ALEC Awarded $1.7 Billion Contract to Build Sphere Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, UAE - ALEC Engineering and Contracting (ALEC) has received a Letter of Award (LOA) from the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) to deliver Sphere Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s landmark next-generation immersive entertainment venue.

Valued at approximately $1.7 billion (AED6.24 billion), the award marks one of the most significant additions to ALEC’s portfolio of transformational infrastructure projects and further strengthens the company’s position within the UAE’s large-scale construction and development sector.

Sphere Abu Dhabi is expected to become one of the capital’s most prominent entertainment and tourism destinations, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s wider ambitions to position itself as a global hub for culture, leisure, and immersive experiences.

The project follows the international success of the original Sphere venue in Las Vegas, which was reported by The Wall Street Journal as the world’s highest-grossing arena, generating approximately $379 million in revenue from 1.7 million tickets sold last year.

Abu Dhabi’s version is expected to serve as a comparable global attraction, supporting tourism growth, increasing international visitation, and strengthening the emirate’s position within the global entertainment landscape.

The Letter of Award also reinforces ALEC’s standing as a UAE-grown contractor capable of delivering highly complex, globally significant infrastructure developments at international standards.

The project will encompass the complete design, procurement, and construction of the architecturally distinctive venue, integrating advanced immersive technology systems, specialised structural and mechanical engineering, bespoke manufacturing and installation processes, and sustainable building systems.

The development is also expected to further demonstrate ALEC’s capabilities in delivering technically demanding mega-projects that require extensive digital engineering integration, large-scale coordination, and precision execution.

Barry Lewis, CEO at ALEC Holdings said, “Receiving the LOA for The Sphere Abu Dhabi represents a defining moment for us, and is a profound endorsement of our capability as a homegrown UAE company. This Letter of Award represents the trust placed in a local organisation to deliver a globally iconic venue that will attract millions of international visitors and establish Abu Dhabi as a world-leading centre for immersive entertainment and cultural experience.”

“For our shareholders, this Letter of Award signals ALEC’s continued ability to secure transformational, high-value contracts in strategic growth sectors. For Abu Dhabi, it demonstrates that world-class infrastructure delivery is not dependent on international contractors. It’s a world-class venue that’s rooted here, built here, and managed by a company committed to the emirate’s long-term vision. We will be honoured to take up this landmark project, and are confident in our ability to establish it as a global leader in its category,” added Lewis.

Sean McQue, Managing Director at ALEC Construction said, “The Sphere Abu Dhabi is both technically complex and architecturally ambitious. It will demand precision at every level, from design integration and supply-chain orchestration to on-site execution and quality assurance. Our integrated structure and digital engineering expertise uniquely position us to manage such complexity whilst maintaining schedule and cost discipline. This is infrastructure that will set a global benchmark, and we are committed to delivering it to those standards.”

Sphere Abu Dhabi forms part of a broader pipeline of strategic entertainment and cultural infrastructure projects currently advancing across the emirate, including the continued expansion of Yas Island and the Saadiyat Cultural District.

Construction is expected to progress toward a targeted completion date in 2029.