Dubai is planning to get its own Sphere worth $2 billion, named 'Dubai Sphere,' inspired by the Las Vegas Sphere. The project, led by MGM Resorts, will focus on Dubai's rapid transformation from desert to megacity using 3D light and sound effects.
MGM Resorts CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle promised the Sphere would be "equally compelling as the Las Vegas Sphere." The project has been in flux since 2017 and was announced and approved by the Emirate's ruler. However, progress has been slower over the years, but the construction contract was awarded this year. It includes three MGM Resorts brands: MGM, Bellagio, and Aria, with a Sphere sitting in the middle.
At Skift Global Forum, Hornbuckle said, "There will be three properties sitting on a large podium and in the middle of it is a Sphere. Not as big as the Sphere in Las Vegas by any stretch, but equally compelling. It has 300 seats with a mini showroom and the visual things you’d obviously do inside a Sphere."
Hornbuckle stated that the Sphere will have a show line that walks through the history of Dubai. He said, "The first time I went, I thought Dubai was Las Vegas on steroids."
"In 1985, it was desert, and literally 35 years later, it’s this ‘megatropolis’ with three million people. We’re going to tell that story," he said further.
The Dubai Sphere will stand at 110 meters, smaller than its 112-meter-tall counterpart in Las Vegas, United States. It will be capable of accommodating up to 300 guests at a time. Located on Bluewaters Island, the venue will be part of a luxurious complex, including MGM, Bellagio, and Aria hotels.