Museum of the Future House – Dubai at SXSW 2025
Explore the innovative spirit of Dubai in Austin with five days of curated talks and cultural exhibitions. Dubai’s Museum of the Future, a flagship project by the Dubai Future Foundation, brings an immersive experience to SXSW from March 7-11 from 10 am to 7 pm daily.
Visit our pop-up at the Museum of the Future House to explore interactive AI exhibits, attend thought-provoking talks and taste the viral TikTok sensation, the original Dubai chocolate bars from FIX Dessert Chocolatier.
Guests can expect expert-led discussions and workshops, outdoor activations, networking opportunities, and a mix of Middle Eastern narratives exploring humanity, nature, and future of food – from space-proofing cuisine to innovative food systems emerging from desert landscapes.
Speakers
Schedule
Welcome to the Museum of the Future
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Majed Al Mansoori
Executive Director, Museum of the Future
Leaders for Humanity: Play Your Way into the Future of Leadership
Workshop
- 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Sabrina Sullivan
Corporate Futurist & Strategist
The Future of Storytelling: A Middle Eastern Series (Part 1)
Gianluca Chakra
Producer & Film Distributor, Front Row Filmed Ent.
Butheina Kazim
Cinema Akil, Dubai Arthouse Cinema
Lunar Living: Where Humanity Meets Space
Hazzaa Al Mansoori
UAE Astronaut
Shawna Pandya
Commercial Astronaut
Mohamed AlSalami
Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, Dubai
Isabella Pirolo
Dubai Future Foundation (Moderator)
‘Spaceproofing’ Food: Are We Ready to Dine on Mars?
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Hazzaa Al Mansoori
UAE Astronaut
Christine Gould
CEO, GIGA
Arttu Luukanen
VP Space & Defence, Solar Foods
Isabella Pirolo
Dubai Future Foundation (Moderator)
Timeless Ink: Evolution of Arabic Calligraphy
- 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Ghaleb Hawila
Calligraphy Artist
Today & Tomorrow: What Makes a Futurist?
- 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Michael Costigan
VP, Futures, SalesForce
Nahjae Nunes
Senior Youth Foresight Fellow, UNICEF
Geci Karuri-Sebina
Wits School of Governance
Patrick Noack
Dubai Future Foundation (Moderator)
What is the ‘Why’ of Future Generations?
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Eddy Ng
Queen’s University
Tracy Brower
Author & Sociologist
Patrick Noack
Dubai Future Foundation (Moderator)
Ask a Futurist: Your Chance to Uncover the Future!
- 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Eman Alkadi
Dubai Future Foundation
Geci Karuri-Sebina
Wits School of Governance
Sarah Owen
SOON Future Studies (Moderator)
The Future of Storytelling: A Middle Eastern Series (Part 2)
Sara Hamdan
Arab-American Author
Amani Alaidroos
Museum of the Future (Moderator)
Food from the Dunes: What can the Desert Bring to the Table?
Maitha Tariq Warshaw
UAE Chef
Omar Shihab
Founder, BOCA, MICHELIN Green Star Restaurant
Oliver Christof
CEO, ReFarm Global Investments
Dana Al Marashi
Embassy of the UAE in Washington DC (Moderator)
Future of Food Enthusiasts
Meet Up
Arttu Luukanen
VP Space & Defence, Solar Foods
Alan Perlstein
CEO, California Cultured
Nature Responds: Exploring AI’s Role in Human Dialogue
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Brittany Solano
Director of Communications, Earth Species Project
Romie Kind
Producer & UX Strategist, The Life Robotic
Brendan McGetrick
Museum of the Future (Moderator)
Hindsight to Foresight: Indigenous Wisdom for the Future
- 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Samantha Matters
Métis Futurist
Emily Sharp
The Pacific Community
Alwud AlFalasi
Dubai Future Foundation (Moderator)
The Future of Storytelling: A Middle Eastern Series (Part 3)
Mohammed Harib
UAE Cartoonist & Director
Maitha AlAwadi
UAE Film Director & Scriptwriter
Butheina Kazim
Cinema Akil, Dubai Arthouse Cinema (Moderator)
Future Society: A World-Building Game for Philanthropy
Workshop
- 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Olga Tarasov
VP, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Alisha Bhagat
Futures Lead, Forum for the Future
Nature Reborn: Engineering the Future of Biodiversity
Liv Williamson
Marine Biologist, Revive & Restore
Ila Colombo
Creative Director, AI Collaborator, DEOND
Fatma AlFalasi
Dubai Future Foundation (Moderator)
Expansive Experiences: A Step Beyond Immersion
Emilie Baltz
Experiential Artist & Creative Director, Gensler DXD
Brendan McGetrick
Museum of the Future