Dubai’s Museum of the Future (MOTF), the flagship project by the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), is all set to make waves at SXSW® 2025 with a groundbreaking five-day immersive experience. From March 7 to 11, attendees in Austin, Texas, will have the unique opportunity to collectively imagine, inspire, and design the future. The extensive programming includes 20 curated experiences, all taking place at Dubai’s official SXSW headquarters—the Museum of the Future House, located at Third Street and Congress Avenue.
The Museum of the Future, a seven-story cultural landmark in Dubai that opened in 2022, aims to spotlight the United Arab Emirates’ emergence as a global technology and innovation hub. Alongside the Dubai Future Foundation, which is a sponsor of SXSW’s 2050 conference programming track, they will lead discussions on critical future topics such as lunar colonization, sustainable food production, and artificial intelligence.
Immersive Experiences and Cultural Showcase
The Museum of the Future House will offer a window into Dubai’s dynamic evolution, highlighting its rapid rise as a global hub for innovation, talent, and investment. The pop-up museum exterior features eye-catching Arabic calligraphy, while inside, guests will explore a multi-sensory immersive experience inspired by space, humanity, and the natural world.
The venue’s outdoor space will highlight Emirati culture, with culinary experiences including tastings of the viral TikTok sensation, the original Dubai chocolate bars from FIX Dessert Chocolatier, and traditional chai demonstrations by Project Chaiwala. The event promises to be a feast for the senses and the mind.
Speakers and Exclusive Previews
Notable speakers include Canadian astronaut Shawna Pandya, Hazza Al Mansouri—the first Emirati astronaut, author and urban scholar-practitioner Geci Karuri-Sebina, and film producer Gianluca Chakra. The event will prioritize those with a SXSW badge to access these enlightening sessions.
For a special sneak peek, digital creators and top international techies are invited to a mixer event on March 7th, offering an exclusive first look at The Museum of the Future activation.
Reimagining the Future
For more information about how these visiting organizations bring Dubai to Austin through expert panels, art, and cultural programming during SXSW, visit www.museumofthefuturesxsw.com. Follow along on Instagram for live updates at @museumofthefuture and @dubaifuture. Use the event hashtag #MuseumOfTheFutureSXSW to join the conversation.
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Programming Schedule
Friday, March 7 – Monday, March 10
2050 Track sponsored by Dubai Future Foundation
Location: Austin Marriott Downtown – 304 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
- About: Dive into what the world could look like by the year 2050. Sponsored by DFF, the 2050 track focuses on long-term, big-picture thinking emphasizing scientific discovery. The programming features topics ranging from quantum computing and space exploration to robotics and foresight best practices. The Dubai Future Foundation works to make Dubai one of the world’s foremost future cities. By working closely with public and private sector partners, the organization builds a cohesive innovation ecosystem that includes accelerator programs, incubators, labs, regulatory sandboxes, and knowledge platforms – all to challenge the status quo and design a future-ready city powered by future leaders and disruptors.
- Full Schedule: museumofthefuturesxsw.com
Friday, March 7 – Tuesday, March 11
Museum of the Future House
Location: 3rd/Congress Parking – 3rd/Congress, Austin, TX 78701
10 a.m. to 10 p.m. || Open to the public, badge priority line
- About: To reimagine the future, people must be open to new possibilities. Join MOTF on a journey to 2071. Pioneer new worlds and ways of living and return to shape today’s world for the better. Experience the future of space travel and living, climate change and ecology, health, wellness, and spirituality. Learn how technologies such as synthetic biology and artificial intelligence can combat climate change. Capacity is limited to 250 people at a time.
- Speakers at MOTF House include astronauts Shawna Pandya and Hazza Al Mansour, visual artist Refik Anadol, award-winning novelist Hisham Matar, author and urban scholar-practitioner Geci Karuri-Sebina, and film director Gianluca Chakra.
Get ready to embark on a journey to 2071 and explore the future of space travel, climate change, health, and more. This is your invitation to reimagine what’s possible. See you at SXSW 2025!