Museum of the future

Qasr Al Muwaiji

Museums are known for preserving historical artefacts. But in the modern era, museums are also undergoing changes. The latest example is the Qasr Al Muwaiji, the recently opened museum in Al Ain.

Qasr Al Muwaiji had once been the palace for the royal family of Abu Dhabi. It was renovated and opened recently for the general masses. Soon after its opening, it has started attracting huge crowds. It was quite natural too. After all, it has introduced a new concept that is equally incredible.

For the first time, I saw a modernised museum showcasing the olden times. Various sections of the museum have been fitted with modern gadgets that provide information of the forgotten era.

There were tablets and touch screen computers to guide the visitors. The information stored in those gadgets was about the royal family, renovations of the fort and the artefacts found during the renovation. The introduction of gadgets to share the history has won the hearts of many tourists.

Photographs and short films are shown to highlight the life of His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first President of the UAE and the Father of the Nation. It also showcases the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s childhood, education and pastimes. The visitors were awestruck by the way the history of the palace was represented.

Many items of historical importance are showcased in transparent glass boxes. From Sheikh Khalifa’s golden dagger to signing pens to his falconry equipment, everything is presented in a way that attracts the tourists. The floor in a particular area is made of glass revealing the archaeological structures that lie beneath it.

Qasr Al Muwaiji is a hi-tech museum that has connected us to its past with the help of modern technology. It is a perfect example of such hi-tech museums that shall be popular in the future.

(Published in The Gulf Today on December 12, 2015)