MGM is launching its ambitious megaproject The Island which will host a new Dubai Sphere alongside the MGM Grand, Bellagio, and Aria hotels. This Las Vegas-style island will add 1,400 hotel rooms to the Dubai skyline.

At the Skift Global Forum on September 19, MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle shared that the Dubai Sphere will be a smaller but equally impressive version of its Vegas counterpart. Standing at 110 meters tall, it will accommodate 300 guests and feature a captivating show that tells the story of Dubai’s transformation from desert to megatropolis.

Though not affiliated with Sphere Entertainment, the Dubai Sphere is part of MGM's grand vision for the island next to the Burj Al Arab. No opening date has been announced but construction has finally begun after years of planning.

Hornbuckle confirmed that the $2.5 billion project will proceed as a non-gaming complex for now, although MGM remains optimistic about future possibilities in Dubai. The only confirmed gaming license in the UAE is for the Wynn Marjan set to open in Ras Al Khaimah in 2027.

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