The preconstruction phase of Sphere Abu Dhabi, the highly anticipated spherical entertainment venue, is nearing completion, the chief executive of Sphere Entertainment said on Monday.
Abu Dhabi was announced as the second location of the Las Vegas attraction in October. The 20,000-capacity entertainment venue, which opened in 2023, is famed for its 16K resolution wraparound screens and is considered to be the world’s biggest spherical structure.
“With regards to our expansion plans, we recently entered into agreements related to the construction, development and operation of Sphere Abu Dhabi and are now finalising the preconstruction phase with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism,” James L Dolan, Sphere Entertainment’s executive chairman and chief executive told investors during an earnings call.
Sphere Entertainment reported about a four per cent jump in its second-quarter revenue to $282.7 million, with Dolan attributing part of that growth to the announcement of Sphere Abu Dhabi.
Discussions are ongoing with a number of other international markets regarding large-scale Spheres, he added.
Dolan also said his company has completed the design and business model for small-scale Spheres, which could be built faster and at lower cost, and that they were already having discussions with potential partners. Plans for mini Spheres, which would seat about 5,000 attendees, but have the ability to screen the same content as the large-scale versions, were first revealed in March.
“These Spheres will be much less expensive than Las Vegas was. They can get built faster. My hope would be in that we could build a small Sphere in a little over two years,” Dolan said.
According to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing last month by Sphere Entertainment, the deal with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism includes a 10-year franchise granting exclusive rights to develop Sphere venues across the Middle East and North Africa, in addition to Sphere Abu Dhabi.
Sphere sits just off Vegas’s famed Strip, near the Venetian resort. It reportedly cost $2.3 billion to build, making it the city’s most expensive venue, and has hosted several immersive concerts by the likes of U2, the Eagles, Backstreet Boys, as well as a residency by country singer Kenny Chesney. The location of Sphere Abu Dhabi has not yet been confirmed.
Sphere also screens its own original content, including Postcards from Earth, a film by acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky. The 4D film, which tells the story of Earth, utilises the venue’s haptic seats, environmental effects and custom scents. It has been widely praised by critics.
The Wizard of Oz at Sphere, an enhanced version of the 1939 film, is set to debut on August 28.
While an opening date or location for Sphere Abu Dhabi is yet to be revealed, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, the chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said during the announcement that the attraction will “seamlessly integrate advanced technology with captivating storytelling, creating unforgettable memories for everyone who visits”.
“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,” he added.
In the call with investors on Monday, Sphere Entertainment’s chief executive Dolan reiterated the brand’s global ambitions.
“As we said from the start, our goal was to design and operate a venue that’s busy 365 days a year with multiple events on most days. And while we started in Las Vegas, our strategy has always included a global network of Sphere venues,” he said. “This year, our priorities have been to continue enhancing our operating model in Las Vegas, drive long term profitability for the business, and advance our plans to bring Sphere to Abu Dhabi and additional markets around the world.”
25%20Days%20to%20Aden
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
MATCH INFO
Rajasthan Royals 158-8 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 143/7 (20 ovs)
Rajasthan Royals won by 15 runs
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
If you go:
Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
Getting around:
Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day ‘Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience’ which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world’s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; wildlifeworldwide.com
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Sterling 46′, De Bruyne 65′, Gundogan 70′)
Aston Villa 0
Red card: Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Man of the Match: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Scoreline
Al Wasl 1 (Caio Canedo 90 1′)
Al Ain 2 (Ismail Ahmed 3′, Marcus Berg 50′)
Red cards: Ismail Ahmed (Al Ain) 77′
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What is ‘Soft Power’?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US’ most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was first created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out projectiles, namely ballistic missiles, as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the “terminal phase”.
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles both inside and outside of the Earth’s atmosphere, at an altitude of 93 miles above the Earth’s surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then deployed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE
Price, base / as tested Dh274,000 (estimate)
Engine 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 245hp @ 4,200rpm
Torque 500Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65′, Barella 83′)
Verona 1 (Verre 19′ pen)
