• 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
    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.
    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.
    The museum gives visitors a glimpse of Dubai in 2071.
  • Visitors travel to the first chapter, OSS Hope.
    Visitors travel to the first chapter, OSS Hope.
  • Visitors look at key elements of the solar system.
    Visitors look at key elements of the solar system.
  • Visitors become Mars colony ambassadors to Earth.
    Visitors become Mars colony ambassadors to Earth.
  • Visitors look at a model of OSS Hope.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    The nature simulator allows visitors to list the living organisms they contributed to saving virtually.
  • Visitors enjoy the second chapter, the Heal Institute.
    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 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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    MARS, Modular Artificial Reef Structure, at the Tomorrow Today section.
  • Visitors in 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.
    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 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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    This allows them to meditate and enhance the natural balance within them without the use of technology.
  • The Connection Therapy in Al Waha.
    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.
    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 an octopus at the Museum of the Future.
  • A drone of a penguin 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 Museum of the Future in Dubai opened its doors to the public on Wednesday.

UAE

Could this be Dubai in 2071? Video of flying cars and space rockets goes viral

Museum of the Future display shows how the future could look

Sarwat Nasir
Sarwat Nasir

March 18, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

A fascinating glimpse into what may be in store for Dubai in 2071 has proven a huge social media hit.

Footage from a display at the recently-opened Museum of the Future shows drone-like vehicles filling the skies, a superfast hyperloop speeding through a tunnel on Sheikh Zayed Road and rockets being blasted into space.

A short recording of the impressive video by a TikTok user has already racked up more than two million views.

The display is part of the Heal Institute exhibition in the museum, which shows a vision of the future of Dubai’s urban landscape on a video screen.

The future of biodiversity and health spas are also part of the exhibition.

The museum, which opened on February 22, uses technology in remarkable ways, including screens with impressive graphics of a rocket launch and a DNA library that features more than 4,500 species.

One of the first exhibitions involves boarding a spacecraft named Hope, after the UAE’s Mars orbiter, and launching to the OSS Hope space station 600 kilometres above Earth.

Visitors are taken inside a room with metal walls, designed to look like a spacecraft, with screens all around that act as windows to show the stunning views during lift-off.

Updated: March 18, 2022, 12:28 PM
Dubai