A massive resort themed around the Moon could soon be coming to the Middle East, with locations put forward in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and developers leaning towards Dubai, according to a recent interview with Gulf News.
The concept of Moon World Resorts comes from a Canadian design studio and property licensor, which is seeking to license up to ten Moon Worlds around the globe, including in Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, Oceania, and the Middle East.
Comprising 10,000 luxury housing units, a 4,000-suite five-star property, convention and events facilities, as well as wellness venues, hotels, lounges, and restaurants, the development’s unique selling point is its central lunar attraction, a focal point that Henderson has called “the largest sphere in the world. It’s a true sphere. You can actually walk underneath it. It’s not a dome.”
Independent engineers and architects have been on board with developing the concept, which is expected to cost US$5 billion per licensee and call for significant government backing. Offering a lunar surface and simulated lunar base colony, the project seeks to tap into the growing worldwide fascination with the Moon and lunar tourism experiences, a trend which Henderson argues chimes perfectly with Dubai’s instant recognition.
Dismissing rumours that the project could see fruition in Saudi Arabia, Henderson told Gulf News that budget questions and feasibility issues mean “Saudi is probably not suitable for our project.” However, other Middle Eastern candidates for Moon World could be Bahrain, Oman, or Qatar. But Dubai is “very hard to compete against,” Henderson said, highlighting that Dubai and Abu Dhabi both possess the infrastructure, connectivity, and tourist arrival numbers that the development demands.
Slated for earliest completion by 2032, Moon World should be accessibly priced, if the founders are allowed to impose their philosophy, which is that space tourism should be accessible, costing no more than a rock concert, or about $500 (around €421) for 90 minutes. Henderson is also adamant that the project is not “a theme park. It’s an adult-oriented facility,” that will offer space training in addition to space tourism experiences.
Despite the hype, Moon World is not the first giant sphere project to aim to capture consumers’ attention. The Sphere at the Venetian in Las Vegas is currently the world’s largest spherical structure at nearly 110 metres tall and equipped with nearly 54,000m2 of fully programmable LEDs for an immersive experience.
