Dubai: A massive tourism development designed to recreate the experience of the Moon on Earth is moving closer to becoming a reality, with plans revealed for the project to launch across ten countries and attract millions of visitors each year.

The project, known as Moon, is envisioned as a large-scale destination resort capable of welcoming around 10 million guests annually. At its centre would stand the world’s largest true spherical structure, rising more than 300 metres and housing a full-scale lunar environment that simulates the Moon’s surface and conditions. The concept combines hospitality, residential living, entertainment and education within a single integrated masterplan.

In an exclusive interview with Maa Gulf News, Michael R. Henderson, co-founder of Moon World Resorts Inc., said global interest in the project has reached a turning point.

“We have reached a tipping point. We have 1,000 people a week who want to work for us, and the level of media interest and global inquiries has grown dramatically,” he said.

Ten potential global locations

Developers have identified ten countries where Moon resorts could be built, including the UAE, China, Thailand, Brazil, Poland, Spain, India, Australia, Egypt and the United States.
Each project would be independently owned by regional partners, while Moon World Resorts would provide design expertise and intellectual property licensing.

Henderson indicated that 2026 could be decisive for the initiative, with the possibility of announcing one or more confirmed locations. He noted that some markets—particularly China and the UAE—could progress more quickly depending on regulatory approvals and investment conditions.

Funding driven by private investment

Despite the enormous scale, Henderson said financing is unlikely to be a major obstacle because the model relies heavily on private capital and real estate sales.
The central resort alone is estimated to cost about $5 billion, excluding land—placing it in line with other mega tourism developments.

Investor appetite, he said, is already strong, adding that residential units would follow an off-plan sales structure similar to major real estate projects, allowing construction to be partially self-funded.
However, government backing remains essential before financing can proceed, as investors require regulatory approval and land allocation.

Immersive lunar destination

The masterplan spans roughly 500 acres and integrates tourism, hospitality and residential living.
At its core, a sphere about 271 metres in diameter would contain a 4,000-room luxury hotel, while upper levels would recreate the Moon’s terrain through immersive attractions.
Henderson expects the lunar experience alone to attract around 2.5 million visitors annually and potentially serve as a training environment for space agencies.

Surrounding facilities would include convention centres, wellness hubs, entertainment venues, retail districts and educational institutions.

Major residential component

Beyond the resort core, the development envisions approximately 10,000 luxury residential units across multiple towers and spherical buildings, forming a long-term value driver for the project.

If realised, Moon resorts could become one of the most ambitious tourism ventures ever attempted—blending large-scale real estate with immersive entertainment to create a new category of global destination.