The founders of a proposed lunar-themed megaresort say Abu Dhabi may be their only viable UAE option.
A proposed 5 billion dollar Moon-themed resort may find its only viable UAE home in Abu Dhabi, according to the project’s founders, who say the development needs a vast plot of land and direct government support to move forward. The concept, a giant spherical building modeled on the Moon, has circulated for years without a confirmed site. Its creators now point to Abu Dhabi as the emirate most likely to have the space it requires.
Michael R. Henderson and Sandra G. Matthews, co-founders of Moon World Resorts Inc., told Gulf News that the UAE remains their preferred Middle East market. They said the project needs a large parcel of land that narrows the list of possible locations. In their words, Abu Dhabi may have more suitable land, which could make it their only UAE option.
The scale of the proposal is the main reason the location list is short. The founders said the development would require a site measuring 1,500 metres by 1,500 metres, equal to 2.25 million square metres, or 556 acres. That is a substantial footprint, and finding a single plot of that size close to infrastructure and attractions is difficult in a dense market.
The project has shifted focus before. It was initially proposed for Dubai, with the founders at one point naming the Dubai Pearl site as a potential home. The move to highlight Abu Dhabi reflects the search for land large enough to accommodate the full concept. Moon World Resorts said it had contacted Aldar and other large development groups, but had not yet secured a local partner or government backing.
The founders described the project as requiring direct government support to proceed. They also said they would no longer work with intermediaries who claimed they could arrange introductions to UAE leaders, stating that such approaches had proven ineffective.
Inside the Moon resort
The design is ambitious and the concept envisions a Moon-shaped building standing around 735 feet tall, visible from a distance and intended to function as a recognizable global landmark. The founders have described the Moon itself as a globally recognized brand, which is central to the project’s identity.
Earlier descriptions of the concept outlined a mix of resort features with a lunar theme. Plans have included 10 acres of what the founders called an authentic undulating lunar surface, incorporating a working lunar colony area for guest visits and astronaut training. That section was described as a space where global corporations and space agencies could showcase technology, alongside a university campus component. Standard resort elements such as hotels, entertainment venues, and nightlife would carry the same lunar styling.
The company estimates each resort would cost 5 billion dollars to build and could attract around 10 million visitors a year. The founders have said the UAE development could support 60,000 jobs, positioning it as a significant economic project as well as a tourism attraction.
The Moon resort remains a proposal for now
Despite years of media attention, the project remains unbuilt and unconfirmed. It has no agreed site, no government agreement, and no regional licensee. Moon World Resorts operates as a design studio and intellectual property licensor, meaning any regional licensee would fund and deliver the actual construction. The founders said attracting investors was not the principal obstacle, pointing instead to the need for suitable land and government partnership.
The company has said it intends to grant only one regional licence for the Middle East, and has previously considered locations across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait as well as the UAE. That single-licence approach means only one Gulf country would ultimately host the development.
The identification of Abu Dhabi as the preferred UAE site is the latest update in a concept that has been discussed since 2022. The founders have pointed to interest from UAE residents and investors. The project still requires a confirmed plot of land, a regional licensee, and government support before construction could begin.
