Dubai is a capital megacity and one of the 7 emirates of the UAE. It attracts businessmen because of its economic-friendly initiatives and for being renowned as the major trading hub of the Persian Gulf. The architectural designs and the ultra-modern cities like skyscrapers, museums, mosques, and the Burj Khalifa are among the reasons for its popularity as among the most visited destinations by tourists worldwide. Another milestone worth visiting is the Museum of the Future which provides you with a look into what the future has for you. The building on the outside and inside is sure to make you amazed.
Reason Behind Building The Museum Of The Future
We have all seen museums that display ancient ruins or past glimpses of a particular community or place. However, the Museum of the Future stands out because of its unique concept of showcasing what and how the future could be. Humankind has progressed immensely with the advent of science and technology. This Museum shows that scientific innovations can turn hopeless ideas into possibilities and that creative science can make man’s lives simpler and more convenient.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE stated this museum would be one of the most wonderful architectural marvels future generations would acknowledge. He also promised to use such inventions in the future. The construction of The Museum Of The Future was begun in 2016 by the Dubai Future Foundation with a vision of a sustainable tomorrow. It was inaugurated on a special palindrome date-22-02-2022 and welcomed chief guests to proceed with the opening ceremony. The fascinating museum is located at Sheikh Zayed Road, near the Jumeirah Emirates Tower.
Outer Structure Of The Museum Of The Future
The Shape of the Museum is an asymmetrical oval resembling the shape of an eye. It is 78 meters tall and occupies 30000 square meters of space. Its outer appearance shows the creativity and effort that went into building this masterpiece. The entire structure is made of metal and shines in the sunlight. The vision of this structure was made a reality by Killa Design Architecture and Buro Happold. The design of the Museum consists of a hole in the middle that represents the unknown future and an oval metallic structure symbolizes humanity trying to find the secrets the future holds. The structure is established on a small lush green hill that is a symbol of our planet, Earth.
The entire oval structure is made of 1024 metallic tiles that symbolize 1 kilobyte (= 1024 bytes) which is the origin of the world of the internet. These silver-colored metallic tiles were made by robots with utmost detail. The beautiful Arabic calligraphy all over the building, designed by artist Mattar Bin Lahej, is the essence behind the idea of constructing this building. The first quote says that “ We may not live for hundreds of years, but the products of our creativity can leave a legacy long after we are gone”. The second quote says “The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it. It isn’t something you await, but rather you create” These lines are a part of the heartfelt poetry of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Thus, the Museum that we see today was put together piece by piece to create this one-of-a-kind framework.
Inside The Museum Of The Future
Getting a Dubai visa online is your ticket to the most futuristic city on earth. You will be wowed by the sheer size and magnificence of the Museum of the Future when you first see it, but the jaw-dropping experience continues even after you step inside this stunning museum.
The sunlight passing through the Arabic calligraphy carvings creates a beautiful design on the floor that is admired by all the people entering the lobby. Another striking thing that happens next is that you will be taken to the fifth floor where the first chapter begins in an automatic pod. You can also stop by the cafe that has a robot barista. There are a total of 7 floors further divided into 5 chapters each showcasing different aspects of science, innovation, and technology.
1. The First Floor: Chapter 5 or Future Heroes
This floor is exclusively designed for the young generation to whose hands the future belongs. It educates them about the various technologies and concepts behind them in a fun and interesting way. It is a dedicated space for kids with play stations which apart from being fun let them use their imagination to fulfill missions and think outside the box. The Museum aims at providing future-related knowledge to kids not possible through books.
2. The Second Floor: Chapter 4 or Tomorrow Today
This floor signifies that the technologies and innovations of today can change our tomorrow. It displays a wide array of advanced gadgets and machines that can complete difficult work in a very short amount of time. These creations by researchers and scientists have the power to reshape the future.
There is also a viewing deck that opens to the outside through the inner shell of the Museum. You get to see the 360 ° view of the city and the half-shell of the Museum.
3. The Third Floor: Chapter 3 or Al Waha
The word Al Waha means Oasis. Just like an oasis is a break after a long journey in the desert, so is the Al Waha a means to escape from the overwhelming technological touring of the previous two floors. It has a wish pool where you can make a wish for a prosperous future. The main highlight is the Sensory Room where all the human senses are calmed down in turn rejuvenating your soul.
4. The Fourth Floor: Chapter 2 or The Heal Institute
This floor is where you can experience augmented or virtual reality. Through virtual reality, you are made to visualize the entire city of Dubai after 50 years in 2071, The advancement in architecture and technology in the following years that we thought would be impossible to know is all experienced here. It also virtually lets us experience the Amazon forest as if we were there hearing and seeing the birds chirping the sounds of animals, and the flowing rivers. This floor gains the name Heal Institute as it shows how varying the DNA and genetic build-up can ‘heal’ the damage done by the changing climatic conditions.
The next part of the Heal Institute is The Vault of Life which preserves bodies and in turn DNA of more than 2000 species of living creatures inside glass jars. You can view every tiny detail of each creature These glass jars are illuminated with some light making it look more aesthetic.
The final viewpoint is the Ecosystem Simulator where a new species is created and then let them adapts to the environment, grows, and gives birth to a new generation that evolves and adjusts to the surroundings.
5. The Fifth Floor: Chapter 1 or The Orbital Space Station Hope
This floor lets you experience a real space shuttle take-off landing and the sky view of Dubai and outer space through a simulation. It takes you 600 kilometers above the Earth to the OSS Hope Station while witnessing the surroundings during the rise and the outer space through the glass panels of the shuttle simulator. After reaching the Space Station Command Center, you can explore the missions they fulfill and also keep an eye on the working of the projects. In the Pioneer Application Station, you are made to take part in hiring recruits for a space mission. There are two portals that direct the mission to the recruits. You will be hired in positions such as Asteroid Fleet Pilot, Junior Bio Designer, etc. It all together is a real-life experience of the everyday functioning of the space stations.
Location and how to reach the Museum of the Future
The Museum of the Future is located at Sheikh Zayed Road, next to the Jumeirah Emirates Tower. The best way to reach this attraction is by taking the Dubai Metro (Redline) and getting down at Emirates Tower station from where the attraction is at a walkable distance by an interconnecting bridge. The Museum of the Future is just 10 minutes away from Downtown Dubai and 15 minutes from Dubai International Airport by road.
Operating time and Admission cost
The Museum of the Future is open daily from 10 am till 6 pm. Admission cost is around AED 145 per person. Children under the age of 3 years can access the museum free of cost.
Conclusion
The enlightening trip to the Museum of the Future will take you into the world of inventions and imagination. Through technology and its integration with an artistic mindset, the exhibits go beyond the typical museum experience. The interactive displays are not only captivating for visitors, but their view of the future possibilities is also unique.
There is an exhibit that demonstrates how artificial intelligence is merging with creativity in the world of art, questioning how technology is impacting artistic processes. The smooth blending of the virtual and the physical elements showed the museum is a visionary enterprise.
Additionally, the Museum of the Future is a place for showing how technology has deeply influenced our everyday existence. It is more than showcasing gadgets providing insights into the revolutionary impacts of rapid technological progress. This exotic exploration, however, will remain sketched in memory, making us wonder about our contributions to shaping the direction of new inventions.
It is more than just an exhibition. It is a vision of what might lie ahead. It is about how technology meets humanity.
FAQs
Q1. Is entry to the Museum of the Future free of cost?
Ans- No, entry to the Museum is not free for adults. You need to buy the Museum of the Future tickets costing 145 AED per person or the combo tickets to the Museum that lets you explore the Museum and other important tourist attractions. For children below 4 years, entry is free.
Q2. How to reach the Museum of the Future?
Ans- You can reach the Museum through various modes of transportation
- By Metro- You can board the metro from your nearest station and get off at the Emirates Tower Station. After that, the interconnecting bridge will lead you to the destination.
- By personal vehicle or hired cab- It is only 10 minutes away from downtown Dubai
- By bus- The bus routes 27,29 and X22 are the routes that take you to the Museum. The Novotel Hotel Bus Stop is the last stop before the Museum and then you will reach the destination after a 14-minute walk.
Q3. Is there a parking spot available at the Museum of the Future?
Ans- Yes, a parking facility is available at the base of the Museum. So, you can use your personal vehicle as well. However, you need to pay a minimum amount as parking charges. So keep that in mind while making a visit here.
Q4. At what time should one visit the Museum of the Future?
Ans- The Museum of the Future is open all days of the week from 10 AM to 9:30 PM.
Q5. Can differently-abled people also visit this museum?
Ans- Yes, all the floors of the Museum are wheelchair accessible. It has elevators, ramps, and specific restrooms for them.