When visiting my parents in Dubai over the Christmas holidays we had a family day out at the Museum of Future. Located in a particularly iconic building along the Sheikh Zayed Road, I had driven past it may times but this was my first time going in and I have to say, I was not disappointed!
The museum, which first opened its doors in February 2022, is supposed to simulate what the world will be like in 2071. In small groups you are guided through a series of experiences meant to show you a different part of life in the future. The whole thing took us around two hours (ideal given the three hours free parking you get with your ticket) and cost 145dhs per person. Tickets however were hard to get as the museum is so popular so booking a few months in advance is definitely recommended. The overall experience was incredible and could be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. I particularly enjoyed learning about the scientific developments predicted for the next few decades but the interactive displays meant it could be equally as fun for younger kids.
Outside of the iconic Museum of the Future Building
We started queueing up in the atrium of the building, a monochromatic white space decorated in a futuristic, minimalist style setting the tone nicely for our journey. In groups of about 30 we were then ushered into a 'rocket'. This was actually a big lift that took us up to the top floor of the building with 360 degree display screens simulating flying up over Dubai in the year 2071 which was incredibly realistic and we were able to spot lots of key landmarks such as the Burj Al Arab, the Palm and even our house! The 'rocket' then docked at OSS Hope, a future space station where there was a bunch of activities and things to look at including information about future jobs in space, the role the UAE will play in space exploration and an incredible 3D model of the solar system. A particular point of interest to me was the discussion of the future role of space based solar power. It was explained how experiments are already going on to develop solar panelled satellites which orbit the planet, collect solar energy from the sun and are able to beam it back down to us on Earth (or any potential colonies on say Mars).
After we had finished exploring the space station we took a pod lift down to the floor below where we were able walk through a simulation of rainforest nutrient recycling and learn about it's importance. The star of the show however was the futuristic library which was home to thousands of 'genetic codes'. This darkened room consisted of illuminated line models of different organisms in glass tubes and was truly magical to walk around. We spent a long time in here.
The next floor down was called Al Waha which means oasis in Arabic. It was explained that the future will be place of high levels of technology and stress meaning time to relax and turn off will be vital. This was a spa vibe place for relaxation where we were able to take part in different forms of meditation activities to reconnect with our bodies . Although I can see how this will be a vital part of the future, I have to say I was much more excited about the other floors and we moved on quickly. Photo taken inside the 'genetic library"
The last display was an exhibit called 'Tomorrow Today' which was a whole floor showcasing futuristic technology that is already under research and development today. This included an AI robot, which has a face that resembled mine in a way my family thought was thoroughly amusing, as well as lots of cars and other types of automated vehicles. We watched a short movie on vertical farming, the biggest vertical farm currently being in the UAE, learnt about carbon capture projects and got to look at futuristic antivirus clothing. This floor also provided an opportunity to go onto the viewing deck which pops you out in the middle cut out of the building. The view of the building around you, the Sheikh Zayed Road and Dubai's iconic skyline was incredible and provided a great photo backdrop.
Read about one of the projects discussed in 'Tomorrow Today' exhibit in my article on Carbfix.
View of Sheikh Zayed Road from the viewing deck
The final floor was a 'future heroes' play area designed for under 10s (much to my disappointment) as well as a gift shop area. We then ended up back in the atrium and went outside to get some photos with the whole building. The whole experience was an incredible one and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for something to do in Dubai.
You can visit the museum of the future website here: https://museumofthefuture.ae/en
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