembled from 933 facets comprising 62,872 individually calibrated tiles, all of which must align seamlessly to create one continuous 180-degree image.