Celebrate Cabo Verde's National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai and take in a special performance of traditional music and dance, live from the gardens of Al Wasl Plaza.

Music in the Garden

Cabo Verde

In celebration of Cabo Verde's National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai, take in a special performance of music and dance in Al Wasl Plaza's gardens.

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

Music in the Garden, Cultural Performance during Cabo Verde National Day m42220

Music in the Garden, Cultural Performance during Cabo Verde National Day m42221

Music in the Garden, Cultural Performance during Cabo Verde National Day m42222

Music in the Garden, Cultural Performance during Cabo Verde National Day m42224

Music in the Garden, Cultural Performance during Cabo Verde National Day m42225

Music in the Garden, Cultural Performance during Cabo Verde National Day m42226

Music in the Garden, Cultural Performance during Cabo Verde National Day m42230

Music in the Garden, Cultural Performance during Cabo Verde National Day m42233

Music in the Garden, Cultural Performance during Cabo Verde National Day m42239

Music in the Garden, Cultural Performance during Cabo Verde National Day m42240

Join us in celebrating Cabo Verde's National Day at Expo

For centuries, the Cabo Verde archipelago off the western tip of Africa was a vital stop for sailing voyages to recharge on their way across the Atlantic Ocean. The Cabo Verde Pavilion makes the island nation a must-see stop on your journey through Expo 2020. You’ll experience the country’s unique blend of European and African cultures, learn about its sustainable development and world-class coffee production, and feel the warm embrace of Cabo Verdean hospitality, or “Morabeza”.


Cabo Verde Pavilion

Cabo Verde National Day

Cabo verde Cover

stamp Mibility-Cabo Verde

Image gallery

Cabo Verde logo (Flag)

Cabo Verde image 

Cabo Verde: Music in the Garden

MENASA, an Emirati Design Platform presented by Expo 2020 Dubai, aims to spark a new appreciation for Emirati crafts as contemporary and living expressions of Emirati cultural identity. By merging artisanal skills with innovation and technology, MENASA aims to cultivate a creative dialogue between designers and artisans from the UAE and around the world. Craft Stories is a series of seven unique curated design collaborations telling stories of today's UAE through a selection of its crafts and traditions. Merging the skills and rich heritage of Emirati artisans together with contemporary creativity and innovation in techniques and materials, each story is a multi-layered journey that reflects many facets of the UAE, its landscape, people, traditions, values and identity. Technology and Crafts: Interpretation of Crafts Through Technology will introduce one of the main craft story collections showcased at MENASA, the TEN to ONE capsule collection by Iwan Maktabi, Edouard Cabay and House of Artisans: a bespoke rug collection made from a sustainable material that is painted by Robot through AI.

Technology and Crafts: Interpretation of Crafts Through Technology

Menasa

A panel discussion organised by the Emirati design platform MENASA, in which distinguished designers from around the world contribute to engaging dialogue around the craft stories showcased at MENASA.

Carmelo Zappulla (C), Founder and Executive Director External Reference, Edouard Cabay (R), Architect and Founder and Principal of Appareil and Salama Al Shamsi (L), Director of Qasr Al Hosn during the Technology and Crafts Interpretation o

Mohamed Maktabi (L2), Co-founder and CEO of Iwan Maktabi, Carmelo Zappulla (R2), Founder and Executive Director External Reference, Edouard Cabay (R1), Architect and Founder and Principal of Appareil and Salama Al Shamsi (R3), Director of Qa (1)

Mohamed Maktabi (L2), Co-founder and CEO of Iwan Maktabi, Carmelo Zappulla (R2), Founder and Executive Director External Reference, Edouard Cabay (R1), Architect and Founder and Principal of Appareil and Salama Al Shamsi (R3), Director of Qa

Mohamed Maktabi, Co-founder and CEO of Iwan Maktabi during the Technology and Crafts Interpretation of Crafts through Technology at 2020 Club by Emaar m41102

Salama Al Shamsi, Director of Qasr Al Hosn during the Technology and Crafts Interpretation of Crafts through Technology at 2020 Club by Emaar m41099

MENASA | Technology and Crafts: Interpretation of Crafts Through Technology

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

Vietnam Arts Show at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre m68579

Vietnam Arts Show at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre m68582

Vietnam Arts Show at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre m68585

Vietnam Arts Show at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre m68586

Vietnam Arts Show at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre m68587

Vietnam 1

stamp vietnam pavilion 2021 stamp chon

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

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.

Cabo Verde: Music in the Garden

Music in the Garden

Participants

Image Gallery

Cabo Verde National Day.