The much-awaited engineering marvel and another landmark, which was in the making for 9 long years, the Museum of the Future, received a gala opening in Dubai.

A sprawling seven-storeyed circular building standing at 77 meters, spread across 30,000 square meters, this imposing structure is situated just a stone’s throw away from the world’s tallest construction, the Burj Khalifa, another iconic structure that has been an intrinsic part of Dubai’s skyline. It is being touted as the most beautiful building in the world. It was later inaugurated by Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, whose vision of the future is recognised as the museum’s driving force.

The museum envisages what the world could look like 50 years from today. It's a vision that crystalizes the United Arab Emirates' own 50-year transformation from a pearl-diving backwater to a global interconnected hub fuelled by oil and gas wealth.

The building was conceived as an architectural and cultural icon and has been designed by architect Shaun Killa, with a computer-aided design and engineering system in place. This architectural marvel is made of stainless steel and consists of 1024 pieces of art, manufactured using robots which were able to create the demanding shapes.

While the museum's contents are yet to be revealed, it will exhibit design and technology innovations, taking the visitor on a "journey to the year 2071", organisers said.

Visitors to the museum will be taken to the distant future of the year 2071 through immersive exhibits. These exhibits will allow them to experience the imagined future of colonies on the moon and explore how climate change could impact the earth; other exhibits will focus on how the health and wellness space could change in the future. A floor designed specifically for kids will challenge younger visitors to become future thinkers through open play.

The iconic Museum of the Future is situated right next to Jumeirah Emirates Towers, and the most convenient way to reach the museum is by taking the Dubai Metro. The entry fee for a single person is Dh145, while children under three years are allowed free entry.

“It was an imperative requirement to develop so fast because we needed to catch up with the rest of the world,” said Sarah Al-Amiri, UAE minister of state for advanced technology and chair of the UAE Space Agency. “Prior to 1971, we had no basic road networks, no basic education, electricity network and so on.”

Moreover, the museum invites visitors to reconnect with their senses and disconnect from their phones, but digital screens and experiences flow throughout its installations. The museum also encourages visitors to think about the planet’s health and biodiversity in a city that celebrates consumption, luxury and consumerism. Al-Amiri said the museum’s ethos is that the drive toward a sustainable future and healthy planet should not prohibit progress and economic growth.

The Museum of the Future is the latest addition to Dubai’s bold architectural endeavours with futuristic designs. The Museum is a permanent exhibition of inspiring visions for the future of humanity and a global centre for inspiration, innovation and the development of solutions to challenges and opportunities in human development, according to a press release.

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