Museum of the Future is a building located in Dubai, UAE. Uniquely, this building is covered in an Arabic poem about the future, that was written by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. This calligraphy-covered building has a purpose to be a exhibition place to explore the future. This museum was opened on February 22, 2022.
The torus shape (a donut) was intentionally chosen to represent the contrast between the knowledge humanity already possesses and the unknown future. The hollow space symbolizes the place of human imagination and possibility. The aesthetics of the museum’s exterior convey the message that the future is not merely a static object, but an open space to be created.
The height of this building is 77 meters and has a total area of approximately 30,000 square meters. The outer skin consists of the torus made of 1,024 stainless steel, with a very large total surface area. Each panel has a unique 3D shape so that when assembled, they form the Arabic poem. Meanwhile the internal structure uses a diagonal steel diagrid frame, and several components were fabricated through digital, robot-assisted processes and coasted is estimated at AED 500 million (approximately USD 136 million).
The circular facade of the museum is covered with Arabic calligraphy consisting of three poems composed from the words of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and ruler of Dubai.
The poem as follows.
- «لن نعيش مئات السنين، ولكن يمكن أن نبدع شيئاً يستمر لمئات السنين»
- «المستقبل سيكون لمن يستطيع تخيله وتصميمه وتنفيذه. المستقبل لا يُنتظر، المستقبل يُمكن تصميمه وبناؤه اليوم»
- «سر تجدد الحياة وتطور الحضارة وتقدم البشرية هو في كلمة واحدة: الابتكار»
Meaning as follows.
- “We may not live for hundreds of years, but we can create something that lasts for hundreds of years.”
- “The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it. The future does not wait; the future can be designed and built today.”
- “The secret to the renewal of life, the development of civilization, and the progress of humanity lies in one word: innovation.”
Inside the Museum of the Future are exhibitions and experiences about the future that combine science, technology, and imagination. Focusing on themes such as space exploration, biotechnology, ecosystems, health, air, food, energy, and transportation.
Visitors to the Museum of the Future are individuals interested in innovation, technology, and futuristic ideas, and they can purchase tickets for 149 dirhams from its official website to get an immersive experience of the future.
This unique building has 5 floors in it.
- Floor 1—Future Heroes: A dedicated area for children designed to inspire "future stewards."
- Floor 2—Tomorrow Today: Showcasing future technologies that address global challenges, including food, energy, water, and transportation.
- Floor 3—Al Waha: An area focused on health and wellness, where visitors experience future technologies for fitness.
- Floor 4—Heal Institute: Showcasing technology to restore life on Earth.
- Floor 5—Orbital Space Station (OSS): On this floor, visitors experience the thrill of space travel and see how humans built colonies there.
The Museum of the Future in Dubai has received awards for architectural and engineering excellence, as well as environmental certifications. Key accolades include LEED Platinum Certification for its sustainability, recognition from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) as the Best Tall Building Under 100 meters in 2022.