Abu Dhabi emerges as preferred site for $5 billion Moon resort

Abu Dhabi has emerged as the leading candidate for the site of the Moon World Resort, a $5 billion (Dh18.36 billion) architectural project designed to replicate the lunar surface. The project’s co-founder, Michael Henderson, stated that the UAE capital offers the regulatory stability and infrastructure required for the massive development, which aims to attract 2.5 million visitors annually. Project scale and lunar features The proposed resort will feature a 224-metre spherical structure containing 4,000 hotel suites and a 10-acre "lunar colony." This colony is intended to simulate the experience of walking on the moon's surface for space tourists and enthusiasts. The development also includes a "crater" disc that will house a nightclub, event centre for 5,000 guests, and a spa, according to project specifications released by Moon World Resorts Inc. The $5 billion price tag covers the entirety of the construction and the integration of specialized technology to simulate low-gravity environments. Henderson noted that while other global cities were considered, Abu Dhabi’s specific focus on mega-projects and its existing tourism clusters make it a primary target for the first of…