It is a charming irony that to visit Dubai’s Museum of the Future – which is celebrating its first anniversary this week – would-be guests need to do some future planning of their own given its popularity.
With tickets sold out until well into March, it is easy to see how the landmark building has smashed its target of attracting more than a million visitors in its first year – achieving an average of well over 83,000 guests a month. This public engagement with complex technology and trends is to be welcomed, given the challenges and opportunities that rapid digital development present.
The museum’s first year has coincided with a string of paradigm shifts in advanced technology that are already affecting our lives and will continue to do so. Artificial intelligence in particular has moved from the realm of science fiction to an everyday reality as evidenced by ChatGPT – the AI-based chatbot – becoming a household name.
Elsewhere, some are still investing in digital art through NFTs and the collapse of FTX, the world’s third-largest cryptocurrency exchange, is making people rethink the future of digital money.
Other challenges lie ahead. This week, a conference in Dubai heard how issues around online trademarks, patents and intellectual property require legislation to resolve legal disputes in the virtual world. When it comes to AI-generated content, a legal free-for-all looms as legislators try to play catch-up with a technology that feels as if it is advancing quicker than our ability to set rules for it.
The Museum of the Future comes into its own here. Far from being a collection of static displays, it has hosted more than 180 local, regional, and international events on critical topics such as entrepreneurship, space and the economy.
It has also been a meeting point for those intimately connected to the galloping pace of technological change, having received more than 1,000 international experts, ministers and dignitaries, including 20 heads of government.
In cultural terms too it has made its presence felt. As well as being a futuristic museum, it is also an Arab one. Its 77-metre-high circular exterior is covered in swirling calligraphic poetry, making it a building that “speaks” Arabic. As an engineering feat and architectural achievement, the Museum of the Future lives up to its forward-looking character, having been awarded LEED Platinum certification for its sustainable design, construction and operation.
It has also attracted its fair share of star power, recently hosting the Time100 Gala and Impact Awards featuring South African architect and curator of the first Islamic Arts Biennale, Sumayya Vally, rapper and philanthropist will.i.am, celebrated actor Idris Elba and Egyptian actress and UN aid ambassador Salma Abu Deif.
The diversity of its exhibits, events and meetings has been reflected in the composition of its one million visitors. Coming from 163 countries, their numbers led the museum to extend its opening hours last November to accommodate the high demand.
Inaugurating the museum this time last year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai – whose poetry it is that graces the building’s walls – described it as a “message of hope, a global scientific platform and an integrated institutional framework to shape a better future for all of us".
Having a museum that not only educates but offers a space for everyone to participate in shaping that future is more than just a landmark or a tourist attraction – it is an asset for Dubai, the UAE and the world.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
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Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
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Honeymoonish
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Company%20profile
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
PREMIER LEAGUE STATS
Romelu Lukaku's goalscoring statistics in the Premier League
Season/club/appearances (substitute)/goals
2011/12 Chelsea: 8(7) - 0
2012/13 West Brom (loan): 35(15) - 17
2013/14 Chelsea: 2(2) - 0
2013/14 Everton (loan): 31(2) - 15
2014/15 Everton: 36(4) - 10
2015/16 Everton: 37(1) - 18
2016/17 Everton: 37(1) - 25
