Seeing the elegant structure and magnificent design of the newly opened Museum of the Future, it’s only natural to wonder, “what is inside?” This museum is one of the most exciting locations in Dubai right now, with both the locals and the international community looking forward to visiting. What exactly does it showcase, or is it like other technological museums?
The building itself gives off a very futuristic feel, which ties into the central theme. The Museum of the Future is not a conventional museum. It is unlike the Etihad Museum, which shows the country’s recent past. Neither is it like the Pearl or Cinema museums that showcase a specific informational history, nor the Museum of Illusions that offer optical trickeries.
Instead, it strictly focuses on creating a space for new and innovative future-based ideas, products, and services. The museum’s creation and goal are to inspire and mentally empower people to visualize and shape the next part of human history. It showcases installations that are either interactive, immersive, or themed exhibitions that tackle challenges the world faces.
It opened to the public in February 2022, and we can now get the first real glimpse into a possible future.
The museum has seven floors and a lobby. However, the parts of the building you can tour are the lobby, five exhibition levels, and a viewing deck, usually also in that order. Still, the sixth level is restricted, and the seventh houses a very scenic event hall.
Outer Structure
The building is a modern world marvel, rightfully tagged as one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture. It stands at an enormous height of 77 meters and occupies 30,000+ km. The building represents humanity, while the green mound it sits on represents the earth. It’s covered entirely by the poetry of his royal highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. For the writing, they employ the calligraphy of Mattah Bin Lahej with an estimated seven hundred words.
Lobby
Below the building’s mighty arch is the entrance. Going through the revolving glass doors will get you to the lobby. From here, you get the museum tickets which cost 145 AED or approximately $39.50. The first thing you may notice is its spacious interior and whiteness. The overhead calligraphic inscriptions also serve as a lighting source.
The lobby has a lot of overhanging robotics-based technology. It also houses a café where you can purchase drinks and snacks with service from a robot barista. Furthermore, you can also buy memorabilia like keychains, notebooks, and cups from a souvenir shop.
Floor 5: Orbital Space Station (OSS) Hope
The tour starts with the OSS-Hope. You get here using the designated elevator, which takes you 600 ft above sea level. The elevator features many glass sides that offer a scenic and immersive view. It shifts from the Dubai skyline to an interstellar-themed show, displaying spaceships and galaxies in a pretty realistic presentation accompanied by very fitting music. You’ll get a real 5D experience as you enter a spaceship. This spaceship is a replica of NASA’s space shuttle of 1981. When on tour, you take the role of an explorer.
Furthermore, level 5 presents the world’s aspiration and efforts to make a better tomorrow by seeking solutions to issues on our planet from a future perspective. What does this mean? For example, it showcases the SOL project, an attempt to help solve the energy crisis by reflecting the sun’s energy falling on the moon towards the earth. The 3D walls are made of recycled materials. It shows the learning and inventions of the OSS Hope, offering simulative views of the earth’s solar systems, space control panels, etc. There are also engraved notes of world languages that speak of these aspirations in Arabic, English, Chinese, Russian, Japanese, French, and Hindi.
Moving forward, you head back to earth, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center. This center houses a space pilots’ section where one can apply to become a pioneer.
Floor 4: The Heal Institute
This level shows Dubai in 2071. It leads you on a technology and science projection journey of the world’s state 50 years from now. It presents an international organization with goals to rescue the earth’s damaged ecosystem via creative, new-age technology and artificial intelligence.
Here you see the exhibition of a futuristic Dubai complete with cutting edge technology like flying cars, top-grade functional robots, etc. The view is like looking out of a window into a beautiful and realistic view of 2071.
There is also a showcase of what is essentially a digital Amazon. It shows the wonders of tropical nature as we know it and the effects of climate change, and how it affects our world. Next is the garden of genetically modified plants and soil.
There is also a space only lit by hundreds of dim lantern-like containers. Called the library/vault of life, the containers house digital DNA samples of over 2000 different species, both animals and plants. These were sourced from the Amazon over two weeks.
Adjacent to it is an ecosystem simulator that tests how introducing a new species may change the environment in 2071. A bit further is a monitoring room used for species evaluation and experimentation. Those on tour can mix DNA sequences to create new species and see the results of their experiment.
At this level, 80% of the views are dimly lit with giant screens, and the experience is much more thematic, almost like theater.
Floor 3: Al Waha
The next level of the Museum of the Future is the Al Waha, which refers to an oasis. It sees a very sharp contrast from the rest of the building’s feel and design, and rightfully so. The design motive is to help humanity step away from technology and fully reconnect with its core sense. Thus, there is a change in scenery, ditching all the fancy high technology and reverting to a more rustic, claylike feel.
There’s also a small oasis-like setup (wish pool) at the entrance. So, take a deep breath and cast your wishes. Inside there are structures you can sit on and a wide-open space where you can play around with the effects of moving sands. There is also a lighting space where you can soothe your senses by immersing yourself in nature. These are all part of the interactive sessions, both solo and in groups.
The sessions come in five parts: movement, feeling, grounding, and connections therapy. The last session is a meditation center. It’s a very pacifying atmosphere that advocates care for mental health. Here, you are to travel unbound by the chains of the digital world.
Floor 2: Tomorrow Today
Taking the elevator down from level three is level two. It is a vast space that shows an archive of many of man’s present-day leading inventions. With these, it searches how we respond to these inventions and how we may use them in our lives. It uses its findings to answer what the future may hold for us in 2071. Consequently, there are exhibitions of a gravity jet suit, drones, modern cars, robots, and other new-age ever-changing technology.
Viewing Deck
From level 2, there is access to the viewing deck (recommended). This viewing deck is a space directly on the lower curve of the conical structure. Thus, it is very scenic and a great spot for pictures. You can see the curve overhead and the surrounding scenery and landmarks.
Floor 1: Our Future Heroes
This entire floor is for the children. It features activities and interactive sessions that seek to encourage and stimulate their imagination. The purpose is to help them develop beneficial long-term and sustainable skills that will help design the future. Children who partake in these activities can earn badges on completion.
Conclusion
Of note, the museum does not feature any artwork. However, its extensive showings and illustrations pass across its message well. It is a new concept and a place worth visiting.