How the Museum of the Future inspires businesses to look beyond the present

The UAE's latest attraction encourages us to dream and leave a positive impact on the world

The Museum of the Future opened in Dubai. The emirate is focusing on 'industries of the future' to boost its economy. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National

Avatar Aya speaks to guests as they go to the first chapter, OSS Hope space station.

The museum gives visitors a glimpse of Dubai in 2071.

Visitors travel to the first chapter, OSS Hope.

Visitors look at key elements of the solar system.

Visitors become Mars colony ambassadors to Earth.

Visitors look at a model of OSS Hope.

Vault of Life uses cutting-edge virtual and augmented reality technology to introduce visitors into an interactive experience where they collect samples from nature.

Their task is to contribute to efforts being made to restore the natural environment, rehabilitate the forest with its plants and animals, and help to repair the damage inflicted.

The nature simulator allows visitors to list the living organisms they contributed to saving virtually.

Visitors enjoy the second chapter, the Heal Institute.

The Heal Institute is a research centre focused on preserving the planet's ecosystem through the use of the latest AI and bio-technology.

The library, where arguably the museum’s most stunning feature lies.

Tomorrow Today exhibition includes advanced and pioneering technology that can help to shape the future of humanity.

Teslaglove that allows you to feel virtual reality objects.

A full metal jacket, made of 65% copper and resistant to viruses, is on display at the Tomorrow Today section.

MARS, Modular Artificial Reef Structure, at the Tomorrow Today section.

Visitors in the Tomorrow Today section.

The Future Heroes floor has been designed for children under the age of 10 to stimulate scientific curiosity.

It takes young people and younger generations on a future journey that expands their positive view of our world.

It also enhances their confidence in their abilities to make positive changes.

The children's floor aims to consolidate their belief in the potential of humanity to affect significant change and reinforce their conviction that nothing is impossible with science.

Al Waha focuses on health and wellness, offering visitors an opportunity to reconnect with themselves, away from the distraction of external influences and always-on technologies.

It takes them to a world that simulates the senses and heightens their response mechanism to external influences.

This allows them to meditate and enhance the natural balance within them without the use of technology.

The Connection Therapy in Al Waha.

The Museum of the Future will be a space for knowledge that gathers intellectuals and futurists from all over the world.

A drone of an octopus at the Museum of the Future.

A drone of a penguin at the Museum of the Future.

The Museum of the Future in Dubai opened its doors to the public on Wednesday.

The long-awaited Museum of the Future, described as the most beautiful building in the world, officially opened its doors on February 22 this year. The seven-storey silver ellipse structure takes its visitors on a journey to the year 2071 and invites us to think beyond our present.

The museum includes an immersive theatre and sheds light on the future of space travel and living, health, climate change and ecology.

“The Museum of the Future is a ‘living museum’, constantly adapting and metamorphosing as its very environment drives continual and iterative change to its exhibits and attractions,” Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs and chairman of the Dubai Future Foundation, said at the opening ceremony last Tuesday.

The museum reminds us of the importance of thinking ahead, something that has been deeply ingrained in the mindset of the people from the UAE for centuries. Living in a region with scarce natural resources, our ancestors always planned ahead. They were extremely resourceful and managed to survive and thrive in harsh conditions.

The palm tree, for example, was a plant that provided a livelihood to people in the region and no part of it was wasted. Dates were a source of nutrients, the fronds were used to form roof thatches, the wood was used as construction material and the fibres were used to weave carpets, floor coverings and baskets.

But even though we’ve come a long way from our ancestors' lifestyles, the “always think ahead mentality” is something that is deeply ingrained in us, and has driven us to never rest on our laurels. We can see that constantly reflected in our government’s plans and strategies.

The UAE Centennial Plan 2071, for example, is a long-term plan for the next five decades. One of the plan’s objectives is to invest in future generations by prepping them with the knowledge and skills needed to position the UAE as the best country in the world when it celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2071.

If there is one key lesson that we can take away from the global pandemic, it would be the importance of businesses to plan ahead. The pandemic showed us how businesses that didn’t embrace digital transformation suffered greatly over the past two years. It reminded us that we need to be prepared for the worst.

In business, we are advised to follow successful entrepreneurs and learn how they managed and led their companies. We seek inspiration in the past and are often driven by the journey of star entrepreneurs who have made a difference in the world.

The Museum of the Future invites us to seek inspiration from the future instead and encourages us to dream by imagining a possibility for our businesses. It reminds us that anything is possible.

Who could have thought that one day we could fly by putting on a special suit? Or that skyscrapers would be built amid sand dunes? The UAE is a prime example that if we put our mind to something, we can achieve it.

I invite you to look at the future, too, and be inspired by the possibility of what can be done. Only by daring to think beyond what’s possible, are we able to build thriving businesses and leave a positive impact on the world.

Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and communications consultant based in Abu Dhabi.