The most beautiful building on earth, the Museum of the Future is an architectural marvel unlike any other worldwide. It resembles a giant drop of shiny liquid metal, as no building in the world has been constructed using similar techniques. The museum appears to float without foundations, supports, or pillars, thanks to the latest technologies that have bolstered its title as the most aerodynamic building globally.
## The Story of the "Museum of the Future"
The story of the Museum of the Future began in February 2014 when the World Government Summit organized the "Museum of Future Government Services" as a complementary exhibition. During the third edition of the World Government Summit in February 2015, the name "Museum of the Future" was announced for this project after Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, visited and shared his forward-looking vision after exploring various future ideas and significant discussions. The announcement to launch the Museum of the Future project came on March 3, 2015. Construction began in 2017, utilizing 3D printing technology to create large and essential parts of the museum. By 2018, the structural framework was completed, with the final piece installed during an event held on November 20.
Despite the challenges of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Dubai's unwavering spirit of progress aimed to move forward. In October 2020, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum placed the last piece of the museum's exterior, completing the design with 1,024 meticulously crafted pieces. On February 22, 2022, the Museum of the Future opened its doors to the world in a stunning ceremony.
## Innovative Architectural Design
The Dubai Museum of the Future is an engineering miracle covering an area of 30,000 square meters and standing 77 meters high. It consists of seven floors and boasts an interior without any columns. Its façade is entirely created through robotics and rendered uniquely. The museum's exterior spans 17,600 square meters and is crafted from shiny stainless steel, featuring a distinctive Arabic script that illustrates the achievements of the UAE throughout its history, present, and future.
The museum is connected by two bridges: the first extending to the Jumeirah Emirates Towers, measuring 69 meters, and the second linking it to the Emirates Towers metro station, measuring 212 meters.
## Inspirational Quotes Engraved on the Museum's Facade
The museum uniquely relies entirely on the art of calligraphy, specifically Arabic script, known for its exceptional letter aesthetics that make it the most fluid and rich among all languages for innovative artistic designs. The quotes engraved on the museum’s façade are inspiring phrases from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, designed by Emirati artist Mattar bin Lahej. These quotes are: "We will not live for hundreds of years, but we can create something that lasts for hundreds of years," "The future will belong to those who can imagine, design, and implement it. The future does not wait; it can be designed and built today," and "The secret to the renewal of life, the development of civilization, and the advancement of humanity is in one word: innovation." These three inspiring quotes, inscribed using a distinctive Arabic script, display what the UAE aims to achieve through its accomplishments.
## Sustainability
The museum building implements the latest environmental and sustainable practices in water distribution, thermal insulation, and cooling systems to reflect its commitment to enhancing green building standards in the region, aligning with global efforts to promote sustainable practices in design and construction. The museum received the Platinum certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in 2023, representing a global standard for healthy, sustainable, high-efficiency, and low-cost buildings, making it the only museum in the Middle East to receive this prestigious certification. Furthermore, over 30% of the museum's needs are generated from solar energy, and energy-efficient LED lights are used throughout the premises. The entire exterior of this exceptional structure is made of specially developed glass, utilizing innovative techniques to improve thermal insulation.
The museum is set on a picturesque green hill hosting a wide array of tree and plant species, offering visitors a glimpse into the UAE’s biodiversity and environmental heritage. The gardens adorning the vast green hill, where the museum stands, boast Ghaaf, Sidr, palm, and Qurt trees native to the local environment. The innovative coordination of natural plants addresses the challenges posed by high summer temperatures through an efficient, smart irrigation system. This sustainable approach plays a significant role in sustaining diverse plants and supports the flocks of birds and bees inhabiting the hill, creating a balanced and harmonious environment around the museum.
The void in the museum's center symbolizes the promising future and the undiscovered realms of knowledge, emphasizing the role of innovators and creators in exploring the unknown. The observation platform allows visitors to enjoy views over the void of the curved structures and the captivating scenes of the emirate. The symbolic design of the void reflects infinite possibilities and unexplored mysterious horizons and celebrates individuals striving to enter new realms and expand their knowledge.
## Events and Activities
The museum has hosted over 280 significant events at both local and global levels, attracting more than 20,000 participants from around the world, and has welcomed over 40 world leaders and heads of governments during their official visits to the UAE, along with hosting 370 media delegations to highlight Dubai and the UAE’s vision of the future.
## Diverse Knowledge and Entertainment Experiences
The museum has welcomed over two million visitors from 172 countries, marking its success in becoming a global center for foresight and future design. It offers extraordinary journeys, allowing visitors to experience exciting future experiences within an integrated world touching various aspects of human life and interaction with the surrounding environment, addressing the different challenges faced in reality, and how to harness advanced technology for a better reality for themselves, their families, society, and humanity as a whole. The museum employs the latest virtual and augmented reality technologies, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and human-robot interaction to motivate visitors to answer many questions concerning the future of humanity, cities, human societies, life on Earth, and beyond into outer space.
The Museum of the Future provides its visitors with unique opportunities to launch into the future and open doors to new horizons of tomorrow, shaped by the latest achievements in human knowledge, techniques, and innovations.
