Celebrate Ethiopia's National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai and immerse yourself in the nation's incredible culture.

Ethiopia National Day Ceremony

Ethiopia

Inside Expo_New

Architecture II: Al Wasl Plaza

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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.

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

Cultural performance during the Ethiopia National Day Ceremony at Al Wasl m57565

Cultural performance during the Ethiopia National Day Ceremony at Al Wasl m57566

Cultural performance during the Ethiopia National Day Ceremony at Al Wasl m57568

Cultural performance during the Ethiopia National Day Ceremony at Al Wasl m57569

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

Ethiopia flag

More than 100,000 years ago, it’s believed that the first modern humans set out into the wider world from Ethiopia. The Ethiopia Pavilion takes you on an enthralling, aeons-spanning tour of the nation’s history and culture, from humanity’s beginnings to the vibrant modern day.

Your Ethiopian journey begins – as mankind’s did – in a dim cave. Explore prehistoric development and meet a replica of Lucy, the famed 3.2-million-year-old ape-like skeleton found in Ethiopia’s Awash Valley. Emerge into a bright modern factory to learn about the country’s manufacturing successes, before enjoying a classic Ethiopian coffee ceremony.


Ethiopia Pavilion

Ethiopia National Day

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stamp Ethiopia Logo Black

Ethiopia Image Gallery

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Join us for Live@Expo as we visit the Opportunity District and  explore three diverse cultures, with sips of coffee and tea as well as delicious traditional treats, along the way. Photosensitivity warning: some locations in Live@Expo broadcasts may feature bright flashing lights that may affect photosensitive viewers.


Ep 51: Norway, Ethiopia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina Pavilions

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Join us for Live@Expo as we visit Norway, Ethopia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina Pavilions.

Use your Facebook, YouTube, Tik Tok or Twitch account to join the chat and earn points!

Interactive, chat-driven tour co-curated by you, the audience.

Earn badges, go on treasure hunts and top the leaderboard!

Bosnia 1

stamp Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Pavilion brings the hospitality of this Balkan land to Expo 2020 with an interactive exhibition that offers a playful spin on the nation’s heart-like shape. As you explore the pavilion’s cultural videos, exhibits, visual displays and more, each item you encounter will bear a special scannable heart symbol that provides you with more depth and context online. At the end, you’ll 3D-print your own custom-designed heart at the unique “heart it” booth.


Bosnia Logo

Experience the hospitality, connectivity, innovation and diversity of this nation.

Bosnia 4

Bosnia and Herzegovina Pavilion

Norway Pavilion

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Norway Carousel

As a people who have always relied on healthy seas, Norwegians are also some of the ocean’s most vigilant stewards — and they’ve brought a powerful message of marine sustainability to Expo 2020.

With a bold architectural design based on ancient trading boats, the Norway Pavilion offers a grand voyage through the nation’s pioneering vision for sustainable ocean development. Explore Norway’s eco-friendly fisheries, floating offshore wind power stations, seabed carbon-storage research and much more.


Bold architectural design based on age-old Norse ships

Engaging exhibits exploring marine sustainability

Showcase of Norway’s stunning natural landscapes

Norway Features

Norway Logo

The Norway Pavilion takes the form of an impressive vessel with a leading edge that juts forward and up like the prow of a ship. The façade of the pavilion consists of uniform metal panels with large windows of varying widths and heights along its long flank.

ocean solutions

Sustainable 

Live@Expo Ep 51: Norway, Ethiopia and Bosnia & Herzegovina Pavilions

Welcome to an interactive live tour where you and a community of virtual visitors from around the world control where the guide goes and what you see! Earn points and top the leaderboard, win badges and reveal treasures. Your points convert to Seeds of Change which you can pledge to the cause of your choice.

Live@Expo

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Join a new virtual tour of the Expo! You control where the guide goes as they explore Expo 2020.

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Al Nejashi was the Abyssinian King of the Christian Kingdom of Aksum - Ethiopia in present day. When the first followers of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) were persecuted and oppressed in Mecca by Quraysh, the Prophet searched for a safe place and compassionate person who could grant them protection and a safe hideout. He said to his followers: "Go to the Habesha, to the Christian king. There is justice in his kingdom, and Habesha is the land of truth". Fifteen muslims had their first migration (hijra) to the Kingdom of Aksum in 615 AD, where the first muslim settlment took place in the world.

Al Nejashi Day

Al Nejashi Day (Alenegashi)

An illuminating event showcasing Ethiopia, where the first muslim migration (hijra) took place to seek refuge in the Christian Kingdom of Aksum under the reign of the Abyssinian King "Al Nejashi".

H&W Business Forum

Located close to the heart of Expo 2020 Dubai, adjacent to Al Wasl Plaza, the Business Connect Centre is a space that International Participants can utilise for events, workshops and meetings. The BCC is also host to Chambers of Commerce and trade entities from the GCC, helping to connect businesses to their counterparts. 

BCC: Business Connect Centre

Ethiopia: Al Nejashi Day

Discover the surprising and unique products that Ethiopia produces. The country has an enviable reputation for producing premium coffee, as well as tea and other many other high-quality agricultural produce. So come along, and get a taste of Ethiopia!

Taste of Origin

Ethiopia: Taste of Origin

Discover the surprising and unique products that Ethiopia produces.

Inside Expo: Sustainability I: The World’s Oldest Innovator

Inside Expo: Sustainability II: Harnessing the Sun

The Powerhouse Pavilions

Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion - Audio Guide

Terra

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Terra - Carousel

At Expo 2020, sustainability is an urgent, attainable reality, and Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion is the proof. Both immersive exhibition space and exemplar of environmental self-sufficiency, Terra is a pioneering piece of architecture that pushes the limits of renewable design.

The pavilion’s 130-metre-wide solar canopy – so vast that you could park 10 city buses head-to-tail atop it – converts sunshine into electricity for the exhibits below. Artfully funnelled natural light and local plant species, together with technologies that can reduce water consumption by 75 per cent, show the way to a sustainable future.


Inspiring experiential journey through our shared sustainable future

Two immersive paths to choose from: beneath a forest and beneath an ocean

LEED Platinum environmental features, including solar power and water recycling

Terra 

terra

Videos

Terra is a super-sized marvel of forward-thinking design. The pavilion’s technology generates enough energy in a year to power a Nissan Leaf to drive halfway to Mars, while another system captures moisture from the air you breathe and turns it into drinkable water. Enter and take a fantastical journey through the wonders of nature, humanity’s challenges and the promise of our shared future. 


terra 

of harmonious living

A model

The Sustainability Pavilion

Terra is home to five thought-provoking art installations from artists around the world, with each piece demonstrating a response to the issue of sustainability.

Terra Art Installations

Young visitors can explore a fantastical world inspired by Terra's very own octopus, Octavia.

Ethiopia National Day Ceremony

Participants

Image Gallery

Ethiopia National Day.