Dubai's 'Mars Science City' will cover 1.9 million square feet, making it the largest space simulation city built

A team of researchers will live in the city for a year, and carry out experiments to understand life on Mars

It will also have a museum open to the public, whose walls will be 3D-printed from Emirati sand

It is unclear when building work on the site will begin, or its exact location in the Emirati desert

In the hopes of simulating life on the red planet, Dubai has announced that it is building a £100 million (AED 500 million/$135 million) 'Mars Science City.'

The city will cover 1.9 million square feet, making it the largest space simulation city ever built.

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The project will be home to a team of researchers who will live there for a year, carrying out experiments to look at the food, water and energy needs to sustain life on Mars.

The project is part of Dubai's Mars 2117 Strategy, which seeks to build the first settlement on Mars in the next 100 years.

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Dubai announced in September that it is building a £100 million (AED 500 million/$135 million) 'Mars Science City.' The city will cover 1.9 million square feet, making it the largest space simulation city ever built

MARS SCIENCE CITY The city will contain advanced laboratories that stimulate Mars' terrain and harsh environment. It will also have a museum that will display some of the world's greatest space achievements. As well as the laboratories and museum, the project will also be home to a team living in the simulated red planet city for a year. The designers hope that this experience will form an important reference model for future innovation around sustaining life in a hostile environment.

The Mars Science City project was unveiled at the annual meeting for the UAE government in Abu Dhabi this week.

The city will contain advanced laboratories that simulate Mars' terrain and harsh environment.

There, scientists will carry out experiments to look at the food, water and energy needs to sustain a human settlement on Mars.

It will also have a museum that will display some of the world's greatest space achievements.

The walls of the museum will be 3D printed using sand from the Emirati desert.

As well as the laboratories and museum, the project will also be home to a team living in the simulated red planet city for a year.

The designers hope that this experience will form an important reference model for future innovation around sustaining life in a hostile environment.

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The city will cover 1.9 million square feet, making it the largest space simulation city ever built. The project will be home to a team of researchers, who will live there for a year, carrying out experiments to look at the food, water and energy needs to sustain life on Mars

The city will consist of several domes, built using 'innovative construction techniques.'

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, ruler of Dubai, said: 'The UAE is a great country with vision and understanding of the challenges we face and the rapid changes our world is experiencing.

'We believe in the potential of space exploration, and in collaborating with global partners and leaders in order to harness the findings of this research and movement that seeks to meet people's needs and improve quality of life on Earth.'

The city will also have a museum that will display some of the world's greatest space achievements. The walls of the museum will be 3D printed using sand from the Emirati desert

The project is part of Dubai's Mars 2117 Strategy which seeks to build the first settlement on Mars in the next 100 years. Pictured is an artist's impression of one of the laboratories

The project is part of Dubai's Mars 2117 Strategy which seeks to build the first settlement on Mars in the next 100 years.

Sheikh Mohammed added: 'The landing of people on other planets has been a longtime dream for humans.

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'Our aim is that the UAE will spearhead international efforts to make this dream a reality.'

It is unclear when Dubai plans to start building work on Mars Science City.