Sheikh Mohammed Announces “Museum of the Future” for Dubai

Mar 10, 2015 Joe Kleiman Museums, News, Technology & Media 0

Dubai, UAE — UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has launched the “Museum of the Future” project that will include innovation labs in healthcare, education, smart cities, energy, transportation in addition to a museum for prototypes. The museum is also expected to produce futuristic inventions and support the UAE’s mission to be a global innovation hub. The iconic museum will open in 2017.

Located adjacent to Emirates Towers, the Museum will encompass 3D printing into its construction process.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied by Deputy Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it. Here in the UAE we think differently. While others try to predict the future, we create it”.

Sheikh Mohammed added: “The world is entering a new era of accelerated knowledge and great technological revolutions. We aim to lead in that era, not to follow and lag behind. The Museum of the Future is the first step of many to come, marking the beginning of great achievements”.

His Highness concluded: “The President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has declared 2015 to be the year of innovation in the UAE. Today we show how serious and committed we are to that mission by turning the UAE into a major international destination for innovators”.

The museum’s motto, “See the future, create the future”, reflects a new approach to government innovation. Rather than just displaying exhibits or publishing reports, the new institution will use design, technology prototyping and foresight to create real examples of change. The Museum is the first of its kind, and represents a leading example of entrepreneurial governments embracing change and creating futuristic visions for a better world.

The Museum will host a group of innovation labs focusing on health, education, smart cities, energy and transport in addition to a permanent section on future innovations in all fields. It will provide a platform to demonstrate and test the latest inventions from world-leading tech giants and up-and-coming start-ups, as well as collaborations between companies and leading research institutes and universities.

The creation of the museum reflects Sheikh Mohammed’s vision that a new approach is required for fast-moving, dynamic, and uncertain times in order to create long-lasting innovations that benefit both organizations and society.

Once fully functioning, the Museum will become a major centre for anticipating future trends in all scientific and technological fields, collaborating with governments from all over the world to develop solutions for their current and future work and service challenges.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has also announced the forming of the museum’s Board of Trustees headed by Crown Prince of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Board of Trustees will include several high-profile national figures, including Minister of Affairs Mohammed Abdulla Al Gergawi as Vice President and membership of Minister of Education Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Health Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office Ohood Al Roumi, Director General of Dubai Municipality Hussain Lootah, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority Matar Al Tayer, Dubai Police Chief Major General Khamis Mattar Al Muzainah, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority Saeed Al Tayer, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding Ahmad Bin Byat, Meraas Holding Chairman Abdulla Al Habbai, Mona Al Gurg from Dubai Culture and a representative from Emirates Airline.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was accompanied by Mohammed Abdulla Al Gergawi, Ohood Al Roumi, Ahmad Bin Byat and Abdulla Al Habbai.