TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi gave Las Vegas a dazzling taste of what’s coming to the UAE capital, lighting up the facade of Sphere on Saturday night.
A video posted on social media by Visit Abu Dhabi showed digital art from the Saadiyat Island attraction being projected on the Sphere. "You’re invited to discover the full experience, only at Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi," the post reads.
Sphere Abu Dhabi, the second location of the spherical entertainment venue, is set to be built in UAE capital.
Interactive art venue TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi opened in April on Saadiyat Island. Created by teamLab, an international art collective that began in Japan, the 17,000-square-metre venue is known for using technology to create digital art and immersive experiences.
Sphere Vegas, meanwhile, is a 20,000-capacity entertainment venue that opened in Las Vegas in 2023, and is famed for its 16K resolution wraparound screens.
While Sphere Abu Dhabi was announced last year, an opening date or location for is yet to be revealed, but officials said earlier this month that the preconstruction phase was in its final stage.
A collaboration of Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism, the deal with Sphere Entertainment also gives the UAE authority exclusive rights to build Sphere venues across the Middle East and North Africa over 10 years.
Opened in 2023 Sphere Vegas has hosted several immersive concerts by the likes of U2, the Eagles, Backstreet Boys, as well as a residency by country singer Kenny Chesney. It 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 Thursday.
Speaking to investors during an earnings call earlier this month, James Dolan, the executive chairman and chief executive of Sphere Entertainment also revealed that they had finalised designs of smaller-scale Spheres that would be quicker to build.
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.
While announcing Sphere Abu Dhabi in October, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, the chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said 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.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Aahid Al Khalediah II, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Whistle, Harry Bentley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup - Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alsaied, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mumayaza, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
8pm: President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Medahim, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
STAGE 4 RESULTS
1 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 4:51:51
2 David Dekker (NED) Team Jumbo-Visma
3 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal
4 Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis
5 Matteo Moschetti (ITA) Trek-Segafredo
General Classification
1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 12:50:21
2 Adam Yates (GBR) Teamn Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:43
3 Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:03
4 Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:43
5 Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
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