Designs for Dubai Museum of Art (DUMA) by Japanese architect Tadao Ando have been released by officials in the United Arab Emirates, showing an organic, pearl-white, shell-like form curling out of saltwater Dubai Creek, with inspiration taken from the city state’s relationship with the sea, its maritime heritage, and its pearl-diving industry.
Sited on a round platform on the water and accessible via a pathway from the seafront, the new museum will boast five floors with a central circular lightwell bringing natural light into the adaptable first and second floor gallery spaces, where contemporary works by well-known and upcoming artists will be exhibited.
Visitors will also benefit from a library, study rooms, and training spaces, where events such as talks and art fairs will take place. Meanwhile a VIP lounge and restaurant with a covered terrace will offer panoramic views over the city.
Describing the project as “more than an architectural landmark,” Al-Futtaim Group CEO Omar Al Futtaim said: “It is a cultural statement that reflects Dubai’s openness to creativity and affirms its role in connecting cultures and celebrating talent from around the world.”
DUMA is not Tadao Ando’s first foray into museum and cultural venues. The 1995 Pritzker Architecture Prize winner’s portfolio includes commissions such as Japan’s Chichu Art Museum and France’s Bourse de Commerce in Paris, as well as a permanent installation space for British sculptor Antony Gormley in South Korea and Uzbekistan’s National Museum.
On Ando’s vision, which “speaks the language of light, silence, and soul,” Al Futtaim said the latest project “will stand as a serene dialogue between nature, water, and the human spirit, a masterpiece of restraint and emotion that embodies both ingenuity and timeless elegance, perfectly capturing the depth of his philosophy.”
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
Dubai ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has hailed the museum as “a new beacon for the city, enhancing its arts scene and further strengthening its global cultural status,” as a “destination of choice for creatives from around the world, home to communities and industries working together to accelerate the growth of the creative economy.”
Explaining how the initiative fits alongside the development of Dubai’s Museum of the Future and the Jameel Arts Centre, Al Maktoum said it “advances our strategic goal to position Dubai as a global hub for creativity and culture, and cements its place on the modern art map.”
No timeframe for the museum’s construction has yet been made public.
