In a defining moment for Dubai’s cultural landscape, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the Dubai Museum of Art (DUMA) on October 25, 2025. Developed by the...
Dubai Taxi Company has secured 600 additional taxi plates through a recent auction held by the Roads and Transport Authority, extending its lead as the largest taxi operator in Dubai and raising its market share to 47 percent.
The acquisition will expand the company’s fleet from 6,217 to 6,817 vehicles. The rollout of the new taxis is scheduled to begin in July 2026 and will proceed in phases, a plan the company says is intended to preserve operational efficiency and maintain service standards while responding to rising demand for transport services.
According to Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi, the expansion reflects continued growth in Dubai’s mobility sector and the company’s strategy to scale its operations in line with the city’s urban development. He said the phased deployment is designed to optimize asset use, strengthen financial performance, and sustain service quality.
The move aligns with broader government efforts to build an integrated and technology-driven transport system, while supporting the objectives of Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to reinforce the city’s global standing in infrastructure and urban services.
The traditional arrival at Dubai’s luxury coast has long been a matter of valet stands and marble lobbies. However, a new partnership between maritime operator D-Marin and MEREX Investment is shifting the point of entry offshore. With the launch of an exclusive anchorage zone at J1 Beach, the city is formally integrating its maritime infrastructure with its high-end culinary scene, allowing yacht owners to transition from deck to dining room via the sea.
The service provides a logistical bridge between the water and the shore. Once anchored in the designated zone, guests are ferried by a dedicated D-Marin tender to a private jetty. This sea-gate provides immediate access to a collection of 13 world-class restaurants and beach clubs, effectively turning the offshore area into a functional extension of the beach.
A Global Shoreline
The J1 Beach district has been curated as a high-density hub of international lifestyle brands. The destination draws heavily from the aesthetic of the French Riviera, Tulum, and New York, offering a licensed environment that caters to a globalized palate. Key establishments defining the space include Gigi Rigolatto, an Italian-inspired enclave bringing Mediterranean elegance to the Gulf; Sirene by Gaia, a Greek-led concept focused on high-concept coastal dining; and Bâoli, a renowned brand that bridges the gap between sophisticated gastronomy and evening social scenes.
Located just a short distance from the 160-berth D-Marin Port De La Mer, this new anchorage service reinforces the "marina-as-a-lifestyle" model. For the superyacht clientele, it offers a refined, day-to-night transition that avoids the friction of urban traffic.
The Superyacht Hub Ambition
This expansion brings D-Marin’s portfolio to five marinas within the emirate, signaling a deeper integration of maritime services into Dubai’s broader tourism and entertainment strategy. By establishing world-class anchorage destinations alongside traditional berthing, Dubai is solidifying its position as a global superyacht hub.
In the 2026 landscape, the Contributor to Dubai’s coastal economy is the realization that the most prestigious way to experience the city is no longer by road, but by the wake of a tender.
Photo credit: D-Marin
Alexander Agafiev
Alexander Agafiev is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.
For years, the culinary narrative of Dubai was one of glittering imports - celebrity names etched into the marble of five-star lobbies. But as the 2026 season reaches its zenith, the city’s dining room has undergone a structural transformation. The "glitter" has been replaced by grit, technique, and an increasingly vocal homegrown identity that no longer looks to London or Paris for validation.
The arrival of the 2026 edition of the Michelin Guide Dubai and the recent Gault&Millau UAE Gala have solidified this maturation. In a historic year for the emirate, establishments like Trèsind Studio and FZN by Björn Frantzén have maintained their grip on the peak of fine dining, while new contenders like Birch - recently named Home-grown Restaurant of the Year - signal a shift toward artisanal, narrative-driven concepts that prioritize local soul over international branding.
The Rise of "Cuisineless" Dining
A new vernacular is emerging in the kitchens of DIFC and Jumeirah. Termed "cuisineless" dining, the trend sees chefs abandoning traditional geographical boundaries in favor of flavor-led experimentation. At newcomers like MANĀO, a breakout star in this year’s Gault&Millau shortlist, the menu is less a map and more a manifesto of global techniques applied to regional ingredients.
Photo credit: MANĀO
The aesthetic of 2026 is defined by "mouthfeel." Culinary forecasts and current menus across the city show a marked pivot toward "jiggly" and "chewy" textures. From silky custards that wobble with structural defiance to savory ice creams served as appetizers, the city’s palates are being challenged by unexpected pairings. Hojicha has supplanted the grassy profile of Matcha in the city’s boutique cafes, while the humble cabbage has become the "it" ingredient of the season, championed by chefs focusing on the vegetable as a center-plate protein.
Sustainability as a Standard
The "Year of the Family" has brought with it a renewed focus on the ethics of the plate. The ne’ma National Food Loss and Waste Initiative has moved from a peripheral government project to a central partner for major industry players. This shift is reflected in the kitchens of BOCA and other DIFC staples, where zero-waste protocols are no longer a marketing angle but a foundational requirement for operation.
The city is also witnessing a "casualization" of the tasting menu. Establishments like Jun’s and Kinoya are stripping away the white tablecloths, offering multi-course, chef-led experiences at price points that invite a broader demographic. This democratization is furthered by strategic partnerships, such as Spinneys and Emirates Bustanica joining forces to bring locally grown, high-tech vertical farm produce directly to the retail and restaurant sector, reducing the carbon footprint of the city's salad bowls.
2026 Landmark Venues and Recognition
The current landscape is best defined by those who have pushed the boundaries of the traditional dining experience. Trèsind Studio, located at St. Regis Gardens, continues to be recognized as the Home-grown Restaurant of the Year, a testament to Chef Himanshu Saini’s influence. Meanwhile, Birch has taken the title of Breakthrough Restaurant of the Year at the Ritz-Carlton, DIFC, highlighting the city's appetite for new perspectives.
Photo credit: FZN
Other notable mentions include FZN by Björn Frantzén at Atlantis The Royal, which received accolades for the city's premier Champagne Offering, and the rising star MANĀO in Jumeirah 1. The sheer density of talent - from the pastry innovations of Carmen Rueda Hernandez at BRIX Journey to the leadership of established masters - indicates that Dubai has moved past its "emerging" phase. It is now a primary exporter of culinary trends, a city where the world comes not just to eat, but to see where global gastronomy is heading.
Alexander Agafiev
Alexander Agafiev is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.
Dubai Media City is marking 25 years as a cornerstone of the Middle East’s media and content creation sector, underscoring its role in Dubai’s rise as a global hub for creative industries.
Established to position Dubai as a multi-dimensional Arab media capital, Dubai Media City was designed as an integrated ecosystem with modern infrastructure to support media companies, talent, and investment. Over the past quarter-century, it has contributed to the emirate’s economic diversification and the growth of its knowledge-based economy, while strengthening Dubai’s standing on the global media map.
Dubai Media City is one of TECOM Group PJSC’s 10 business districts and served as the foundation for the group’s broader Media Cluster, which also includes Dubai Production City and Dubai Studio City. Together, the cluster supports more than 40,000 creative professionals and hosts over 60% of Fortune 500 companies operating in the media sector. It serves as a regional broadcasting base for news and entertainment in languages ranging from Arabic and English to Hindi, Chinese, German, and Tagalog.
Majed Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President of Dubai Media City, Dubai Production City, and Dubai Studio City at TECOM Group, credited the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with establishing Dubai Media City as a leading global media hub. He said the district has consistently attracted international media leaders and will continue to support the sector through advanced infrastructure, regulatory mechanisms, and future-oriented technologies.
Dubai Media City hosts global media and advertising groups including CNN, Discovery Networks, WPP, and Publicis Groupe, alongside regional leaders such as ITP Media Group and OSN Group. Its ecosystem, together with Dubai Production City and Dubai Studio City, contributed to Dubai’s designation as the Capital of Arab Media for 2020 and 2021 by the Arab Information Ministers Council.
The district’s growth aligns with Dubai’s broader creative economy performance. In 2024, Dubai ranked first globally for attracting Greenfield Foreign Direct Investment in cultural and creative industries for the third consecutive year, according to the Financial Times’ fDi Markets. The city recorded 971 projects in the sector, AED 18.86 billion in FDI inflows, and more than 23,500 new jobs.
Dubai Media City also supports talent development and industry governance initiatives, including the Emirati Media Talent Pledge launched by TECOM Group in 2024, and the InstaBlock Lab, inaugurated in 2025 in partnership with Spain’s LaLiga to combat intellectual property violations. It serves as a hub for professional exchange through industry events and as a knowledge partner for initiatives such as the Dubai Press Club’s Arab Media Outlook - Future Visionreport.
Innovation remains central to the district’s mandate. Through in5 Media, part of Dubai’s in5 incubator launched in 2013, more than 1,100 start-ups have been supported, collectively raising over AED 9 billion. Co-working and enterprise facilities, including TECOM Group’s D/Quarters platform, further anchor Dubai Media City’s role within a broader network of sector-focused districts across the emirate.
Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office
Alexander Agafiev
Alexander Agafiev is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.
Under the patronage and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, the Private Office of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai organised desert cycling races for women and men on 31 January and 1 February as part of the Al Salam Cycling Championship.
The races were held at Al Marmoom Reserve in the Saih Al Salam area and formed part of the championship’s tenth season, held under the theme “Ten Years of Achievements and Success.” The Higher Organising Committee designed a technically demanding course requiring competitors to race on mountain bikes while wearing protective gear and carrying essential equipment, reflecting the challenges of desert terrain.
The combined prize pool for the two races totalled AED455,000, which organisers described as the largest prize offering for desert cycling races worldwide.
The women’s desert race covered a distance of 20 kilometres and included two categories: Emirati women and an open category for all nationalities. The men’s race followed the next day over 52 kilometres and featured two special challenges with dedicated cash prizes.
Omair bin Juma Al Falasi, Director General of the Private Office of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, said the championship continues to prioritise inclusivity by offering competitions that engage a broad range of participants while aligning with developments in the sport. He noted that desert cycling presents distinct physical and technical demands compared to road racing.
The desert races marked the fourth and fifth events of the championship’s tenth season. Earlier events included the “Security and Safety” race for Emirati cyclists organised in cooperation with Dubai Police, the Ruler of Dubai Court Race held for the second consecutive year, and a women’s race at Al Marmoom Reserve featuring international competitors.
The championship also includes a photography contest organised in collaboration with the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award, with winners to be announced at the conclusion of the season.
The Al Salam Cycling Championship is organised in cooperation with several strategic partners, including Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, the Roads and Transport Authority, the Dubai Sports Council, the Government of Dubai Media Office, the UAE Cycling Federation, Dubai Sports Channel, and Dubai Film.
Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office
Alexander Agafiev
Alexander Agafiev is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.
DMCC, in partnership with Dubai real estate developer Sweid & Sweid, has announced the launch of BAY360, a new mixed-use lifestyle destination in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT).
Planned as a neighbourhood and community hub, BAY360 will introduce a range of essential retail, dining, wellness and recreational amenities intended to support everyday life in the district. The project forms part of DMCC’s broader programme to upgrade shared spaces across JLT, with a focus on improving accessibility, connectivity and overall liveability.
The development will be built on a portion of Lake D, with most of the lake retained as a central feature. The design prioritises integration with the surrounding waterfront, enhancing pedestrian movement and activating public areas while maintaining the open, lakeside character of the site.
BAY360 will be anchored by a 22,000-square-foot Spinneys supermarket. Additional components include cafés and restaurants, some with lake-facing outdoor terraces, as well as medical facilities, lifestyle retail, rooftop padel courts and family-oriented outdoor spaces. The project will also include an underground car park with approximately 300 spaces.
Beyond the site itself, DMCC and Sweid & Sweid will implement improvements around Lake D to enhance connectivity across JLT. These include a redesigned pedestrian route linking the metro station to the opposite side of the lake and improved access to JLT Park. Planned upgrades to the lake edges will add greenery, seating and walkways.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC, said the project reflects DMCC’s long-term strategy to strengthen the quality and functionality of JLT’s public realm. Maher Sweid, Managing Partner of Sweid & Sweid, said BAY360 represents the company’s third project in the district and builds on its ongoing investment in JLT, with completion targeted for the end of 2027.
In a defining moment for Dubai’s cultural landscape, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the Dubai Museum of Art (DUMA) on October 25, 2025. Developed by the Al-Futtaim Group and designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the museum stands on the waters of Dubai Creek as a new architectural and cultural landmark.
The Dubai Museum of Art represents the city’s ongoing effort to establish itself as a global center for creativity and innovation. Conceived under Sheikh Mohammed’s vision to make Dubai a leading destination for artists and creative industries, DUMA is intended to strengthen the city’s position in the international art community. Through its exhibitions, educational programs, and artist exchanges, the museum will serve as a platform for dialogue and collaboration among artists from around the world.
Architecturally, the museum reflects both heritage and modernity. Ando’s design—defined by clean geometry, light, and natural materials—draws inspiration from Dubai’s maritime history. The building’s curved shell, modeled after the form of a pearl, encases a circular exhibition hall symbolizing unity and discovery. A central oculus channels natural light through the space, recalling the shimmer of the sea that has long defined Dubai’s identity.
The five-storey structure includes adaptable galleries, a restaurant, and dedicated spaces for educational programs, discussions, and art fairs. Facilities such as a library, study rooms, and training programs are designed to support creative learning and the professional growth of emerging artists.
Tadao Ando, the 1995 Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate, is known for integrating architecture with its natural surroundings through minimalist concrete forms and controlled light. His notable works include the Chichu Art Museum in Japan, the Bourse de Commerce in Paris, and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in Texas.
With the Dubai Museum of Art, the city adds a new dimension to its evolving identity—one rooted in cultural ambition and openness to global artistic exchange.
Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office
Alexander Agafiev
Alexander Agafiev is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.
Rory McIlroy, fresh off a milestone season that saw him complete the career Grand Slam with a victory at Augusta National, has confirmed his participation in the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The tournament, part of the DP World Tour’s Rolex Series, will take place from January 22 to 25 at Emirates Golf Club.
The appearance will mark a personal milestone for McIlroy: 20 years since his first participation in the tournament as an amateur in 2006. Now a five-time major champion and currently ranked second in the world, McIlroy leads the Race to Dubai Rankings and is expected to represent Team Europe at the Ryder Cup next week.
McIlroy’s relationship with the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is among the most storied in modern golf. His first professional win came at the event in 2009 at the age of 19. He went on to secure further victories in 2015, 2023, and 2024, making him the tournament’s only four-time champion. A fifth win in 2026 would set a new record.
“It’s been a very special year for me, and I’m excited about what’s still to come,” McIlroy said in a statement. “The Hero Dubai Desert Classic has always been one of my favourite tournaments, and I’m really looking forward to returning to Emirates Golf Club in January. I consider Dubai a second home – the support there is always incredible, and it’s the perfect place to start the year.”
Organizers of the event have confirmed that the 2026 edition will include several expanded offerings for spectators. Alongside the competition itself, the event will again host its “Tournament Town,” a fan zone featuring live entertainment, food and beverage options, family activities, and interactive experiences. Wellness programming and children’s events are also scheduled.
Ticketing for the event has opened with early bird pricing. General admission remains free on Thursday and Friday, with weekend entry starting at AED 75 during the promotional period. Children under 17 will be granted free access throughout the tournament. Premium hospitality packages, including access to the Dallah Lounge and The Social on Sixteen, are also available.
The Dallah Lounge offers proximity to the 9th and 18th greens and includes all-day dining and views of the Dubai skyline. The Social on Sixteen, located at the 16th hole, returns in 2026 with expanded capacity and offers a package of casual dining and four hours of complimentary beverages.
The tournament, now in its 37th year, is the oldest professional golf event in the Middle East. It has held Rolex Series status since 2017 and is recognized by the Golf Environment Organization (GEO) for its sustainability efforts. The 2026 edition will continue the event’s focus on environmental responsibility and wellness, including a dedicated Mental Fitness Zone for players and support staff. The zone, which debuted in a previous edition, is intended to offer participants a quiet space during the high-pressure tournament week.
Organizers also plan to prioritize public transportation options for spectators, with the Emirates Golf Club’s proximity to Dubai Metro stations and taxi access intended to reduce the event’s environmental footprint.
“Rory’s return is the perfect way to launch our 2026 event,” said Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director. “To welcome him back as the Masters champion after perhaps the finest season of his career only reinforces the prestige of this tournament. With affordable ticketing, sustainability initiatives, and a renewed focus on wellness and family engagement, we are continuing to build the Hero Dubai Desert Classic as both a leading golf tournament and a major event on Dubai’s sporting calendar.”
Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office
Alexander Agafiev
Alexander Agafiev is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.
After a restorative sojourn at a Swiss wellness clinic, my pursuit of equilibrium - physical, mental, metabolic - drew me next to Mayrlife, a medical spa poised like a secret on the glassy banks of Lake Altaussee, deep in the Austrian Alps. More than a retreat, Mayrlife was whispered about as a sanctuary for those seeking not just renewal, but recalibration: a medically supervised immersion into the art and science of well-being, particularly for those - like me - wrestling with the early edges of pre-diabetes.
The clinic’s legacy begins with Dr. Franz Xaver Mayr, an early 20th-century Austrian physician who argued, long before “gut health” became a hashtag, that all vitality begins in the digestive tract. To Mayr, a troubled gut was not a local problem - it was the root of systemic dysfunction. His cure was deceptively simple: rest, cleanse, and retrain the digestive system. A century later, that principle still anchors the Mayrlife method, though the tools have evolved dramatically.
Today, Mayrlife’s version of the Mayr Cure merges tradition with twenty-first-century precision. Before the first herbal tea is poured, guests undergo an array of diagnostics - food intolerance testing, full blood panels, and body composition scans - forming the blueprint for an exquisitely personalized program. Days unfold in rhythm: cryotherapy, therapeutic massages, and medically guided nutrition plans, all supervised by clinicians whose manner is both meticulous and reassuringly kind.
But the true revelation, at least for me, wasn’t the lab work or the treatments - it was the act of eating itself. Mayrlife treats every meal as a meditation. Chewing - thorough, mindful, and slow - is nonnegotiable. In an age that prizes efficiency over awareness, this simple directive feels almost radical. Each bite becomes a conscious moment, a recalibration of attention that reminds you food is not fuel alone, but communication between body and brain.
There’s also the choreography of the meal: vegetables first, then proteins, then carbohydrates. This isn’t aesthetic preference but metabolic strategy, designed to stabilize blood sugar and reduce post-meal spikes - critical for anyone managing insulin sensitivity. Every sequence, every portion, is rooted in clinical evidence yet executed with the elegance of ritual.
And then there’s the atmosphere itself: no phones, no noise, no rush. Meals are taken against the backdrop of Alpine stillness, where mist hangs low over Lake Altaussee and time, briefly, loosens its grip. Presence becomes its own medicine.
Perhaps most compelling is the clinic’s embrace of the gut as a “second brain.” Housing up to 70 percent of the immune system and deeply entangled with the nervous system, the gut-brain axis is now a serious subject of scientific research - a link between digestion, mood, and cognition that Dr. Mayr seemed to intuit a century ahead of his time.
By the end of my stay, what had begun as a wellness experiment felt more like a quiet awakening. The lesson was elemental yet profound: health begins not with supplements or superfoods, but with the simple, intelligent act of eating well - and paying attention while doing it.
In a world enthralled by quick fixes and glittering diet trends, Mayrlife’s message is refreshingly unglamorous: true wellness is not invention, but return. Return to balance, to awareness, to the rhythm of a body that already knows what it needs - if only we’d listen.
And perhaps that’s the real question the Mayrlife philosophy poses: if the gut holds the key to our vitality, why is this wisdom still treated as luxury, rather than common knowledge?
Photo credits: Mayrlife
Luiz Costa Macambira
Luiz F. Costa Macambira is the former Publisher of Forbes Monaco and Forbes Netherlands.
The DP World Tour has announced its 2026 global schedule, featuring 42 tournaments across 25 countries and a record prize fund of $157.5 million, excluding the Major Championships. Marking a continued push into new markets and reinforcing its stature as golf’s premier international circuit, the Tour’s revamped structure underscores both its global ambition and commitment to competitive integrity.
The 2026 season will follow the now-familiar three-phase structure: five “Global Swings,” the “Back 9,” and the climactic “DP World Tour Play-Offs” in November. Among the key highlights is the introduction of the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship, which will open the European Swing from May 7–10 at Real Club de Golf El Prat in Barcelona. This marks El Prat’s first DP World Tour event since 2015 and comes as Spain prepares to host the 2031 Ryder Cup at Camiral - becoming the first continental European country to do so twice.
Another significant addition is a new venue for the Amgen Irish Open, which moves to Trump International Golf Links Ireland in Doonbeg for the first time. Scheduled for September 10–13, the tournament remains a key fixture in the “Back 9” portion of the calendar.
The season will also feature increased alignment with the PGA TOUR, including the addition of the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic to the Race to Dubai from July 16–19. The Genesis Scottish Open (July 9–12), again co-sanctioned with the PGA TOUR, remains a cornerstone of the calendar as one of five Rolex Series events.
The Rolex Series will also include the Hero Dubai Desert Classic (January 22–25), the BMW PGA Championship (September 17–20), and the two Play-Off events: the Abu Dhabi Championship (November 5–8) and the DP World Tour Championship (November 12–15), where the 2026 Race to Dubai champion will be crowned. Dubai will host three events in total, including the returning Dubai Invitational from January 15–18.
In tandem with the schedule release, the DP World Tour announced key changes to its membership and qualification structure, aimed at creating more equitable access and greater predictability for players. Notably, the cut-off to retain a full Tour card will be tightened from the top 110 to the top 100 in the Race to Dubai Rankings. Meanwhile, the number of Qualifying School cards will be reduced from the top 20 and ties to the top 15 and ties.
Further refinements include changes to categories for players ranked just outside the top 100, re-ranking mechanisms for conditional status, and reduced card availability via the HotelPlanner Tour and the Road to Mallorca Rankings. The pathways for international talent remain open, with leading players from six global tours retaining eligibility for DP World Tour access.
Chief Executive Guy Kinnings described the 2026 framework as a “compelling season-long narrative,” emphasizing the Tour’s commitment to showcasing elite talent across diverse international venues. “Our thanks go to our partners, broadcasters, promoters, federations, and partner Tours for their support,” Kinnings said. “Together, we continue to spotlight the considerable depth of international talent on golf’s global Tour.”
With new venues, increased prize money, and a restructured pathway for professional advancement, the 2026 DP World Tour reaffirms its role as a central force in the global golfing calendar.
In a continued push to foster digital literacy and professional development, Sharjah Public Libraries has unveiled an enhanced version of its Smart Knowledge Library, offering residents across the United Arab Emirates free access to online courses in digital skills, entrepreneurship, and other professional fields.
The platform, which was officially relaunched on August 28, now features a streamlined mobile-friendly interface and a broad catalog of short educational courses available in both Arabic and English. Developed with accessibility in mind, the updated system includes video tutorials to assist users through the enrollment process and offers instant digital certificates upon course completion.
Originally introduced in 2021, the Smart Knowledge Library was established as part of Sharjah’s long-term strategy to promote self-learning and professional development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sharjah Public Libraries gained recognition for making over 15 million digital resources freely available to the public - an initiative that underscored the emirate’s commitment to open access education and digital inclusion.
The platform’s expansion is aimed at cultivating a knowledge-based society by integrating digital culture and continuous learning into daily life. Courses are led by recognized subject matter experts and incorporate interactive assessments to enhance user engagement and retention.
Sharjah Public Libraries, operating under the Sharjah Book Authority, continues to position itself at the forefront of digital education initiatives in the region, reaffirming its role as a key player in the UAE’s broader knowledge economy.
Since opening its doors in 2022, Dubai’s Museum of the Future has done more than capture the world's architectural imagination. It has positioned the emirate as a serious player in the global conversation around innovation, technology, and speculative thought. It is no small feat for a city often viewed through the prism of luxury and commerce.
Housed in an elliptical structure etched with Arabic calligraphy and dubbed “the most beautiful building on Earth” by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the museum is not merely a monument to design—it is a forward-looking institution with a clear intellectual agenda.
Inside, the exhibits span topics such as artificial intelligence, space exploration, climate change, and bioengineering. Unlike traditional museums, it resists nostalgia. It is unapologetically focused on the decades to come, encouraging young visitors to envision themselves as participants in shaping the future.
More importantly, it reflects the UAE’s broader national priorities: investing in knowledge economies, fostering STEM education, and building a generation of thinkers, makers, and doers. The museum’s integration with schools and universities across the country underscores this vision.
Still, for such a bold project to realize its full potential, it must remain more than an attraction. The museum should evolve into a hub for research, cross-cultural dialogue, and policy incubation. This means hosting global scholars, publishing original research, and addressing the ethical dilemmas that accompany technological progress.
The Museum of the Future has already established itself as a landmark achievement in design and ambition. What remains is for it to deepen its role—as a catalyst for thought, a space for discovery, and a driver of meaningful innovation that serves not only the region, but the world.
Dubai is evolving into a global education hub, attracting international institutions and edtech investment to shape the region’s future workforce.
With Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, and partnerships with global universities such as University of Birmingham, Heriot-Watt, and Rochester Institute of Technology, Dubai offers diverse programs from engineering to media studies.
In 2023, the UAE Ministry of Education announced reforms to integrate AI and climate studies into K-12 curriculums, preparing students for a rapidly shifting world. International schools in Dubai now rank among the best globally, with British, American, Indian, IB, and French curriculums widely available.
At the tertiary level, the focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and future skills has created a knowledge-based economy parallel to oil revenues - mirroring the UAE's national diversification goals.
Photo credit: MANĀO
Photo credit: FZN
