- ARAB NEWS
- 24 Nov 2025
Since 1975
DUBAI: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the launch of Dubai’s newest state-of-the-art floating museum, which was designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando.
Located at Dubai Creek, the museum is called Dubai Museum of Art (DUMA) and will consist of five floors that will float above water.
The design is inspired by the sea and the pearl, reflecting Dubai’s cultural heritage. The museum is shaped as a curved shell that allows natural light to cascade through the structure, according to the Dubai Media Office. It will be developed by Al-Futtaim Group.
Rising above the waters of Dubai Creek, the Dubai Museum of Art stands as a symbol of heritage and contemporary creativity, reaffirming Dubai’s place as a global capital of innovation. pic.twitter.com/xOQJAq2FcX
— Al-Futtaim (@alfuttaim) October 28, 2025
DUMA is expected to feature exhibition galleries on the first two floors, as well as a restaurant and a VIP lounge on the third, ground and basement floors. Additionally, the museum will include a library and study rooms
The museum is expected to highlight modern and contemporary artworks from various artists that highlight Dubai’s diverse art scene.
“(DUMA is) a museum that floats above the waters of Dubai Creek to enhance its brilliance and to reflect Dubai’s civilizational spirit and serve as a mirror to its culture and arts,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said on X on Saturday.
“Cities are completed by culture and art. They flourish through the economy, achieve harmony and entrench their sustainability when their private sector is responsible, participatory, and aligned with its public sector. This is what we see in Dubai,” he added.
شهدنا اليوم إطلاق معلم أيقوني جديد في دبي .. " متحف دبي للفنون" .. متحف يطفو فوق مياه خور دبي ليزيد من تألقها .. وليعكس روح دبي الحضارية ويكون مرآة لثقافتها وفنونها .. ويضيف تنوعاً جديداً في معالمها ولوحة جمالها المعمارية .
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) October 25, 2025
تقديرنا وشكرنا للأخ عبدالله الفطيم وابنه عمر الفطيم… pic.twitter.com/1cNjaK6W2V
Considered one of the most influential architects globally, Ando is an award-winning architect who is known for brilliant minimalist structures that maximize the usage of light and shadows to create picturesque landscapes.
His works include Japan’s Chichu Art Museum and Sayamaike Historical Museum as well as France’s Bourse de Commerce.
The opening details have not been announced yet but are expected to be announced soon.
