Gaze upward as Al Wasl Plaza's canvas transforms into a giant observatory then releases you on an epic adventure through the cosmic heavens above.

Cosmos

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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.

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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

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Cosmos: Al Wasl Plaza (Oct 9th)

Experience thirty years of Iranian presence through memorable musical pieces sung by Iranian classical singer Salar Aghili alongside tunes by The Iranian National Orchestra.

Salar Aghili and the Iranian National Orchestra

The Iranian National Orchestra

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

Salar Aghili performs with the Iranian National Orchestra during the Iran and Italy Night of Ennio Morricone at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre m44400

Salar Aghili performs with the Iranian National Orchestra during the Iran and Italy Night of Ennio Morricone at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre m44409

Salar Aghili performs with the Iranian National Orchestra during the Iran and Italy Night of Ennio Morricone at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre m44411

Salar Aghili performs with the Iranian National Orchestra during the Iran and Italy Night of Ennio Morricone at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre m44412

Iran New 1

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Combining traditional exhibits on Iranian art and crafts with an immersive array of live audio-visual feeds, the Islamic Republic of Iran Pavilion offers a real-time look into the life of Iranian citizens. The pavilion is spread across several sleekly designed “boxes”, each offering a different perspective on the nation’s ancient culture. As you explore Iran’s production of saffron (known as “red gold” for its rarity and expense) or peruse its artisan-made carpets, curated video displays will digitally transport you to real Iranian bazaars, stunning landscapes and more.

Iran

Inspired by the many tales in the classic book One Thousand and One Nights, the Islamic Republic of Iran Pavilion is a collection of 13 box-like blue buildings of various sizes, each of them housed within a curtain of hanging, bronze-coloured balls. These curtain structures surround each building on all four sides, and they are made of long strands of clay beads that part to admit visitors.

Iran 2 

to a classic tome 

A colourful ode

Islamic Republic of Iran Pavilion

Iran: Salar Aghili and the Iranian National Orchestra

Spring into movement with the flash mobs as they take the Jubilee Stage in this dashing performance.

Flow Makers

DP World: Flow Makers

Spring into movement with the flash mobs as they take the Jubilee Stage in this dashing performance.


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With a striking design inspired by fossilised sand dunes, Jubilee Stage is an open-air festival stage. Located in Jubilee Park, it hosts performances and large concerts.

Jubilee Stage

DP World - Partner Pavilion

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From the dredging of the Dubai Creek in the 1950s through to today’s bustling Port of Jebel Ali — the Middle East’s busiest port — Dubai has long been a hub for global cargo. At the DP World Pavilion, you’ll explore the local history and future of cargo through the theme of “Making Trade Flow”, demonstrating the many ways that the movement of goods affects our lives.

From the prototype Hyperloop Cargospeed pod outside the pavilion to the technologies featured within, visitors can tour the full panorama of global trade through real-time visualisations of worldwide cargo traffic, augmented-reality exhibits, digital games and more.


DP World

DP World Flow Pavilion 360

DP World Flow Pavilion is a stout, five-storey structure with rounded corners, which features alternating bands of glass and steel. Tall, thin slats climb up the length of the building and curve in a thin strip around its sides. Flowing lines of red, green, and white enliven this external façade.

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Flowing

DP World Flow Pavilion 

Multi-platinum selling Canadian artist Ria Mae has toured Europe with Tegan and Sara, North America with Dido, and Canada with Scott Helman. Ria enjoyed success with platinum certified singles such as ‘Clothes Off’, ‘Ooh Love’, and ‘Bend’. Watch Ria Mae live on the Jubilee Stage at Expo 2020 Dubai. 

Ria Mae

Enjoy a musical performance by world renowned Canadian artist Ria Mae, as she performs some of her greatest platinum singles such as ‘Clothes Off’, ‘Ooh Love’, and ‘Bend’.

Canada

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Canada Carousel

From its people to its sweeping terrain, Canada is a nation of astounding diversity. With its circular design based on the drum, an instrument found across all the world’s cultures, the Canada Pavilion at Expo 2020 celebrates the unity of its diverse inhabitants, as well as their bright shared future.

From outside, the pavilion impresses with its encircling wooden lattice, which evokes Canada’s natural landscapes while paying homage to the geometry of Islamic mashrabiya screens. But the wonder truly begins within, as an immersive theatre experience takes you on a stirring tour of Canada’s land, peoples and technological innovations.


Novel exhibits featuring interactive shafts of light

Celebration of Canada’s diverse people and landscapes

Canada Features

Canada Logo

The Canada Pavilion evokes the shape of a drum for its commanding, elegant Expo pavilion. Hundreds of pieces of Canadian lumber form a round lattice of diamond-like shapes that pays homage to the captivating geometry of Arabic mashrabiya screens. The massive disc seems to hover weightless over the pavilion’s central core, which is also decorated with wood.

Cosmos

Participants

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