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U.A.E.

The United Martian Emirates

Space-colonization dreams from the Middle East

Jesse Walker | 5.11.2017 10:05 AM

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Large image on homepages | United Arab Emirates
(United Arab Emirates)

Once it became clear that "bizarre building plan from the United Arab Emirates" was basically a regional subgenre of science fiction, something like this was probably inevitable:

NASA

Earlier this year, the United Arab Emirates' grabbed the world's attention when Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced a plan to establish a colony on Mars by 2117. Officials have been relatively mum about the details of the "Mars 2117 Project"—but [Tuesday] a person helping to lead the endeavor discussed how young Arab people will lead the mission….

According to early mockups, the UAE colony will involve some pretty advanced infrastructure, though more formalized models have not yet been made public.

If there's one thing the UAE is great at producing, it's "early mockups" of cool-looking structures. The structures themselves frequently fail to get built, but don't let that stop you from enjoying the images:

We aspire in the coming century to develop science, technology and our youth's passion for knowledge. This project is driven by that vision. pic.twitter.com/4QibJjtiM2

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 14, 2017

The "Mars 2117" project will develop an Emirati and international team of scientists to push the human exploration of Mars in years to come. pic.twitter.com/5ujxvyC8As

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 14, 2017

"Mars 2117" is a seed we are sowing today to reap the fruit of new generations led by a passion for science and advancing human knowledge. pic.twitter.com/IExtnpiO2B

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 14, 2017

[Hat tip: Bryan Alexander.]

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NEXT: A.M. Links: Rosenstein Threatened to Resign Over Handling of Comey Firing, Trump Says He Invented the Phrase 'Priming the Pump'

Jesse Walker is books editor at Reason and the author of Rebels on the Air and The United States of Paranoia.

U.A.E.MarsSpaceScience FictionArchitecture
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