Gulf Construction Online - Bringing Moon to Earth

Hotels & Palaces

The Moon resort will be housed in the world’s largest sphere and will cost around $5 billion to build.

Bringing Moon to Earth

01 November 2022

With the growing global interest in visiting the Moon, a Canadian architectural design and intellectual property licensor is offering investors in the region the opportunity to become the licensee of one of four Moon destination resorts proposed to be set up around the globe.

Of the four Moon resorts proposed, one is expected to take shape in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, according to one of the masterminds of the concept.

The Moon resort will be built to LEED Gold standard.

Moon will be a unique, luxurious, contemporary destination resort, that is fully-integrated and technology-driven. It will be constructed to the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold standard and operated at a five Diamond level. Each of these resorts is expected to welcome more than 10 million guests a year, 2.5 million of whom will be able to visit Moon’s signature attraction, as part of its experiential offering.

Speaking to Gulf Construction, Co-Founder of the Canadian-based Moon World Resorts (MWR) Michael R Henderson says: “MWR will licence four Moon destination resorts around the globe (known as regional licences) – one in each of the following regions: North America, Europe, Mena and Asia. Negotiations continue in all four global regions including the Mena region where MWR is considering the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. For many compelling reasons, the UAE would be logical with perhaps Dubai being the frontrunner; however, it appears Dubai’s current focus is entirely based on residential real estate projects rather than truly innovative and spectacular tourism-type projects.”

A signature attraction will enable guests to “experience walking on the lunar surface”.

MWR, an architectural design and intellectual property licensor, was specifically created by its co-founders Sandra G Matthews and Henderson, to design the world’s most spectacular and innovative destination resort.

Moon’s “signature attraction” will enable guests to experience walking on the lunar surface while exploring a vast working lunar colony.

“An amazing, out-of-this-world attraction, Moon will form the ‘bridge’ delivering an affordable and entirely authentic space tourism experience to millions of enthusiasts around the planet,” he says.

Henderson continues: “Moon will be housed in the world’s largest sphere and will cost around $5 billion to build excluding land costs. The five-star resort will operate to a five Diamond standard.

The resort will comprise a main superstructure and a multi-storey car park with the build-out time frame estimated at 48 months in a single phase. The superstructure will consist of concrete, steel, glass, aluminum, and carbon-fibre composite rising to an overall height of 224 m above ground level, with the diameter and circumference of the sphere being 198 m and 622 m, respectively (Dimensions may increase dependent on location options. Taller and wider structures can be built, if required).

Among the facilities proposed for the Moon resort are a convention centre

The entire structure enfolds 516,000 sq m of spectacular, next-generation LEED-certified built environment, while the car park covers 204,400 sq m.

Moon will incorporate boutique “Sky Villas” known as “The Private Residence at Moon”, which are luxury units housed within the main superstructure disc buildings. Approximately 300 units will be available for purchase. Sky Villa owners will be members of the exclusive Private Members Club at Moon.

“Unlike past and present artistic renderings and NFT-type creations, Moon is actually logical and can be built from an architectural, engineering and design perspective. The resort touches on hospitality, entertainment, attractions, education, technology, tenvironment and space tourism and focuses on leading edge architecture, engineering, design and technology,” Henderson states.

Potential regional licensees for Moon will be major global forward-thinking corporations capable of funding its $5 billion build-out and operating Moon to the highest standards. They may choose to develop Moon as a stand-alone destination resort or as a central focal point surrounded by a mixed-use community, similar to the relationship between the Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai.

Among the facilities proposed for the Moon resort are a shopping mall

With the concept of Moon, MWR has dared to be different.

“In a world of mediocrity, Moon will set an entirely new standard in build quality, environmental stewardship, and operational excellence. Moon will act as the ultimate bridge, making it possible for everyone to join in the excitement of space tourism. As Musk, Bezos and Branson brilliantly seek out the next frontier, Moon will deliver a dynamic and authentic experience on planet Earth – available to all, not merely a few,” he concludes.