As the opening of the Museum of the Future in Dubai approaches on February 22nd, a strange flying vehicle resembling a spacecraft has landed inside the building, which has become an icon of architectural art, design, and engineering creativity in the region and the world.
Through its unique creative design and exceptional inspiring structure, which encourages visitors and sparks their passion to embark on a deep journey towards exploring new worlds, the Museum of the Future represents a permanent exhibition showcasing different aspects of humanity's future and the most important technologies awaiting humans in the coming decades. It also serves as a new type of global intellectual center, featuring five main experiences that transport visitors to the world of the future.
**The Orbital Space Station – OSS Hope**
The first exhibition, "The Orbital Space Station - OSS Hope," takes visitors on a journey to space to test living and performing tasks aboard space stations, before returning to Earth, but 50 years from now, to discover how the world has transformed by 2071 with efforts to restore natural order and sustainability on the planet. The station is named "Hope," evocative of the "Hope Probe" project, which achieved a unique milestone in the history of Arab and global space exploration by reaching Mars’ orbit, making the UAE the first Arab nation and the fifth globally to accomplish this scientific achievement.
While the Hope Probe project reflects much about the UAE's vision, strategic outlook, and the wise leadership's understanding of the importance of space exploration and investment aligned with rapid global transformations and supporting the nation's goals for the next fifty years, the "Orbital Space Station – OSS Hope," housed in the Museum of the Future, emphasizes that promising future horizons await scientists, researchers, and space science enthusiasts, bringing more "hope" for humanity's continued successful endeavors in space exploration through the latest Emirati scientific and civilizational icon: the Museum of the Future.
**The "Nature Rehabilitation" Lab**
The "Nature Rehabilitation" Lab offers a unique experience for visitors to the "Museum of the Future." Upon returning from the vast expanse of space, visitors land on Earth where the lab greets them with an environment utilizing virtual reality technologies. The lab allows visitors to conduct numerous interactive experiments, particularly those involving DNA samples to rehabilitate indigenous organisms. It reflects the priority the UAE places on environmental sustainability and nature protection, as the nation was among the first to pledge its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and it will host the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) in Abu Dhabi in 2023.
**The Oasis**
After leaving the "Nature Rehabilitation" Lab, visitors to the Museum of the Future will encounter another unique experience provided by "The Oasis," where they explore a world that immerses them in a sense of comfort by stimulating their five senses, focusing on the personal level as they delve into their inner depths and distance themselves from external distractions.
**Future Heroes**
Children also have their share in the distinctive museum, with the "Future Heroes" platform designed for those under ten years old, aimed at igniting young minds to discover new things about themselves and the world around them. The first level includes a series of activities focusing on six skills they need to explore the future: curiosity, creativity, confidence, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking, offering a blend of limitless games and challenges requiring problem-solving and teamwork skills. The Future Heroes platform is more than just a place for learning and play; it is a space where the future generation lays the foundation for their future and unleashes their potential.
**Today’s Future**
The "Today’s Future" exhibition attracts more than 50 exhibitors from leading companies, universities, and designers who are shaping the future, providing an overview of what the next ten years could bring. The exhibition serves as an opportunity to explore the diverse ways technology can shape the future and the numerous solutions it may offer to tackle current and future challenges faced by our planet and communities, inviting visitors to explore the changes technology imposes on the future.
These exhibits and innovative experiences featured in the Museum of the Future aim to expand the public's perception of the present and the future, engaging them in an inspiring experience filled with positivity in building a brighter tomorrow. The inner loop forming the central part of the Museum of the Future’s design symbolizes a gateway extending towards a promising future, with infinite possibilities, representing a part of the vision of the Dubai Future Foundation, established to envision, design, and implement the future of Dubai, aiming to transform the city into a global hub for testing and developing innovative solutions that serve humanity and contribute to building a better future for the region and the world.
