The Museum of the Future is approaching a major milestone, nearing five million visitors as it marks four years since opening its doors on February 22, 2022, cementing its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing cultural and knowledge destinations.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, chairman of the Museum of the Future, said the achievement reflects Dubai and the UAE broader ambition to make designing the future a shared global goal.
“Dubai and the UAE have made designing the future a shared global goal, uniting the world to create a better tomorrow by leveraging present and future opportunities, serving communities and ensuring the best for future generations,” Al Gergawi said.
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The nearly five million visitors recorded since launch underscore the Museum’s expanding global footprint and growing demand for its programmes and immersive experiences. The figure reinforces its status as a hub attracting visitors from diverse cultures and nationalities, and as a platform where leading thinkers exchange expertise and transform forward-looking ideas into practical realities, according to a WAM report.
Embodying a vision for the future
Al Gergawi said the Museum embodies the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, by convening global minds to confront the challenges of tomorrow.
“The Museum of the Future, which embodies the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, brings together leading minds from around the world to ask the right questions and develop practical solutions for the challenges of tomorrow,” he said.
“Since its launch four years ago, the museum has evolved into a thriving knowledge-based ecosystem that turns ideas into programmes, dialogues and experiences that inspire, equip and serve as a laboratory for practical solutions to tomorrow’s challenges.”
He added that the institution has become more than an exhibition space.
“The Museum of the Future bridges thought and experience, dialogue and application. It has become a global space that empowers people to understand rapid transformations and prepare for them. It reflects the UAE’s message that the future is not something to wait for, but something to design and build today through innovation and creative collaboration,” Al Gergawi said.
A track record of global engagement
Over the past four years, the Museum has compiled a substantial record of achievements.
It has hosted 620 events, conferences and talks focused on themes including artificial intelligence, sustainable cities, and the future of education, health, the economy, work, technology and the arts. In addition, it has organised 224 educational programmes, specialised workshops and interactive learning experiences targeting students, professionals and industry leaders across multiple sectors.
In 2025 alone, the museum welcomed nine heads of state and 46 ministers for official visits, alongside diplomatic and governmental delegations from around the world, further consolidating its role as a destination for high-level dialogue and engagement.
As it enters its fifth year, the Museum emphasises that the milestone is not the culmination of its journey, but the beginning of a broader phase aimed at expanding the global impact of its platforms and programmes.
Flagship initiatives strengthen international reach
Central to its growing influence are flagship initiatives that have elevated its international presence.
The museum hosts the Dubai Future Forum, widely recognised as the world’s largest gathering of futurists, bringing together experts to examine transformative global trends. It also runs the Future Talks series, featuring leading thinkers, decision-makers and international experts who explore major scientific, humanitarian and technological shifts shaping the world.
Among the highlights of the past year was a special session with global superstar Sarah Jessica Parker as part of the Future Talks series. The discussion examined the future of sustainable jewellery and showcased the Museum’s ability to convene influential figures from diverse sectors.
The institution also continues to support Arab intellectual leadership through the ‘Great Arab Minds’ initiative. The programme aligns with the Museum’s mission to revive the Arab region’s contribution to shaping humanity’s future and strengthening its presence within the global knowledge community.
Across three editions, the initiative has honoured 18 distinguished Arab scholars and influential figures.
A permanent home for innovation
During the World Governments Summit 2026, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, directed that the Museum of the Future become the permanent home of the ‘World Preservation Lab and BioVault’.
The lab, which transitions from a temporary exhibition at the Summit to a permanent installation at the Museum, reflects the UAE’s commitment to scientific innovation and biotechnology as tools to protect the environment and preserve wildlife.
Established in collaboration with Colossal Biosciences, a global leader in biotechnology and species preservation, the Lab will introduce scientists, academics and biotechnology researchers to the latest advancements in protecting endangered species and enhancing ecosystem sustainability. It will also raise awareness among visitors about safeguarding natural and biological diversity and its critical role in sustaining life on Earth.
Architecture meets sustainability
Architecturally, the Museum of the Future has become an icon of Dubai’s skyline and a physical manifestation of its forward-looking ethos.
Rising 77 metres, the torus-shaped structure merges advanced engineering with cultural symbolism. Its façade consists of 1,024 precisely manufactured panels spanning 17,600 square metres, adorned with Arabic calligraphy featuring quotes by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, embedding messages of imagination and innovation into the city’s urban landscape.
Sustainability remains central to both the Museum’s design and operations. More than 30 percent of its energy needs are generated through solar power, supported by advanced thermal insulation systems, high-efficiency cooling technologies and energy-saving LED lighting.
In 2023, the Museum of the Future was awarded LEED Platinum certification for energy and environmental design, reinforcing its reputation as a benchmark for sustainable architecture in the region.
A journey that continues
As it enters its fifth year, the Museum stresses that its success is measured not only by visitor numbers or the volume of events hosted, but by the tangible impact it creates.
This milestone marks a journey that began as an idea on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit, followed by the project’s announcement on March 3, 2015, the issuance of Law No. 19 of 2015 establishing the Museum, and its global opening in 2022.
Today, the Museum of the Future stands among the most visited destinations in the UAE and one of the fastest-growing institutions within the global knowledge community.
Al Gergawi reiterated that the institution’s mission remains firmly rooted in action.
“The future is not something to wait for,” he said. “It is something to design and build today.”