This dance and percussion ensemble preserves the artistic, cultural and heritage values of Benin, illuminating world stages with their talents, magnificent vocals and choreography; using traditional instruments, revisiting popular and cult songs.

Benin: Pepit'Arts Dance Performance

Pepit'Arts dance performance

In celebration of the National Day of Benin at Expo 2020 Dubai, watch this dance and percussion ensemble representing the country's rich culture and traditions.

Inside Expo_New

Architecture II: Al Wasl Plaza

Exhibitor logo

EXHIBITOR Magazine's World Expo Awards

EXHIBITOR Magazine Announces World Expo Award Winners

Al Wasl Plaza

Al Wasl 

Notice the Expo logo at the centre of Al Wasl Plaza's oculus.

Al Wasl Dome 3

Experience a towering structure under which the Leaning Tower of Pisa could fit.

Al Wasl 4

Al Wasl Plaza Images

The Opening Ceremony: A Story of Hope

Expo 2020 Dubai, the first Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region in the 170 years of World Expo history, opened with a celebration of global togetherness and optimism. Spectacular storytelling, performances, fireworks, and immersive projections on the dome of Al Wasl, the heart of Expo 2020, all told a story of collaboration and hope for the future, echoing Expo 2020 Dubai's theme of "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". Global artists joining in the celebration included Andrea Bocelli, Ellie Goulding, Lang Lang and Mohammed Abdu.

Description 

General view of Al Wasl Plaza 

The first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, Expo 2020 opened with a celebration of global connection and hope for the future.

Jaw-dropping immersive projections beginning with the fiery birth of our planet.

A celebration of the majesty of nature, both underwater and on land.

Incredible local and international performers.

Image Gallery

Expo 2020 Dubai Opening Ceremony

Long ago, travellers referred to Dubai as Al Wasl, or “the connection” – a name that reflects the area’s heritage as a meeting point. This spirit of coming together takes shape in Al Wasl Plaza, Expo 2020’s spectacular centrepiece and gathering ground for celebration and wonder. 

Situated at the meeting point of Expo’s three thematic districts, Al Wasl Plaza's dome is tall enough to fit the Leaning Tower of Pisa beneath it. By night, she transforms into a 360-degree projection screen, blanketed by more than 250 state-of-the-art projectors. Al Wasl Plaza is a hub for visitors and the vibrant heart of our Expo.

UAE flag

Daily performances, national day ceremonies and more

Al Wasl Dome Projections

Immersive 360-degree domed projection screen

Al Wasl exterior

Lush garden spaces for relaxation and connection

Al Wasl features

Al Wasl Logo-01

Al Wasl Plaza 360

Al Wasl Plaza is 130 metres in diameter and more than 67 metres tall. Delicate-looking despite its titanic scale, her pattern is inspired by our Expo's logo, which is fully visible at the oculus.

and magical

Extraordinary

The life force of the Expo 2020 site, Al Wasl Plaza proudly carries the old name of Dubai.

The beating heart of Expo 2020

A series of immersive 360° videos of Al Wasl's projection shows that put you centre stage for each stunning performance. 

DUBAI, 12 October 2021. Underwater Harmony performance at Al Wasl, Expo 2020 Dubai. (Photo by Christopher Pike/Expo 2020 Dubai)


Underwater Harmony performance at Al Wasl

Al Wasl Plaza 360° Immersive Experiences

The Beating Heart of Expo 2020

The Beating Heart of Expo

Join us in celebrating Benin's National Day at Expo 2020

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The Dahomey Amazons, an 18th century all-female fighting force that inspired the movie Black Panther, once protected kings in what is now modern-day Benin. The West African nation honours their legacy in its Expo 2020 pavilion and shares how the Amazons’ spirit lives on in the women of Benin today. Become part of the action as you explore Beninese history through female-made art and film. Cheer on the country’s “Nana Benz” female entrepreneurs who turned traditional crafts and skills into business empires, then find out how Benin’s sustainable tourism economy seeks to preserve the ultimate female spirit, Mother Nature. 


Benin Pavilion

Benin National Day

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Benin flag

Benin 4

MENASA is an Emirati Design Platform curated by Samer Yamani, to celebrate Emirati artisanal work and to identify, curate, promote and present Emirati design and crafts through exclusive design collections and content.

In this event, an exciting line up of distinguished panelists in the field of design from around the world discuss unique perspectives of design storytelling, and how they have been able to break out of the expected and present the extraordinary.

The Power of Storytelling in Design

Objects and crafts on display at MENASA Emirati Design Platform Web Image m9541

MENASA’s third panel discussion, featuring distinguished panelists from around the world to discuss unique perspectives of design storytelling, and how they enable moving from the expected to the extraordinary.

MENASA – Emirati Design Platform - Audio Guide

MENASA 1

Menasa Image Gallery

MENASA - Emirati Design Platform offers visitors an overview of the UAE’s vibrant artisan culture. Its bespoke collections are created with top local and international designers and explore seven Emirati “Craft Stories”: safeefa, clay, talli, sadu, coffee making, Gargour making and pearl diving. Each story leads you through the processes involved in crafting the design collections. The programme’s space hosts design collections to stimulate and inspire. Many of the one-of-a-kind pieces on display are also available to take home, with each purchase helping to sustain the local design ecosystem.

Aiming to identify, curate, promote and present Emirati design and crafts through exclusive design collections and curated content, MENASA provides a unique opportunity to explore traditional Emirati crafts through contemporary design, innovative materials and advanced processes. The platform features exciting design collaborations between over 40 local and international designers from 11 countries.

8000 Waves Design

Crafts and Design

Exploring Emirati

MENASA – Emirati Design Platform

MENASA: The Power of Storytelling in Design

This show celebrates the beautiful arts and culture of the fascinating country of Vietnam. Enjoy a myriad of traditional arts and artisan products as well as Vietnamese traditional music performances in this unmissable show.

Arts Show

Vietnam Arts show

Welcome to a celebration of the beautiful arts and culture of Vietnam, showcasing traditional arts and artisan products as well as traditional music performances.


The Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre is a performance space hosting cultural performances and live music for seated crowds, located in Al Forsan Park. The venue’s design features a model of two Ghaf trees that intertwine above the centre of the stage. 

Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre

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Vietnam Image Gallery

The fog-wreathed mountains and vibrant green rice paddies of Vietnam are places of deep tradition, housing ancient temples, centuries-old villages and a wealth of unique cultural history. The Vietnam Pavilion aims to reintroduce visitors to the nation’s rich heritage and highlight its investment potential. Explore traditional folk-art performances, bamboo flute concerts and delightful water-puppet shows, take a 3D digital tour of Vietnam’s vibrant tourism destinations and discover a bounty of culture and cuisine at the pavilion’s handicraft shop and restaurant.


Vietnam

Interior of the Vietnam Pavilion Web Image m12377

Vietnam Pavilion

Vietnam: Arts Show

In celebration of Kuwait's National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai, enjoy a unique performance that fuses the old and the modern, showcasing Kuwait's rich musical heritage and diverse culture.

Al Wasl Plaza radiates with an operatic show performed by the soprano Amani Al Hajji, who is the first female opera singer from the Arabian Gulf. She sings Italian, Russian, German, French and English with effortless ease and has a love of Puccini's music.

The evening also features the famous Kuwait TV Folkloric Troupe, which was established in 1978 with the aim of preserving the musical heritage of Kuwait.

Amani Al Hajji and TV Band

Al Mas folkloric kuwaiti band

In celebration of Kuwait's National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai, enjoy an operatic show performed by the soprano Amani Al Hajji, and a traditional music performance by the Kuwait TV Folkloric Troupe.

Join us in celebrating Kuwait's National Day at Expo 2020

Kuwait

Kuwait National Day

Kuwait Pavilion

stamp Sustainability-Kuwait

As a people who have thrived amid the desert’s unforgiving sands, Kuwaitis understand the importance of conserving natural resources. The Kuwait Pavilion at Expo 2020 shares this ethos with the world, focusing on all aspects of sustainability – from efficient new transport networks to futuristic smart homes.

The pavilion’s architecture references the region’s glowing sand and sun, while the towering central funnel is a nod to Kuwait City’s distinctive conical water towers. Journey inside to explore reimagined cities, interactive data banks and a one-of-a-kind “Life Spring” that offers a dazzling visualisation of Kuwait’s sustainable future.


Kuwait logo

Influenced by the iconic shapes of the nation’s water towers, sun and sand, the Kuwait Pavilion is a grand golden structure, made of countless triangles joined in a geometric design with a funnel-like canopy overhead. 

Benin: Pepit'Arts Dance Performance

Benin: Pepit'Arts Dance Performance

Participants

Benin National Day.