The Museum of the Future in Dubai

The Museum is a home for inspiration, open to all. We represent the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum showing what is possible with conviction, commitment and togetherness. Our goal is to provide light in dark times: in an age of anxiety and cynicism about the future, we are showing that things can and must progress.

Our imagined futures are fundamentally hopeful, but honest about the dangers of the present. In our exhibitions, publications, films and public events, we will show how the problems of the present can provide the raw material for a better world.

The Museum of the Future in Dubai is a visionary cultural landmark and architectural marvel dedicated to exploring the possibilities of tomorrow rather than preserving the past. Described as a "living museum," it serves as a gateway to the future, blending immersive theater, advanced technology, and themed attractions to showcase innovative solutions for a sustainable world. Its iconic torus-shaped building, adorned with Arabic calligraphy, symbolizes humanity, the earth, and the unknown, standing as a beacon of hope and optimism intended to inspire visitors to actively shape the next chapter of human progress.

The Museum of the Future offers a "living" experience that transports visitors to the year 2071, beginning with a simulated ascent to the OSS Hope space station on the fifth floor, where guests can gaze back at a transformed Earth and explore the potential of space colonization. The journey descends through the HEAL Institute, a mixed-reality recreation of the Amazon rainforest featuring a DNA library of over 2,400 species, and continues to Al Waha (The Oasis), a sanctuary dedicated to mental wellness and disconnecting from technology. Lower levels include Tomorrow Today, which showcases near-future innovations in health, transport, and energy, and Future Heroes, a dedicated, screen-free landscape where children engage in mission-based challenges to build future skills.

Architecturally, the building is as significant as its contents, standing 77 meters tall with no internal columns—a feat of modern engineering. Its stainless steel façade consists of 1,024 robotically manufactured panels, representing the number of bytes in a kilobyte, and is illuminated by 14 kilometers of LED lights. The exterior is wrapped in Arabic calligraphy featuring three quotes by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, including the famous line: "The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it." Beyond its beauty, the museum is a model of sustainability, powered by 4,000 megawatts of solar energy and achieving LEED Platinum status.

Beyond its exhibitions, the Museum of the Future operates as a hub for advanced robotics and intellectual debate. Guests are often greeted by Ameca, one of the world's most advanced humanoid robots, which can engage in conversation and display lifelike facial expressions. The museum also features a robotic barista in its café, Bob, who prepares coffee with a robotic arm, blending culinary culture with automation.

The institution acts as a global incubator for futurists through the Dubai Future Foundation. It hosts the annual Dubai Future Forum, the world’s largest gathering of futurists, and serves as the headquarters for the "Great Arab Minds" initiative, which aims to identify and empower the region's top intellectual talent.

For a unique perspective, visitors can step out onto the viewing deck located within the "void" of the building's curve. This space allows guests to stand on the inner shell of the structure, offering a stark visual contrast between the museum's futuristic stainless steel calligraphy and the modern skyline of Sheikh Zayed Road below.

The architectural masterpiece was designed by Killa Design, led by Shaun Killa, who envisioned the building's iconic torus shape to represent the solid mass of the earth and humanity, while the central void symbolizes the unknown future. To realize this complex, column-free geometry, the architects collaborated with engineering consultancy Buro Happold, utilizing advanced parametric design and Building Information Modelling (BIM) to optimize the steel diagrid structure. The shimmering façade is comprised of 1,024 unique stainless steel composite panels—manufactured by robots—which serve as a canvas for the artistic calligraphy of Emirati artist Mattar Bin Lahej, turning the building's exterior into a monumental fusion of poetry, art, and cutting-edge engineering.