A $140 million prototype of a Mars colony is being planned for a desert near Dubai -here's what it looks like

"The UAE seeks to establish international efforts to develop technologies that benefit humankind ... and that establish the foundation of a better future for more generations to come," UAE's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, said at a recent meeting of government officials.

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Mars Science City is part of the United Arab Emirates' larger mission to create a viable community on the red planet within the next century.

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A portion of the development includes a museum where visitors could learn about achievements in space exploration.

The ceiling would be made of materials that can block solar radiation (which is stronger on Mars than on Earth, due to its lack of protective atmosphere). The walls would be 3D-printed.

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The greenhouse plan calls for the use of an agricultural technique called vertical farming. Instead of natural sunlight, crops would grow under LEDs on stacked trays in a climate-controlled environment.

The city is expected to include a giant greenhouse to test agricultural techniques, as well as laboratories designed to explore how to store food, generate energy, and get water.

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A team of Emirati scientists and engineers from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre plan to conduct research about colonizing the red planet at the Mars Science City.