COME WITH ME, AND YOU'LL SEE...
Welcoming Expo 2020 feels like the unwrapping of a much longed-for birthday present, anticipation reaching a crescendo when the present - or, in this case, a global fair - is finally in tangible reach. Years in the making, plus a one-year Covid-19 incurred delay, our patience has been put through its paces. But, when the Opening Ceremony took place on September 30, the world knew Expo 2020 was worth waiting for.
The World Expo launched in 1851 in London - then called the Great Exhibition - occurring every few years since, and taking place in cities all over the world, from London to Osaka and Sydney. Known for launching the future of objects we now couldn’t imagine living without - the fax machine, 1851, London; the telephone, 1876, Philadelphia; the electric car, 1900, Paris; the x-ray machine, 1904, St. Louis - the world fairs have shaped the course of human history, whilst showcasing the future of tomorrow.
Now, in Dubai, with a theme centred around ‘Connecting Minds and Creating The Future’, 191 countries converge to put forward their messaging around Sustainability, Mobility and Opportunity. Every country has its own pavilion (a world first), with Al Wasl Plaza linking the three districts and acting as the beating heart of Expo 2020. Let’s go explore...
COUNTRY PAVILIONS
191 countries are taking part in Expo 2020, using their own pavilion to showcase the great and good about their culture, their role in the wider world and building a better and inspired tomorrow. Singapore’s net-zero energy pavilion lets visitoris wander through a rainforest in a spectacular 3-dimensional green space, while you can see a pavilion made from 9,000-year-old compostable soil over at Austria.
You can learn how to water the desert at the Czech Republic Pavilion, or learn how future technologies and clever ideas are equalisers for a smart life, smart thinking and smart feelings over at the Ukraine Pavilion. You won’t be able to cover it all in one day, so choose one district to explore in a day and... Wear comfy shoes!
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?
Between watching a live show on a 360-degree canvas at the beautiful Al Wasl Plaza, listening to a Beethoven-inspired robo-band at the Germany Pavilion, watching the daily Colours of the World Parade and embracing world culture and music via various street festivals and concerts, there’s plenty going on. There are also themed weeks each addressing global challenges, with events centred around Space (Oct 17-23), Knowledge & Learning (Dec 12-18) and Food, Agriculture & Livelihoods (Feb 17-23).
Food-wise, you can have lunch with robots, go on a futuristic culinary odyssey and be one of the first to try brand new restaurants, such as Kojaki - a modern Korean restaurant with a Japanese blend. There’s also plenty for the active-minded, with tournaments, sports clinics and the opportunity to meet your favourite sporting heroes, from AC Milan to the Rajasthan Royals, as well as immersive cultural activities from installations to artistic workshops. You’ve got six months to experience it all. Are you ready?