Museum of the Future Is Closed. Book These Instead

Planned a day at the Museum of the Future with the kids? Bad news. It is temporarily closed.

The museum shut in early September 2026 for a full reinvention. This is not a quick repaint and a gift-shop shuffle. Expect a new story, new spaces and a much more interactive experience when it returns.

Why Is It Closed?

The future keeps moving. The museum has to keep up.

That is why the entire experience is being rebuilt from the ground up. When it reopens, expect a new story, new exhibitions, new labs and many more buttons worth pressing.

The new-look museum is due back in the first quarter of 2027, around its fifth anniversary. That could mean January, February or March. There is no exact date yet, and tickets are not on sale.

A few events may continue during the closure, but the main museum experience is off-limits. If an unofficial seller claims otherwise, keep scrolling.

Your afternoon is not ruined. It just needs a Plan B.

For the Closest Futuristic Fix: AYA Universe

Wafi City · Tickets AED 135

If everyone was promised lights, technology and something suitably futuristic, AYA Universe is the closest Plan B.

Its 12 immersive zones are packed with projections, sound and rooms that react as you move. Expect glowing gardens, cosmic landscapes and plenty of shouting, “Stand there, I need a photo.”

Tickets cost AED 135, with free entry for children under three. It opens 10am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Last entry is one hour before closing.

Expect flashing lights, loud sounds and dark spaces, so it may not suit sensitive visitors.

Best for: Teenagers, visual kids and anyone who came for the futuristic bit.

For Children Who Want to Play: Play DXB

Dubai Mall · Pay by ride or choose a package

Play DXB swaps big questions about tomorrow for the immediate challenge of surviving a virtual roller coaster.

The indoor gaming hub mixes VR rides, arcade games and multiplayer battles, with gentler options for younger kids and plenty of opportunities to discover which parent cannot lose gracefully.

It opens 10am to 10pm Monday to Thursday and until midnight Friday to Sunday. There's no single ticket covering everything, so check the credits, bundles and passes before promising unlimited rides.

Best for: Gamers, older kids and families already heading to Downtown.

For Curious Younger Kids: OliOli

Al Quoz · Tickets from AED 139 online

OliOli is for children who need to touch, build, launch and interfere with absolutely everything.

Its hands-on galleries cover water, air, movement, construction and creative play. Quiet museum behaviour is neither required nor particularly likely.

Two-hour online tickets start from AED 139 for children aged two to 16 and AED 69 for toddlers aged 12 to 23 months. Each ticket includes one adult.

Bring socks and pack spare clothes for the Water Gallery. You will need them.

Best for: Toddlers, primary-school children and kids who learn by doing.

For a Future Worth Protecting: The Green Planet

City Walk · Adult passes AED 155

The Green Planet swaps imagined ecosystems for a living one.

The indoor rainforest is home to more than 3,000 plants and animals, with birds overhead and different levels exploring the canopy, forest floor and nocturnal habitats.

It is a strong Plan B for kids interested in climate, nature and wildlife, plus anyone likely to spend the journey home discussing the sloth.

Adult passes cost AED155, infants under two enter free and the biodome opens daily from 10am to 6pm.

Best for: Animal lovers, curious kids and families after a calmer day out.

The Museum of the Future is due back in the first quarter of 2027. Until then, all four Plan Bs are live on yapped with tickets, directions and everything worth knowing before you go.