Sphere Abu Dhabi has taken another step forward, with UAE-based Blue Rhine Industries (BRI) selected to install and commission the venue’s exterior LED display. The project will bring a giant, programmable digital surface to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
ALEC Engineering and Contracting, part of ALEC Holdings, awarded the contract to BRI. The work forms part of the main construction package for the new entertainment venue.
The contract covers the installation and commissioning of the Exosphere, a fully programmable LED display that will wrap around the exterior of Sphere Abu Dhabi.
Standing 112 metres tall, the building will feature a large-scale digital surface designed to display a wide range of visual content. This includes digital art, entertainment and visual storytelling.
The Exosphere will also provide a platform for Emirati artists to showcase their work. As a result, the exterior display is expected to play a role in presenting local culture to residents and international visitors.
For Blue Rhine Industries, the project marks the largest AV integration assignment in the company’s 20-year history. The UAE-based company specialises in professional audiovisual systems and digital signage.
Sphere Abu Dhabi is being developed by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), with Sphere Entertainment Co. involved in the project.
The development has a construction-phase investment of approximately US$1.7 billion. Once completed, the venue is planned to accommodate up to 20,000 people.
Its programme will include immersive entertainment experiences, concert residencies, sporting events and exhibitions. The combination of indoor experiences and the programmable exterior display will give the venue a distinctive presence on Yas Island.
The location is between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, placing the new venue within one of the emirate’s major entertainment destinations.
Construction of Sphere Abu Dhabi is expected to be completed by the end of 2029. It will be the first Sphere venue outside the United States, following the opening of the original Sphere in Las Vegas in 2023.
The LED installation contract is an important part of the project’s delivery. Once operational, the Exosphere will allow the building’s exterior to display changing imagery, artwork and entertainment content.
With Blue Rhine Industries responsible for installing and commissioning the LED system, Sphere Abu Dhabi is moving closer to becoming a new entertainment landmark in the UAE.
