Dubai, UAE - Blue Rhine Industries has secured a specialist subcontract to install and commission the LED screens that will form the programmable exterior of Sphere Abu Dhabi on Yas Island.
The UAE-based audiovisual and digital signage specialist was appointed by ALEC Engineering and Contracting, which is delivering the venue under the project’s approximately $1.7 billion main construction contract.
For Blue Rhine, the Exosphere package represents its largest project scope since the business was established in 2006.
The company will be responsible for installing the LED system across the exterior of the 112-metre-high Sphere, creating the digital surface known as the Exosphere.
Unlike a conventional facade, the Exosphere will operate as a programmable visual platform capable of displaying large-scale digital content, art and entertainment across the building’s outer surface.
Official project information from DCT Abu Dhabi and Sphere Entertainment confirms that the Exosphere will also be used to showcase Emirati culture through large-scale art and visual storytelling.
Sphere Abu Dhabi is being developed by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi in partnership with Sphere Entertainment Co. and will become the first Sphere venue outside the United States.
The venue is being built on Yas Island between Yas Mall and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, with construction expected to be completed by the end of 2029.
It will accommodate up to 20,000 people and is planned to host immersive Sphere Experiences, concert residencies, sporting events, conferences, brand activations and other large-scale events.
Blue Rhine Industries CEO John V. Joseph said: “As a UAE-founded company, we are proud to be bringing the Sphere Abu Dhabi Exosphere to life by installing the LEDs across the 112-metre-high exterior facade.”
He said the project represents a significant milestone for the company and requires specialist audiovisual expertise alongside the ability to integrate technology within a complex construction environment.
The Exosphere package adds another technology-intensive workstream to a project already bringing together specialist design, engineering and construction teams.
AtkinsRéalis and ALEC announced their partnership on Sphere Abu Dhabi in July, with AtkinsRéalis supporting delivery of the venue alongside ALEC. The project combines large-scale construction with advanced display and audio technologies.
Blue Rhine said its previous work includes major digital display and audiovisual installations in the UAE, including projects at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Zayed International Airport and the Dubai Fountain.
The Sphere Abu Dhabi contract now places the company on one of the region’s most technically complex entertainment developments as construction progresses towards completion in 2029.
