UAE and Japan Partner to Establish the Middle East’s First Hot Air Balloon Museum

The Emirates Balloon Museum 7 will showcase the history of ballooning and its technologies, with Japan’s Saga Balloon Museum supporting the development of a new cultural and educational attraction.

The Emirates Balloon Team has signed an international cooperation agreement with Japan’s Saga Balloon Museum to establish the Middle East’s first comprehensive museum dedicated to hot air balloons, aiming to introduce a distinctive cultural and tourism experience combining aviation history, education, and modern technology.

According to an announcement published by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on November 11, 2026, the project will be named the Emirates Balloon Museum 7. It is expected to become the seventh specialized balloon museum worldwide, according to the project organizers, following similar institutions in the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Japan.

The agreement was signed during a visit by an Emirates Balloon Team delegation to the Saga Balloon Museum, coinciding with the team’s participation in the 39th Saga International Balloon Fiesta and the Pacific Cup.

The visit included an exchange of expertise on managing specialized museums, presenting the history of ballooning, and developing educational and training programs.

The museum is planned to be managed and operated by Emirati professionals, benefiting from Japanese expertise in exhibition presentation and the organization of specialized activities.

The museum aims to introduce visitors to the history of hot air balloons, advances in their manufacturing, and the technologies used in their operation.

It will also document the Emirates Balloon Team’s participation in international festivals and events, highlighting its contributions to the development and promotion of ballooning.

A dedicated section will showcase initiatives promoting peace and tolerance, including the balloon carrying the message “The World Will Never Forget You, Zayed,” honoring the legacy of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Captain Abdulaziz Nasser Al Mansouri, President of the Emirates Balloon Team, said the project would combine tourism and cultural experiences with educational and training programs, facilitating the transfer of international expertise to Emirati professionals.

Kiyoshi Mori, Deputy Director of the Saga Balloon Museum, welcomed the partnership and expressed the Japanese institution’s support for the initiative.

The project’s significance lies in presenting hot air ballooning as part of aviation history and technological heritage, rather than merely a recreational activity.

It could offer visitors an opportunity to explore the evolution of balloon flight, learn about the technologies behind it, and discover how ballooning has developed across different parts of the world.

The museum could eventually add a distinctive attraction to the UAE’s cultural and educational tourism offerings, particularly for families, aviation enthusiasts, and visitors interested in specialized museums.

However, the authorities have not yet announced the museum’s location, investment value, construction schedule, or expected opening date. The project therefore remains at the cooperation and planning stage rather than an operational tourist attraction.