A $5 billion moon-shaped destination resort created by Canadian architecture firm Moon World Resorts Inc. may soon open in Dubai. The resort, which is anticipated to rise to a height of 735 feet, is projected for construction and completion within 48 months and is expected to receive about 2.5 million visitors a year.

Through a variety of industries, including a wellness center, a nightclub, space tourism, hospitality, technology, and more, Moon is expected to boost the Emirate's economy. In addition, the construction will have a lunar surface-like surround. The 10-acre surface is intended for anyone looking for a reasonably priced entry point to explore space tourism and features an actual "lunar colony."

The resort was originally proposed and co-created by Sandra G. Matthews and Michael R. Henderson. It will rise 735 feet overall when completed, and construction is expected to take 48 months.

Moon Dubai is anticipated to boost the emirate's economy when it is built, Henderson said, particularly in the areas of hospitality, entertainment, tourist attractions, education, technology, the environment, and space tourism.

According to Moon World Resorts' Mathews and Henderson, Moon Dubai will be the biggest and most successful contemporary tourism project in the entire MENA region, more than doubling the annual tourism visitations to Dubai due to its capacity to readily accommodate over 10 million annual visitors.

An estimated 2.5 million visitors per year will be able to experience reasonably priced space tourism in Dubai thanks to the resort's lunar surface, which is surrounded by a "lunar colony."

According to Henderson, "Moon Dubai" will have a significant impact on every sector of the emirate's economy, including tourism, transportation, commercial and residential real estate, infrastructure, financial services, aviation and space, energy, MICE, agriculture, technology, and, of course, education. Henderson also stated that this will "firmly plant the UAE flag at the forefront of space exploration," enticing millions of space enthusiasts from around the world to visit Dubai and take advantage of all it has to offer.

The resort's design places great emphasis on cutting-edge and futuristic engineering, design, architecture, and technological innovations. The moon project will also serve as a resource and training facility for astronauts from different space agencies.

In addition, Moon Dubai intends to include exclusive "Sky Villas," which will be referred to as the private dwelling at Moon, with the opulent residences placed internally within the primary superstructure disc buildings.

The project will also include some 300 private luxury residences, some of which will serve as training facilities for astronauts from the nation's recently financed space agency, though technical information on that particular aspect of the project is still lacking. A nightclub, lounge, spa, and events center are all reportedly included as standard resort features. A built-in "moon shuttle" will also be used to carry visitors. The project, which will cost more than $5 billion USD to build, will aim to receive LEED Gold certification, according to the online business publication.

Visitors to the Moon might make use of a spa and wellness area, a nightclub, an event center, an international meeting place, a lounge, and an internal "moon shuttle," the specifics of which have not yet been made public.

In order to introduce Moon to possible regional licensees, MWR is now organizing a global roadshow series for 2023. "One of these shows will take place in the MENA area, maybe in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with other prospective locations including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait," Henderson stated.

A one-year pre-development program is expected to be followed by a four-year building and accreditation program once the single MENA regional license has been finalized and the exact location has been decided, according to Henderson.

A 5-star built-out standard, a 5-diamond resort operating level, and gold LEED certification are all proposed for Moon Dubai.

MWR anticipates licensing four Moon destination resorts throughout the world (known as "regional licenses"), one in each of the following continents: North America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Asia.

Currently, the UAE is investigating the business potential related to celestial bodies, developing satellite communications technology, and implementing the most recent space technologies for terrestrial uses.

With early ambitions to develop satellites, the nation has committed $820 million to fund its ambitious space plans.