Skift Take<\/h2>\n
MGM Resorts is building its own “Dubai Sphere.” Though not linked to the Las Vegas Sphere, the hotelier says it will be just as exciting.<\/p>\n
Another \u2018Sphere\u2019 is landing on Earth, this time in Dubai. MGM Resorts is building its own \u201cDubai Sphere\u201d, promised by CEO and president Bill Hornbuckle to be \u201cequally compelling as the Las Vegas Sphere.\u201d <\/p>\n
MGM Resorts\u2019 $2 billion project in Dubai has been in flux since 2017. It was announced and approved by the emirate\u2019s ruler, but has seen little progress over the years. It was only this year that the construction contract was awarded for the development. It includes three MGM Resorts brands in MGM, Bellagio and Aria with a Sphere sitting in the middle.<\/p>\n
Hornbuckle said on stage Thursday at the Skift Global Forum: \u201c[In Dubai] 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\u2019d obviously do inside a sphere.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll have a show line that walks through the history of Dubai. The first time I went, I thought [Dubai] was Las Vegas on steroids,\u201d said Hornbuckle. \u201cIn 1985 it was desert and literally 35 years later it\u2019s this \u2018megatropolis\u2019 with three million people. We\u2019re going to tell that story.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Dubai iteration of the sphere would be smaller than the venue in Sin City in terms of capacity. Original plans for Dubai Sphere described it as being part of a 110-meter-high entertainment tower located in the center of the complex, offering 3D light and sound effects shows for up to 300 guests at a time. The Sphere in Vegas is 112 meters tall but with a much larger capacity of 18,600 seats.<\/p>\n
Hornbuckle clarified that the Dubai Sphere is not a part of Sphere Entertainment, the company behind the Las Vegas Sphere. Right now, MGM is doing the venue itself but would be open to finding a partner later down the line. <\/p>\n
Execs at Sphere Entertainment have said previously they\u2019d license a smaller space if it meant growing the global footprint. MSG executive chair and CEO Dolan told Variety last year<\/a> it was \u201cdefinitely a big part of the business plan, to build more Spheres all over the world\u201d. \u201cAnd by the way, different-size ones too \u2013 probably not much bigger than the one in Vegas, but we\u2019ve actually gone through already architectural drawings and designs for smaller Spheres for smaller markets.\u201d<\/p>\n The MGM Resorts project in Dubai has no opening date, but Hornbuckle said on-stage that progress is being made. It\u2019s currently a non-gaming complex, but those plans could change. Speaking about the potential of a casino license for Dubai, he said the cultural shift in the country has already happened.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce you get there and gaming is socially accepted \u2013 not for Emiratis by the way \u2013 but 80-90% of the [UAE] population are non-Emirati. India is a massive market, the rest of the Middle East could be massive, China will continue to come to Dubai, so we\u2019re excited by what it presents and we hope to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe ended up in Dubai with a non-gaming hotel project \u2013 a large one \u2013 worth over $2 billion with an MGM, Bellagio, and an Aria. It has several podiums which in fact, [is where] Dubai wants gaming.\u201d<\/p>\n An MGM spokesperson clarified after Hornbuckle\u2019s comments: \u201cThere is no declaration or announcement of gaming [for Dubai], we\u2019re just hoping that as the region starts to open up to gaming, it becomes a possibility, but we\u2019ve only bid on gaming for Abu Dhabi.\u201d<\/p>\n Wasl is the partner for the MGM in Dubai, a major hotel owner and developer in the city with close ties to the government. Hornbuckle said this week the group has applied for a casino license in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Rephrase in a different way as if you were a native American speaker as a content creation expert and do not talk about yourself or your experience in the text and do not show yourself as an artificial intelligence who wrote and fill the bullet point in the topic and speak the heart of the topic itself and dont take date of blog in ther first and dont take text like box of newsliter subscribe on post from MGM Resorts is building its own “Dubai Sphere.” Though not linked to the Las Vegas Sphere, the hotelier says it will be just as exciting.<\/p>\n Another \u2018Sphere\u2019 is landing on Earth, this time in Dubai. MGM Resorts is building its own \u201cDubai Sphere\u201d, promised by CEO and president Bill Hornbuckle to be \u201cequally compelling as the Las Vegas Sphere.\u201d <\/p>\n MGM Resorts\u2019 $2 billion project in Dubai has been in flux since 2017. It was announced and approved by the emirate\u2019s ruler, but has seen little progress over the years. It was only this year that the construction contract was awarded for the development. It includes three MGM Resorts brands in MGM, Bellagio and Aria with a Sphere sitting in the middle.<\/p>\n Hornbuckle said on stage Thursday at the Skift Global Forum: \u201c[In Dubai] 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\u2019d obviously do inside a sphere.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll have a show line that walks through the history of Dubai. The first time I went, I thought [Dubai] was Las Vegas on steroids,\u201d said Hornbuckle. \u201cIn 1985 it was desert and literally 35 years later it\u2019s this \u2018megatropolis\u2019 with three million people. We\u2019re going to tell that story.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dubai iteration of the sphere would be smaller than the venue in Sin City in terms of capacity. Original plans for Dubai Sphere described it as being part of a 110-meter-high entertainment tower located in the center of the complex, offering 3D light and sound effects shows for up to 300 guests at a time. The Sphere in Vegas is 112 meters tall but with a much larger capacity of 18,600 seats.<\/p>\n Hornbuckle clarified that the Dubai Sphere is not a part of Sphere Entertainment, the company behind the Las Vegas Sphere. Right now, MGM is doing the venue itself but would be open to finding a partner later down the line. <\/p>\n Execs at Sphere Entertainment have said previously they\u2019d license a smaller space if it meant growing the global footprint. MSG executive chair and CEO Dolan told Variety last year<\/a> it was \u201cdefinitely a big part of the business plan, to build more Spheres all over the world\u201d. \u201cAnd by the way, different-size ones too \u2013 probably not much bigger than the one in Vegas, but we\u2019ve actually gone through already architectural drawings and designs for smaller Spheres for smaller markets.\u201d<\/p>\n The MGM Resorts project in Dubai has no opening date, but Hornbuckle said on-stage that progress is being made. It\u2019s currently a non-gaming complex, but those plans could change. Speaking about the potential of a casino license for Dubai, he said the cultural shift in the country has already happened.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce you get there and gaming is socially accepted \u2013 not for Emiratis by the way \u2013 but 80-90% of the [UAE] population are non-Emirati. India is a massive market, the rest of the Middle East could be massive, China will continue to come to Dubai, so we\u2019re excited by what it presents and we hope to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe ended up in Dubai with a non-gaming hotel project \u2013 a large one \u2013 worth over $2 billion with an MGM, Bellagio, and an Aria. It has several podiums which in fact, [is where] Dubai wants gaming.\u201d<\/p>\n An MGM spokesperson clarified after Hornbuckle\u2019s comments: \u201cThere is no declaration or announcement of gaming [for Dubai], we\u2019re just hoping that as the region starts to open up to gaming, it becomes a possibility, but we\u2019ve only bid on gaming for Abu Dhabi.\u201d<\/p>\n Wasl is the partner for the MGM in Dubai, a major hotel owner and developer in the city with close ties to the government. Hornbuckle said this week the group has applied for a casino license in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n and romove all linke insert in MGM Resorts is building its own “Dubai Sphere.” Though not linked to the Las Vegas Sphere, the hotelier says it will be just as exciting.<\/p>\n Another \u2018Sphere\u2019 is landing on Earth, this time in Dubai. MGM Resorts is building its own \u201cDubai Sphere\u201d, promised by CEO and president Bill Hornbuckle to be \u201cequally compelling as the Las Vegas Sphere.\u201d <\/p>\n MGM Resorts\u2019 $2 billion project in Dubai has been in flux since 2017. It was announced and approved by the emirate\u2019s ruler, but has seen little progress over the years. It was only this year that the construction contract was awarded for the development. It includes three MGM Resorts brands in MGM, Bellagio and Aria with a Sphere sitting in the middle.<\/p>\n Hornbuckle said on stage Thursday at the Skift Global Forum: \u201c[In Dubai] 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\u2019d obviously do inside a sphere.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll have a show line that walks through the history of Dubai. The first time I went, I thought [Dubai] was Las Vegas on steroids,\u201d said Hornbuckle. \u201cIn 1985 it was desert and literally 35 years later it\u2019s this \u2018megatropolis\u2019 with three million people. We\u2019re going to tell that story.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dubai iteration of the sphere would be smaller than the venue in Sin City in terms of capacity. Original plans for Dubai Sphere described it as being part of a 110-meter-high entertainment tower located in the center of the complex, offering 3D light and sound effects shows for up to 300 guests at a time. The Sphere in Vegas is 112 meters tall but with a much larger capacity of 18,600 seats.<\/p>\n Hornbuckle clarified that the Dubai Sphere is not a part of Sphere Entertainment, the company behind the Las Vegas Sphere. Right now, MGM is doing the venue itself but would be open to finding a partner later down the line. <\/p>\n Execs at Sphere Entertainment have said previously they\u2019d license a smaller space if it meant growing the global footprint. MSG executive chair and CEO Dolan told Variety last year<\/a> it was \u201cdefinitely a big part of the business plan, to build more Spheres all over the world\u201d. \u201cAnd by the way, different-size ones too \u2013 probably not much bigger than the one in Vegas, but we\u2019ve actually gone through already architectural drawings and designs for smaller Spheres for smaller markets.\u201d<\/p>\n The MGM Resorts project in Dubai has no opening date, but Hornbuckle said on-stage that progress is being made. It\u2019s currently a non-gaming complex, but those plans could change. Speaking about the potential of a casino license for Dubai, he said the cultural shift in the country has already happened.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce you get there and gaming is socially accepted \u2013 not for Emiratis by the way \u2013 but 80-90% of the [UAE] population are non-Emirati. India is a massive market, the rest of the Middle East could be massive, China will continue to come to Dubai, so we\u2019re excited by what it presents and we hope to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe ended up in Dubai with a non-gaming hotel project \u2013 a large one \u2013 worth over $2 billion with an MGM, Bellagio, and an Aria. It has several podiums which in fact, [is where] Dubai wants gaming.\u201d<\/p>\n An MGM spokesperson clarified after Hornbuckle\u2019s comments: \u201cThere is no declaration or announcement of gaming [for Dubai], we\u2019re just hoping that as the region starts to open up to gaming, it becomes a possibility, but we\u2019ve only bid on gaming for Abu Dhabi.\u201d<\/p>\n Wasl is the partner for the MGM in Dubai, a major hotel owner and developer in the city with close ties to the government. Hornbuckle said this week the group has applied for a casino license in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n and and remove all affiliate disclosure phrases on MGM Resorts is building its own “Dubai Sphere.” Though not linked to the Las Vegas Sphere, the hotelier says it will be just as exciting.<\/p>\n Another \u2018Sphere\u2019 is landing on Earth, this time in Dubai. MGM Resorts is building its own \u201cDubai Sphere\u201d, promised by CEO and president Bill Hornbuckle to be \u201cequally compelling as the Las Vegas Sphere.\u201d <\/p>\n MGM Resorts\u2019 $2 billion project in Dubai has been in flux since 2017. It was announced and approved by the emirate\u2019s ruler, but has seen little progress over the years. It was only this year that the construction contract was awarded for the development. It includes three MGM Resorts brands in MGM, Bellagio and Aria with a Sphere sitting in the middle.<\/p>\n Hornbuckle said on stage Thursday at the Skift Global Forum: \u201c[In Dubai] 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\u2019d obviously do inside a sphere.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll have a show line that walks through the history of Dubai. The first time I went, I thought [Dubai] was Las Vegas on steroids,\u201d said Hornbuckle. \u201cIn 1985 it was desert and literally 35 years later it\u2019s this \u2018megatropolis\u2019 with three million people. We\u2019re going to tell that story.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dubai iteration of the sphere would be smaller than the venue in Sin City in terms of capacity. Original plans for Dubai Sphere described it as being part of a 110-meter-high entertainment tower located in the center of the complex, offering 3D light and sound effects shows for up to 300 guests at a time. The Sphere in Vegas is 112 meters tall but with a much larger capacity of 18,600 seats.<\/p>\n Hornbuckle clarified that the Dubai Sphere is not a part of Sphere Entertainment, the company behind the Las Vegas Sphere. Right now, MGM is doing the venue itself but would be open to finding a partner later down the line. <\/p>\nProgress in Dubai<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/skift.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Dubai-Sphere-1024x819.png\")
<\/p>\nSkift Take<\/h2>\n
Progress in Dubai<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nSkift Take<\/h2>\n
Progress in Dubai<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nSkift Take<\/h2>\n