Dubai’s Museum of the Future Signs Partnerships with National, Global Brands

Dubai’s Museum of the Future Signs Partnerships with National, Global Brands
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Dubai’s Museum of the Future Signs Partnerships with National, Global Brands

Dubai’s Museum of the Future Signs Partnerships with National, Global Brands

The Museum of the Future has signed strategic partnerships with numerous global brands and national institutions as part of its objective to be a key laboratory for entities from all around the world, to generate futuristic and innovative technological solutions that address humanity’s greatest challenges, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

The partnerships support the museum’s role in enhancing Dubai and the world’s readiness for the future. Together, they’ll address the most important developments during the upcoming decades, and invent novel solutions and support the museum’s role in being an incubator for global foresight as well as being a comprehensive laboratory for technologies, ideas, and cities of the future, WAM said.

The Museum of the Future, an initiative of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), signed the partnerships with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Municipality, Dubai Holding, Emirates Airline, Audi, SAP, PepsiCo, and Visa.

Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the Museum of the Future, alongside Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Teleworking Applications, signed the partnerships with senior officials including Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, RTA’s Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors; Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, DEWA’s Managing Director and CEO; Daoud Al Hajri, Director-General at the Dubai Municipality; Adel Al Redha, Emirates Chief Operating Officer; Amit Kaushal, Dubai Holding Group Chief Executive Officer; Carsten Bender, Managing Director at Audi Middle East; Sergio Maccotta, General Manager at SAP Middle East; Ahmed Dafrawy, Senior Commercial Director PepsiCo Middle East; Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Group Country Manager, and Senior Vice President at Visa GCC.

Al Gergawi noted that the vision behind launching the Museum of the Future was to emphasize the pioneering role of the UAE in building humanity’s future.

The museum, created to stand as a scientific and knowledge-based edifice, aims to play a significant role as a platform for displaying and testing the innovations of world leading technology companies.

"The number one priority here is to ensure that the museum ceaselessly impacts human development to enhance the betterment of individuals and societies as a whole. The partnerships signed today, will enable the study and testing of the latest findings in science and human knowledge, thus, alleviating the process of finding sustainable solutions that support human development in all aspects of life," he added.



Nepal Hosts Hot Air Balloon Festival

Hot air balloons rise in sky during the international festival at Pokhara in Nepal on December 25, 2024. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)
Hot air balloons rise in sky during the international festival at Pokhara in Nepal on December 25, 2024. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)
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Nepal Hosts Hot Air Balloon Festival

Hot air balloons rise in sky during the international festival at Pokhara in Nepal on December 25, 2024. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)
Hot air balloons rise in sky during the international festival at Pokhara in Nepal on December 25, 2024. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)

With Nepal's snowy Himalayan peaks as a backdrop, the sky above Pokhara transformed into a vibrant canvas of colors for the country's first hot-air balloon festival.

Tourism is a major earner for Nepal, which saw over a million foreign visitors this year after a post-pandemic bounceback, and investments are being made in hotels and airports to cater to travelers.

"We felt that we must bring a balloon festival like this to Nepal," Sabin Maharjan, an organizer of the event, told AFP.

Hot-air balloons from more than 10 countries participated in the festival.

"A ride here can be very exciting as you can see mountains, hills and lakes," Maharjan added.

"All passengers tell us that they are very happy -- such a festival will boost our tourism."

The balloons created a mesmerizing display against a stunning sight of the snow-capped Annapurna range.

"It is spectacular," American balloon pilot Derek Hamcock, 67, said.

"As soon as you go above the small range here you see all the Himalayas. Unbelievable, every time you see them it is unbelievable."

Balloons shaped as a rat and a frog from were among those joining in the fun, slowly drifting with the breeze.

"You never know where you are going," said Diego Criado del Rey, 29, a balloon pilot from Spain.

"So it is pretty much you and the nature -- not fighting, but being together. You go where the nature tells you."

Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority issued a notice for the skies over Pokhara for a duration of nine days to allow balloon flights.

Although more than two centuries have passed since France's Montgolfier brothers made the first manned flight, ballooning can still capture the imagination.