Is Dubai building a 'moon'? What we know about Dh5 billion dream

Dubai: Is the ‘moon’ project ever going to land in Dubai?

Every few months, talk starts to build up over whether a Dh5 billion mixed-use building shaped like the moon is about to be launched in Dubai. Social media channels amplify the speculation further, even coming up with potential locations where such a project design could be built to scale.

More recently, the talk flared up again after a blog on the ‘moon building’ showed up on the Damac Properties’ website.

A senior Damac Properties’ spokesperson has clarified that this was a random blog put up on its website – and that the Dubai master-developer is not associated with the ‘moon’ project at all.

“The ‘moon’ project is one that has been talked about for a few years now in Dubai,” said Sameer Lakhani, Managing Director of Global Capital Partners. “While it would be an exciting addition to the skyline, in the end the fundamentals of the project have to be viable.

“The jury is still out on whether that is the case…”

In fact, there have been other developer names in Dubai that have been associated with the concept, though none has confirmed any such association.

“Why the ‘moon building’ is again back in the limelight is because there is this massive land that’s been reclaimed in the Tecom cluster,” said a senior industry source. “This was land formerly associated with the shelved ‘Dubai Pearl’ dream project.

“As far as we know, there has been nothing confirmed officially as to what will now get built on the Dubai Pearl site.”

This is what has triggered the latest round of speculation about the moon building’s landing in Dubai.

The project first made the rounds in 2022 when Moon World resorts floated the idea in the UAE media.

According to post on Damac Properties website, the Canadian entrepreneur Michael Henderson’s concept was to create a 274 metre ‘replica’ of the moon on top a 30-meter building. Now, in this blog, there is no mention of the location, but a general reference to it being in ‘Dubai city’.

“His project, dubbed ‘Moon’, aims to being a symbol of the heavens down to Earth,” the blog adds. “The man-made moon is designed to be an architectural marvel, showcasing Dubai’s ambition and futuristic vision.

“Henderson’s project may sound of this world – but it could easily fit in this futuristic city…”

Versions of what the ‘moon’ would mean to Dubai’s skyline has been doing the rounds in media and social media circles. That’s where it has been until the Dubai Pearl site came back into visibility. It’s prime land within Tecom and any project that will be re-launched on site will immediately grab investor attention.

“So far, no official word has come out on what a new project at Dubai Pearl will look like – let alone anything to do with the moon building,” said Niraj Masand, Managing Director of Artha Realty.

So, that’s where the moon building ‘status’ is as far as Dubai is concerned.

Will it remain an urban legend. Or just a moonshot concept?