Dubai- The United Arab Emirates has unveiled a new project that aims to establish the first human settlement on Mars within hundred years.

The initiative called “Mars 2117 Project” was announced on Tuesday by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and vice president of the UAE, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, during the conclusion of the 5th World Government Summit.

“The landing of people on other planets has been a longtime dream for humans. Our aim is that UAE spearheads international efforts to make this dream come true,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

He added that UAE is among the top nine countries in the world that invest in space sciences and aim to accelerate the research in this domain.

“Human ambitions have no limits, and whoever looks into the scientific breakthroughs in the current century believes that human abilities can realize the greatest human dream,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “The new project is a seed that we plant today, and we expect future generations to reap the benefits,” he added.

For his part, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that the objective of the near future is to develop skills and capacities of Emiratis.

“The Mars 2117 Project is a long term project, where our first objective is to develop our educational system so our sons will be able to lead scientific research across the various sectors,” he stated.

He continued that the research outcomes will be available for all international research institutions, adding the objective of the research is to contribute to developing people’s lives on earth, mainly in the domains of transportation, energy and food.

“UAE has become part of a global scientific drive to explore the space, and we hope to serve humanity through this project,” the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince said.

Also on the concluding day of the summit, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, launched Dubai 10X that contributes in implementing the leadership vision through new mechanisms.