Inside Dubai's Museum of the Future
Hey everyone! Today, I am taking you with me to get a glimpse of Dubai's vision for the future (or the year 2071, to be exact). Let’s begin!
Distinguished by its unique architectural design, the Museum of the Future stands out in the city’s financial district. How can it not? It’s a one-of-a-kind, seven-story structure with Arabic calligraphy inscribed in steel (that lights up at night). It’s gorgeous.
The Museum of the Future opened last February 20, 2022 (02 20 2022).
“See the Future, Build the Future”
From the name itself, I’m sure you already know what this museum is all about; the sustainable and technology-driven future of Dubai (and possibly the rest of the world). The idea is to give us all a glimpse of what life could look like in 2071.
We arrived at the building just in time for our scheduled tour at 10 AM. This wall greeted us.
Since we got the earliest slot, there were fewer participants in our batch. That gave us more time to explore themed rooms and try all the activities.
Getting the Pass | Entering Museum of the Future
You can purchase Museum of the Future tickets via their website or discount websites like Klook.
To get your wristband (which serves as your pass), present the QR code you received via email after your online booking. There's no need to print it on paper. A screenshot on your phone will do.
Starting the Tour | O.S.S. Hope
The museum experience started with a quick welcome remark from the host and a simple reminder not to use flash when taking photos. We then watched a video and boarded the spaceship. It was cool. It appeared as if we were leaving Earth because the lift had audio and video simulations. The ride was quite a while.
Moments after the ride, we landed at the command center of the Orbital Space Station (OSS) Hope. They had a lot of cool stuff there, like little gadgets you could explore. There was also this large screen that you could go in front of to view yourself as an astronaut applying for their space program.
Our wristband passes doubled as activators for the 3D holographic experience that waited for us (see photo above). We enjoyed scanning it to access information about the things we saw at the table. We also saw space snacks, outfits, and all sorts of items one can utilize in space.
The HEAL Institute
The HEAL institute centered on showing how bioengineering and artificial intelligence (AI) can help save our ecosystems. Nature lovers will appreciate this exhibit. They had a massive display of the Amazon illustrating how energy travels through rainforests, and there was an ecological nursery as well, with realistic depictions of different species in incubators. In between the tours, there are activities you can enjoy with your wristband.
On the other side is the Geoscope, a global monitoring system that looks after the bespoke species they designed to support threatened biomes (like forests, deserts, oceans, etc.). The way they visualized the data and presented the simulators was impressive. It was future-forward, as expected.
Also part of the HEAL institute was The Library (of species). It was my favorite part. It had thousands of various species enclosed in glass capsules complete with lights. We stayed here the longest. I found it very stimulating. You could see everything up close and in detail (there were plants, animals, fungi, etc.). It’s like a physical archive of life on Earth. It will bring out the science-loving kid in you.
Al Waha (“The Oasis”)
A safe space built to promote relaxation and wellness, Al Waha is the futuristic version of a spa (but better). It’s a Pink colored facility that uses light, color, and sound therapy. Once you pass through the arched entranceway, you’ll arrive at what seems like their lobby, where you can walk on the carpeted floor that creates the illusion of waves when you step on it. Expectedly, this was the most calming among the exhibitions. It had spaces and corners where you could rest and different rooms that offered meditative experiences. We tried them all except one.
First, we checked out the grounding therapy, where you could stand in the middle of two large discs to attune to 7.83 hertz, which they mentioned was the optimal frequency to heal our bodies (not in photo).
Then, we went to the other room and joined the connection session. It was a group meditation where we circled around the table to hum together towards the devices in front of us. Once we got in sync, the aroma of UAE's national flower vaporized. It was dark inside so I could only take a few pics.
Ultrasonic therapy was next. I liked this one the most. We had our private cubicles where we laid our hands on a copper table while it emitted vibrations, and the AI gave us instructions on what to do. The goal of this one was to resensitize our tired hands. I felt relaxed after this activity.
Ending the Tour | Tomorrow, Today
Our last stop was the future tech exhibit “Tomorrow, Today”; it had plenty of displays about robots, solar energy, future housing plans, space suits, and detection systems technology, among many others.
You can stay in this area for as long as you want. There are plenty of things you can learn about, and the best part is that they have models to help you grasp the concepts better. Once you finish with the final exhibit, you can go to the viewing deck and enjoy the views.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do they accept walk-ins? Nope. You should book your time slot because the tour is guided and done by batch.
Is there a coffee shop inside? Yes, there's an in-house cafe where the robots prepare the drinks. Only card payments are accepted.
Can we buy souvenirs? Yes, they sell a lot of souvenirs on the ground floor. There's also a perfume area where you can create your own scent and have it bottled.
Museum of the Future Address: Sheikh Zayed Road - Trade Centre - Trade Centre 2 - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
