“Welcome future heroes,” reads the sign above the entrance to the dedicated children’s floor in the Museum of the Future. “The future needs you."
When you think about it, that’s a big message for children. After all, what do we usually ask of them? To sit still and listen. Pay attention in class, be kind to their friends and siblings. Do their homework, complete their chores … Very rarely does it come up that the future, their future, needs them.
The onus is bold, expectations large, as befitting a building and concept that has made such an impact on the global architectural and educational stage.
So, what does the Future Heroes exhibit hold in store for children? I visited the Museum of the Future with my three children — Indiana, 9, Fox, 6, and Caspian, 3 — to find out.
A relaxed atmosphere
We visited on a Saturday at lunchtime, soon after the museum had opened to the public last week. The building is even more impressive up close, the valet parking experience smooth and the queues in the lobby were long, but moved relatively quickly.
Stepping out of the silver, pod-like lifts and onto the Future Heroes floor, the ambience was instantly discernible in the colour scheme.
Absent are the garish pinks and blues designed to send stereotyped gender messages to parents and children. Rather, soothing beiges, whites and pastels abound, and materials are soft and comforting with a natural feel, inviting touch and interaction. A mirrored area is hung with capes for children to wear, to become the heroes the exhibit intends.
The main exhibition is for children aged from 4 to 10, with a much smaller area for children 3 and under.
It’s important to note that adults are not permitted in the main area. The wide, open space allows you to keep an eye on them, but you should be confident in leaving them to play independently and discover. Plus, there are plenty of trainers on hand to guide children in their discovery.
Build, Imagine and Design
The main area is divided into three main themes, of which there are five experiences: Rocket Tower, Build Lab, Imagine Lab, Balance Balloon and Design Lab.
The three labs are pleasantly, futuristically ergonomic. All curved domes and feel-free-to-touch materials aimed at inspiring innovation and thought, and promoting creativity.
Different from the Labs, the Rocket Tower and Balance Balloon are metal and rope structures designed to get children moving in a way that helps them consider their physicality within that space.
The darkly cave-like Design Lab is where children can try out new technologies that allow them to write and draw on the walls using light, with the parallels drawn between how far we've come from cave drawings to this latest tech inescapable.
My two eldest children wrote their names and drew pictures and patterns on the soft walls, guided by trainers who shone lights on their ultra-modern version of invisible ink.
'Orbs' and 'flowers': inside the Imagine Lab
The Imagine Lab proved a favourite for my children. It is a place where a child could easily spend more than an hour in, returning to over and over, each time discovering something new.
Hundreds of pale blue “orbs” line the walls, divided into four sense categories: touch, smell, see and hear. The touch orbs invite children to feel around and determine what's there, with the likes of skin, sheep, shells, a comet and pasta inside.
The smell orbs offer an olfactory experience including chocolate, soap, eucalyptus, coffee, popcorn and cinnamon. The see orbs are a visual representation of things such as bread, boats, skeletons, full moons and grass. The listening orbs emit a noise to be deciphered, among them whale song, chopping wood and a gushing fountain.
Once the guesswork is done, the orbs are put into the “flowers” to see whether the children chose correctly, with the answers beamed onto the ground in brightly coloured, engaging visuals that they want to watch and touch.
In here, trainers give the children missions, such as asking them to find orbs pertaining to certain categories of animals, plants or space.
Creativity and collaboration in the Build Lab
The Build Lab was another favourite space, filled with wooden sticks and brackets that cry out to be turned into dens, rocket ships, forts and anything else their imagination creates.
Here, children are encouraged to work together to build. Their reward? Apart from the joy of shared goals, a rain shower of plastic balls which fall from the ceiling, much to their delight.
The Rocket Tower, with its speedy chute, had Fox shouting “Again!” the moment he reached the bottom, and the Balance Balloon has high-tech climbing frames that promote physical problem-solving.
These modern twists on traditional children’s play equipment go to show that while time marches on, some playground classics never go out of favour. There’s also a small in-ground trampoline.
Rewards for challenges
Upon entrance to the museum, children are given wristbands that they use to collect digital badges during their time on the Future Heroes floor.
Trainers give them different challenges, which allow them to exhibit behaviours such as creativity or teamwork. Children are also rewarded for being kind, helpful or thoughtful.
There are 12 badges to collect during their stay that can be carried over from visit to visit, and can be used to move from level one — Dubai, to level 12 — Cosmic.
Flat screens in the centre of the area interact with the wristband to show children how many badges they have collected.
Smaller area for younger children
The area for children aged 3 and under is not as extensive or engaging as the main exhibit for older children. A round space filled with cork blocks of all sizes from a deck of cards to house bricks entertained my 3-year-old for about 15 minutes — no mean feat as any parents of toddlers will attest. Younger babies still in that sweet spot of “easily distracted and entertained” will probably fare longer.
However, if you’re juggling toddlers and older children on your visit, be aware that the younger ones will probably tire of their play far quicker.
The toilets are on the same floor and designed with children in mind. There’s also a baby changing area, and different-sized basins for all heights.
Overall, the ambience is surprisingly relaxed for an area that’s dedicated to children. They aren’t running around and yelling the way you might see at the soft play or park after school, because the environment and activities on offer don’t lend themselves to that kind of interaction.
Rather, the surroundings encourage children to engage in different ways, guiding them to be thoughtful rather than noisy. Here, children move at a slower pace than the frantic rush between activities, which parents of youngsters will be used to seeing. It’s certainly the quietest “play area” I’ve ever been in.
As to whether my three children enjoyed their visit, as all parents will know, the litmus test of enjoyability is in hearing those four simple words: "Can we come again?".
Which, yes, I heard from all three.
Notable cricketers and political careers
- India: Kirti Azad, Navjot Sidhu and Gautam Gambhir (rumoured)
- Pakistan: Imran Khan and Shahid Afridi (rumoured)
- Sri Lanka: Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan (rumoured)
- Bangladesh (Mashrafe Mortaza)
Disposing of non-recycleable masks
Use your ‘black bag’ bin at home
Do not put them in a recycling bin
Take them home with you if there is no litter bin
- No need to bag the mask
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The specs: 2017 Dodge Viper SRT
Price, base / as tested Dh460,000
Engine 8.4L V10
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 645hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 813Nm @ 5,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 16.8L / 100km
THREE
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The specs
Price: From Dh180,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 320hp @ 5,700rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.7L / 100km
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Brief scores:
England: 290 & 346
Sri Lanka: 336 & 243
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Western Clubs Champions League:
- Friday, Sep 8 - Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Bahrain
- Friday, Sep 15 – Kandy v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
- Friday, Sep 22 – Kandy v Bahrain
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Empire of Enchantment: The Story of Indian Magic
John Zubrzycki, Hurst Publishers
GRAN%20TURISMO
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
La Mer lowdown
La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
A%20MAN%20FROM%20MOTIHARI
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
The five pillars of Islam
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
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%3Cp%3EFirst%20ODI%20-%20Sunday%2C%20June%204%20%0D%3Cbr%3ESecond%20ODI%20-%20Tuesday%2C%20June%206%20%0D%3Cbr%3EThird%20ODI%20-%20Friday%2C%20June%209%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMatches%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Stadium.%20All%20games%20start%20at%204.30pm%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMuhammad%20Waseem%20(captain)%2C%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20Adithya%20Shetty%2C%20Ali%20Naseer%2C%20Ansh%20Tandon%2C%20Aryansh%20Sharma%2C%20Asif%20Khan%2C%20Basil%20Hameed%2C%20Ethan%20D%E2%80%99Souza%2C%20Fahad%20Nawaz%2C%20Jonathan%20Figy%2C%20Junaid%20Siddique%2C%20Karthik%20Meiyappan%2C%20Lovepreet%20Singh%2C%20Matiullah%2C%20Mohammed%20Faraazuddin%2C%20Muhammad%20Jawadullah%2C%20Rameez%20Shahzad%2C%20Rohan%20Mustafa%2C%20Sanchit%20Sharma%2C%20Vriitya%20Aravind%2C%20Zahoor%20Khan%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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