Dubai’s skyline is full of glamorous skyscrapers, and just when you thought it couldn’t get more magical, here it is with a new surprise! Dubai has built a museum that literally floats on water. Say hello to the upcoming DUMA, the Dubai Museum of Art, a floating museum in Dubai. It’s a new cultural landmark that will rise from the waters of Dubai Creek, blending architecture, art, heritage, and a little bit of Dubai-style flair for the dramatic.
Dubai’s New Floating Museum of Art Set To Make Waves On Dubai Creek
The project was officially unveiled in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid., He has called the museum a “new beacon for the city” and a reflection of Dubai’s creative soul in his recent post on X. And honestly, we agree, as this one’s not just another building but a statement.
A Masterpiece In The Making
Designed by world-famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando, DUMA promises an experience that lives somewhere between art, emotion, and architecture. According to a report by the Gulf News, Ando is known for poetic spaces where light, concrete, and nature blend bewitchingly.
Shaped as a curved, seashell-like structure inspired by Dubai’s pearl-diving heritage, the museum will sit on water like a floating sculpture. A circular exhibition space at its core represents unity, creativity, and continuity, while a central opening allows natural light to spread across the space like the glow of a pearl.
Inside its five floating levels, DUMA will pack rotating exhibitions, learning spaces, a library, studios, and cultural programmes. Visitors can expect artist talks, panel discussions, creative workshops, and fairs that bring the global art world into Dubai. There’s also a VIP lounge and a restaurant where you can enjoy art over coffee with a view
Also Read: It’s Official! The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi Opens On This Date In November
A Global Stage For Artists
DUMA aims to uplift emerging talent along with the established ones. It will showcase modern and contemporary art that reflects Dubai’s spirit: diverse, bold, curious, and future-focused. Floating on Dubai Creek, open to the sea and sky, this museum is about to become the cultural Instagram hotspot, but also a genuine hub for creative growth and global artistic dialogue.
Cover Image Courtesy: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid/X