Dubai's Museum of the Future promotes sustainable future on Environment Day 2022

Exhibits highlight everyday changes visitors can make to help protect the Earth

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.

Dubai's Museum of the Future, which opened in February, will mark World Environment Day on Sunday by promoting eco-friendly behaviour.

Guests will be urged to make small changes to their everyday lives to safeguard the planet for generations to come.

The UN's World Environment Day is marked annually on June 5, to highlight the importance of protecting the environment.

As part of its programme for the day, the Museum of the Future is raising awareness about the everyday things people can do to conserve natural resources, such as using less water and opting to travel on public transport instead of driving.

Majed Al Mansoori, deputy executive director at the museum, said it was making the environment a priority.

"We fully support World Environment Day and are taking our own steps to contribute to protecting the environment, such as using plastic-free packaging and reusable shopping bags, and providing water dispensers to reduce the use of plastic bottles," he said.

"Preserving the environment and promoting sustainability is a priority for us, in line with the UAE’s leadership’s directives to promote sustainable development.

"At the Museum of the Future, we deploy technology to help design the future and develop plans to respond to the current and future challenges facing the planet," he said.

Visitors are able to charge their electric vehicles at the museum. Parking spaces are also limited to encourage people to use the Dubai Metro, which is linked directly to the museum through a bridge.

The building was designed with sustainability in mind, and obtains a large percentage of its energy from solar panels. A smart irrigation system waters the garden, which is home to more than 100 hardy species capable of coping with Dubai's harsh summer climate.

The museum also hosts talks by members of the scientific community, as part of efforts to highlight environmental issues and promote debate on how to create a more sustainable future.