The United Arab Emirates just announced plans to build the first-ever city on Mars ... in about 100 years.
The Mars 2117 project is part of a 100-year national program that focuses on spearheading scientific breakthroughs like the renowned Mars Mission.
Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum unveiled the plan at Dubai's World Governance Summit (a conference that rivals the World Economic Forum in size). Representatives of 138 nations were in the audience, according to Gulf News.
Audience members were also given a peek of the designs, and they look a lot like Dubai's ultramodern architectural feats, only in red.
It was presented as a miniature city
And it reminds us a lot of Dubai itself
Space domes to make the city habitable
The indoor areas are reminiscent of seven-star Dubai hotel lobbies
“The landing of people on other planets has been a longtime dream for humans. Our aim is that the UAE will spearhead international efforts to make this dream a reality,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
This isn't the first time the UAE sets its sights on the red planet. Just last year, the country set up the Emirates Mars Mission which plans to send a spacecraft to explore Mars in 2020. The journey is expected to take seven months.