• Dubai's Museum of the Future will embody the forward-thinking spirit of the UAE's founding fathers, a senior Emirati minister said. Photo: UAE Government Media Office
    Dubai's Museum of the Future will embody the forward-thinking spirit of the UAE's founding fathers, a senior Emirati minister said. Photo: UAE Government Media Office
  • The museum opened its doors to the public on February 22. Photo: UAE Government Media Office
    The museum opened its doors to the public on February 22. Photo: UAE Government Media Office
  • Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said that it would be much more than a museum, serving as a 'research lab' for the future. Photo: UAE Government Media Office
    Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said that it would be much more than a museum, serving as a 'research lab' for the future. Photo: UAE Government Media Office
  • The museum will feature a dedicated space for children, helping to harness their love of learning. Photo: UAE Government Media Office
    The museum will feature a dedicated space for children, helping to harness their love of learning. Photo: UAE Government Media Office
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, hailed it as the "most beautiful building on Earth". Photo: UAE Government Media Office
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, hailed it as the "most beautiful building on Earth". Photo: UAE Government Media Office
  • Workers are dwarfed by the Museum of the Future in this November 2019 picture. The intricate design is inspired by Arabic script. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Workers are dwarfed by the Museum of the Future in this November 2019 picture. The intricate design is inspired by Arabic script. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The striking structure was years in the making. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The striking structure was years in the making. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The opening date was pushed back several times and a 2020 opening date came and went as the pandemic hit. Photo: Dubai Media Office
    The opening date was pushed back several times and a 2020 opening date came and went as the pandemic hit. Photo: Dubai Media Office
  • This 2018 image shows the unique design taking shape. Antonie Robertson / The National
    This 2018 image shows the unique design taking shape. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A cyclist poses for a photograph in front of the museum in November. AP Photo / Jon Gambrell
    A cyclist poses for a photograph in front of the museum in November. AP Photo / Jon Gambrell
  • The unique facade was voted among the most striking in the world in a recent poll. AP Photo
    The unique facade was voted among the most striking in the world in a recent poll. AP Photo
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visit the museum in September. Wam
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visit the museum in September. Wam
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid tries out some of the museum's technological features. Wam
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid tries out some of the museum's technological features. Wam

UAE

Heritage

Dubai's Museum of the Future: opening date, ticket price and all you need to know

Tickets are now on sale for eagerly awaited museum

Sarwat Nasir
Sarwat Nasir

February 22, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Read More: Ticket prices announced for Dubai's Museum of the Future

Dubai's Museum of the Future officially opens today, Tuesday, February 22, with tickets now on sale and doors open to the public from February, 23.

It promises visitors an immersive experience that uses technology to represent art and encourages guests to imagine what the future could be like in topics such as outer space, nature and wellness.

The striking structure stands 78 metres and was named as one of the 14 most beautiful museums on the planet in a list compiled by National Geographic magazine in July.

The National explains everything you need to know for your visit.

What are the exhibitions inside?

Five of the seven floors are the main exhibition spaces, each designed to resemble a futuristic film set.

It takes two to three hours to experience the museum. Visitors can stay as long as they like.

The museum takes visitors on a journey to the year 2071 and creates scenarios of what the future could be like in topics such as outer space resource development, ecosystems and bioengineering, health, wellness and spirituality.

One of the outer space-themed exhibitions is called “New Moon” and shows how the Moon could be transformed into a source of renewable energy for the entire planet.

Visitors experience a view from inside a space station 600 kilometres above the Earth. Photo: Museum of the Future
Visitors experience a view from inside a space station 600 kilometres above the Earth. Photo: Museum of the Future

The immersive experience recreates what it might look like inside a space station 600 kilometres above the Earth, as they “gaze out of the window” to see the Moon.

Visitors can explore the space station and learn about the pioneers who live and work there.

A nature-themed exhibition shows a mixed reality recreation of the Amazon rainforest.

Visitors can explore the interaction of hundreds of species and observe details invisible to the naked eye.

A wellness-themed exhibition takes visitors to a “sanctuary” that is away from digital life, where they are encouraged to reconnect with mind, body and spirit.

Another area is called “The Centre” and allows visitors to experience restorative effects of movement, meditation and water by immersing in vibrations that rebalance their electromagnetic fields.

Is there anything for children?

The first floor of the museum is dedicated to a children’s exhibition “Future Heroes”. Access is included in the ticket price.

There are three main experiences on offer — imagine, design and build.

Children can play and learn through activities that encourage communication, collaboration and creativity.

The free play area has “future heroes experts guides” that help children work together to achieve a mission.

How to get tickets?

Entry to the museum costs Dh145, but is complimentary for children under the age of 3, people of determination and Emiratis aged 60 and older.

The tickets are on sale on the museum’s website www.motf.ae.

All visitors, including those eligible for free admission, must book a time slot to enter the museum.

Tickets provide full access to the museum experience and amenities.

Do I need a PCR test?

For now, visitors do not need to show a Covid-19 vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test result to enter.

Timings

The museum will hold an opening ceremony on February 22 and then will be open to the public from February 23, with opening hours from 10am to 6pm.

The last entry is one hour before closure.

How to get there?

The museum is right next to Jumeirah Emirates Towers, close to the Dubai International Financial Centre.

Arriving by the Dubai Metro is the easiest way to reach there. The Emirates Towers Station on the Red Line is closest. A bridge connects the station directly to the museum.

Public bus numbers 27, 29, and X22 also go straight to the museum.

For those arriving by car, there is free self-parking for ticket holders, limited to a three-hour period.

There are very limited parking spaces. There is also valet parking available.

General rules of the museum

Visitors are allowed to take photos and videos of the exhibitions for personal use, except the ones that are labelled as the “special exhibition galleries”. Flash photography is not allowed.

Tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted.

Guests can bring their own food that can be eaten in the lobby and garden areas. No food or drink is allowed in any other exhibitions.

There are restrooms on each floor of the museum.

Free Wi-Fi is available.

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Updated: February 22, 2022, 4:56 AM
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