Artistic rendering of the Moon World Resort. Source: CNN.
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Claim: A Facebook user claimed that Dubai is building a moon-shaped resort to provide an outer space experience.
Verdict: MISLEADING. The MOON project is a $5 billion proposed project funded by Moon World Resorts Inc. and co-founded by Michael Henderson, a Canadian entrepreneur. However, the project has yet to commence, and all images going viral are artistic renderings commissioned by the firm.
Full Text
Dubai, a cosmopolitan metropolis in the United Arab Emirates, is renowned for its modern skyline dominated by architectural wonders like the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab Hotel.
Boasting a diverse population around the globe, Dubai is a bustling hub of commerce, tourism, and innovation, with attractions ranging from luxury shopping malls and beaches to cultural landmarks like the Museum of the Future, Palm Jumeirah and the Jumeirah Mosque. With its thriving economy and progressive outlook, Dubai continues to be a magnet for tourists and business ventures alike.
A Facebook user, Ezra Franklin, shared a picture of a moon-shaped building in a glowing city with a group named Facts 4 Genius. The caption on the picture read, “Dubai is building a $5 billion moon-shaped resort which will let you experience outer space on Earth.”
Since it was posted on Feb. 3, 2024, it has gained more than 25,000 reactions, 382 comments, and 1,500 reshares.
We checked through the comments section and found scores of followers who believed that the proposed budget could be used to reduce poverty rates worldwide, while some questioned the project’s necessity.
The oddity of the claim and reactions in the comment section led us to fact-check it.
Verification
Using keyword search, DUBAWA checked for publications of credible media organisations on the claim. We found reports on the Cable News Network (CNN), published in 2022, and the Associated Press (AP), published in 2023.
In both reports, we discovered that it was a proposed project by Michael Henderson, a Canadian entrepreneur and the co-founder of Moon World Resorts Inc., the project’s major funder.
About $5 billion is proposed for the 274-metre (900-foot) project, which will include a destination resort inside the spherical structure, complete with a 4,000-room hotel, an arena capable of hosting 10,000 people and a ‘lunar colony’ that would give guests the sensation of actually walking on the moon.
At the 2023 Arabian Travel Market, a four-day event that began on May 1, Mr Henderson discussed the MOON project, revealing that it would sit on a pedestal-like circular building beneath it and glow at night. He also said the proposed Dubai project will be the first of four resorts that will be built in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA), Europe, North America and Asia.
However, the project has yet to commence since the announcement on Sept. 23, 2021, as of the time of filing this report. The consultant, designer, and contractors have yet to be identified as of Nov. 30, 2023.
We also discovered that the viral images are artistic renderings of the project commissioned by the firm.
Conclusion
Our findings show that the construction has yet to commence as the architectural design firm did not conclude negotiations when this report was filed. Also, the project is funded by Moon World Resorts Inc. and is not owned by Dubai. Therefore, the claim is misleading.
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