Ruler of Dubai officially opens Museum of the Future

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, alongside senior UAE government officials, formally opened the Museum of the Future this February, turning on the lights of the 77-metre high pillarless torus-shaped structure.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has described the Museum of the Future as “the most beautiful building on Earth”. In his words, “it is a spectacular building that speaks Arabic, representing the revival of Arab excellence in the fields of science, mathematics and research, and an appreciation of the past Arab intellectuals that aims at resuming Arab civilization and renaissance”.

In his opening keynote, His Excellency Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Chairman of the Museum of the Future, welcomed its special invited guests to the opening of “the new centre for the world to envisage the future and to collaborate on designing and conceiving our human development”.

Museum of the Future will be a one-of-a-kind hub for visionaries, talents and great minds from around the globe to shape the future, and “embark on a journey to the year 2071”. It is a ‘living museum’ aiming to contribute to a deep intellectual movement, through connecting thinkers and experts from around the world and acting as a test bed for future generations to create innovative solutions for the challenges facing society.

Gergawi added, “The façade of this Museum holds one of the inspirational quotes of H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: “We may not live for hundreds of years, but the products of our creativity can leave a legacy long after we are gone.”

Rising 77 metres above the ground, the striking structure is an architectural marvel, built by using robotic technology and with an emphasis on sustainability. The building is powered with 4,000 megawatts of solar energy. The pillarless structure is home to seven unique and distinct floors. For its visitors, the museum comprises an unparalleled window to experience the future in all its aspects and dimensions.

The Museum of the Future employs the latest technologies of virtual and augmented reality, data analysis, artificial intelligence and human machine interaction. Answering many questions related to the future of humans, cities, societies, life on planet Earth and outer space, the museum’s exhibits orchestrate a world beyond human knowledge, providing visitors with innovative experiences unfold across five different exhibitions that explore the future of space travel and living, climate change and ecology, health, wellness, and spirituality.

The Museum of the Future experience encourages its visitors to partake in special missions and, unlike a traditional museum that showcases fragments of the past, it provides a portal to the future, in a scientific attempt to explore its variables, potential challenges and expected characteristics.

The immersive experience will also see its visitors in an entirely new environment as they are re-introduced to planet Earth, the future of healing, sustainability and bioengineering technology. Reflecting the UAE’s ongoing work in sustainability and environmental stability, this part of the visitors’ journey also highlights the UAE position as one of the first countries to announce its commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, and a homage to the country’s efforts in planning to host the 28th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) in Abu Dhabi in 2023.

Believing that the future does not have an age preference, this museum will provide children with dedicated experience that encourages their youngest minds to explore and learn several future-proofing skills through an open-world experience, in a step that helps them to innovate, and allows them to create the future they look forward to and to be a pivotal part of its characteristics.

The Museum of the Future will become the headquarter for the ‘Great Arab Minds’ initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in search for 1,000 great Arab minds.