Watch as astronaut Thomas Pesquet and Ambassador of the France Pavilion is projected on Al Wasl's dome, joining Expo live from the International Space Station (ISS) in celebration of France National Day.

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France National Day ISS Call

Join us in celebrating France National Day at Expo 2020.

France

Centuries ago, Paris earned the nickname “City of Light” for its early adoption of street lighting, which lit the way for great leaps in human development. With the France Pavilion, the nation brings this same concept to Expo 2020 in quintessentially French style, offering a collection of luminous spaces that explore how light enables human progress.
From the illuminated surfaces on the pavilion’s exterior to the glowing dreamscapes and lighthouse within, you’ll bask in an array of radiant exhibits, with a special emphasis on French mobility. Best of all, the photovoltaic tiles on the pavilion’s outer façade mean it’s all powered sustainably.

At first glance, the France Pavilion simply looks like a linked complex of grey, squared structures - a massive upside-down “L” shape hanging in space over a central plaza. And then, the lights blaze on: more than 2,000 square metres of illuminated surfaces cover almost the entire façade of the pavilion, from ceilings to walls.

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France Pavilion

France National Day

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France Logo

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France: Space Station Call

Simonetta Di Pippo, Director of the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), and former astronaut Marcos Cesar Pontes, now Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil, will share their personal journeys and discuss their vision and insights towards a more gender equal future in the space sector.

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An exploration of opportunity, gender equality and empowerment in the space sector. Led by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).

Inside Expo: The Brave Women

Women's Pavilion - Audio Guide

Women's Pavilion 1

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Women's Pavilion Image gallery

Women make tremendous contributions to the world, yet many remain unknown or forgotten. The Women’s Pavilion in collaboration with Cartier at Expo 2020 challenges this imbalance by taking visitors on a journey through the remarkable achievements of women across the globe. Our showcase underscores the principle that “When women thrive, all of humanity thrives”.

The pavilion showcases the exceptional accomplishments of women, world-famous and unknown. Immerse yourself in the triumphs of women through history, discover the journeys women have taken to claim their equality and dive into the stories of the inspirational women shaping our future.


Globe-spanning tour of women’s achievements and ongoing challenges

Multisensory exhibition created by actor/artist Mélanie Laurent and Emirati artists

Majlis-inspired social space for live conversations and events

Women's 

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Reflecting the UAE’s commitment to women’s empowerment and gender equality, the Women’s Pavilion serves as a catalyst for social transformation, both in Dubai and far beyond. By championing exceptional women, it aims to inspire dialogue, shatter gender misconceptions, and leave a lasting legacy of positive change for women worldwide.

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inspiring change

Championing women, 

Women's Pavilion 

Fireside Chat: Space4Women - Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Space

Under the title “New Perspectives”, the Women’s World Majlis programme invites you to recognise a fundamental principle: when women thrive, humanity thrives.

The programme highlights the impact women have made on society and shines a light on their often forgotten contributions. By shifting perspectives, we embrace the infinite approaches to a more balanced world.

A common vision for a unique collaboration; sustainable development goals and aspirations for a peaceful and prosperous world cannot be achieved without gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Sharing this vision, Expo 2020 Dubai and Cartier celebrate women changemakers around the globe, asserting our conviction that innovative collaboration between the private sector, civil society and committed individuals is the pathway to meaningful change.

Women's Pavilion

When women thrive, humanity thrives. A common vision for a unique collaboration.

Women’s Pavilion Majlis

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We bring together space heroes from across the globe for an out-of-this-world experience in the heart of Expo 2020 - Al Wasl Plaza. Be enthralled by a stunning audio-visual show that brings the universe to you and meet the extraordinary explorers who have dedicated their lives to the exploration of the great unknown. 

Launch into Space at Expo 2020

Astronauts Al Wasl

Meet astronauts from around the world in a spectacular show in Al Wasl Plaza, with remarks by Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology and Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency.

Architecture II: Al Wasl Plaza

EXHIBITOR Magazine's World Expo Awards

EXHIBITOR Magazine Announces World Expo Award Winners

Al Wasl Plaza

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Al Wasl Plaza Images

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.

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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.

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.

Daily performances, national day ceremonies and more

Immersive 360-degree domed projection screen

Lush garden spaces for relaxation and connection

Al Wasl features

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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.

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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. 

Al Wasl Plaza 360° Immersive Experiences

The Beating Heart of Expo 2020

Inside Expo: The Next Great Frontier 

Space travel and exploration has captured imaginations for generations and the dream of space tourism is now closer to being a reality than ever. At the same time, with outer space remaining one of our few truly shared resources, peacefully managing this distant realm remains crucial. During this fascinating week, we highlight the latest innovations in space research and travel, while also providing a platform to discuss critical issues.

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How do we safely and productively explore new frontiers?

Insight Report from Space Week

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Space Week

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Astronauts @ Al Wasl

Space travel and exploration has captured imaginations for generations, and on the back of exponential technological advancement, the dream of space tourism is now closer to being a reality than ever. At the same time, with outer space remaining one of our few truly shared resources, peacefully and equitably managing this distant realm requires concerted international cooperation among space-faring nations. 
As the Space sector evolves, both public and private actors must take collective action to transition and contribute towards the long-term sustainability of the Space environment as well as contribute to sustainability here on Earth.   
This event will focus on sustainable space exploration, the role of women in the space economy, and the link between space exploration and sustainability here on Earth. It will also highlight the solutions that Expo 2020 Dubai has integrated into the Expo site, or funded through Expo live, that rely on innovations that were derived from space exploration, such as climate modelling, solar energy, water recycling, carbon ﬁbre as a building material, Internet of Things (IoT), GPS and others.

Space for a Better World.

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Convening experts and thought leaders around sustainable space exploration, the role of women in the space economy, and the link between space technologies and sustainability on Earth.

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Jeff Kersey Senior Sustainability Manager Expo 2020 Dubai PMC speaks during Protecting The Great Unknown Sustainability at Expo Web Image m5990

Maruška Strah Executive Director World Space Week speaks during Protecting The Great Unknown Sustainability at Expo Web Image m5991

Yousef Caires Senior Vice President Expo 2020 Dubai speaks during Protecting The Great Unknown Sustainability at Expo Web Image m5988

Yousuf Luiz Caires is the Senior Vice President of Expo Live, an innovation and partnership programme launched by Expo 2020 Dubai to fund, accelerate and promote creative solutions that improve lives while preserving our planet. Yousuf is a founding member and Managing Director of the Milele Zanzibar Foundation, an NGO working to accelerate progress in the areas of health, education and livelihood opportunities in Zanzibar, Tanzania. His career also includes previous leadership roles at Dubai Cares, Staples Inc, and the Gillette Company. Yousuf received his Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and Master’s degree on International Trade and Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University.

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Senior Vice President, Expo Live, Expo 2020 Dubai


Yousuf Luiz Caires

Maruška Strah interest for space deepened during her work at the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, where she gained significant insight in the work of both, public and private sector involved with the space industry. Her main area of interest is Space Traffic Management. Her enthusiasm and passion for space will lead her to bringing space closer to people, especially youth and women, working in space and STE(A)M. Maruška is pursuing a PhD in Legal Studies at the Law Faculty of the University of Vienna, where she is focusing her research on Space Traffic Management. Maruška is a member of the International Institute of Space Law, the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety and the European Center for Space Law. 

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Executive Director, World Space Week Association, Slovenia

Maruška Strah 

In his 20-year sustainability career, Jeff has been involved in a range of exciting activities, beginning with a role promoting European environmental technology exports to South East Asia. He then moved into collaborative research, producing best practice guidance in sustainable design. For the past 14 years, he has worked at Jacobs, providing sustainability support to a vast array of projects, latterly in the Middle East. 
As Senior Sustainability Manager, Jeff helps implement Expo’s sustainability strategy. He has been particularly active in reviewing pavilion designs, and getting Expo certified to international sustainability standards such as LEED and CEEQUAL. He supports the implementation of Smart City monitoring processes across the site, and oversees the calculation of Expo’s carbon footprint.

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Senior Sustainability Manager, Expo 2020 Dubai 

Jeff Kersey

Abdulla Khoory works as a Senior Grant Manager at Expo Live, an innovation and impact grant program with a fund of $100 million dollars from the government of Dubai, to source and fund social innovation from around the world to showcase at Expo 2020 Dubai. Expo Live provides grant capital of $100,000 to social enterprises at proof of concept stage to further test, implement or scale their solutions in their respective communities. Abdulla earned a distinction in his Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs with a minor in Political Science from Northeastern University, Boston USA.

Senior Grant Manager, Expo Live, Expo 2020 Dubai

Abdulla Khoory

Hoor AlMaazmi is a space science researcher at the UAE Space Agency and a member of
the Emirates Mars Mission science team since 2017. She is interested in studying the
link between Mars water vapor rise during dust storms and hydrogen escape. She
graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a M.S. degree in Aerospace
Engineering Sciences in 2020 and from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.S.
degree in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Nuclear Engineering in 2016.

Space Science Researcher, UAE Space Agency

Hoor Abdelrahman AlMaazmi 

Luc Piguet is the CEO and co-Founder of ClearSpace, a ground-breaking initiative to clear up Space debris. In 2019, the European Space Agency selected Luc and his team at ClearSpace to lead a European consortium that will develop technologies to capture and deorbit space debris. Already, the aim of the initial CleanSpace-1 initiative was to develop technologies to capture and deorbit obsolete space objects such as out-of-use satellites, rocket stages, parts of solar panels, that had been put into orbit over the past 60 years and that are now filling up the space immediately above the Earth. These objects orbit our planet at a speed of 28,000 kmph, making them dangerous projectiles for working satellites and astronauts at the international space station. 


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Luc Piguet

As Executive Manager at EPFL Space Center, ESpace is an interdisciplinary unit responsible for the federation of space activities at the school, which hosts a research initiative on sustainable space 
logistics and the Space Sustainability Rating. Emmanuelle has 10 years’ experience in space transportation in academia, agency and industry from pre-development projects up to launch operations. She holds Space Engineering degrees both from the University of Technology of Compiegne, France, and the Technical 
University of Braunschweig, Germany. She has completed in 2021 a certificate of advanced studies at the Swiss Institute of Technology in Zürich in Technology and Public Policy : Policy Process. 

Executive manager, EPFL Space Center(eSpace), Swiss Institute of Technlogy, Switzerland 

Emmanuelle David 

Randy oversees Jacobs support to NASA at Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Langley Research Center, and the White Sands Test Facility. Prior to this role, Randy served as the Program Manager for our MSFC engineering and science support for 14 years. As the MSFC PM, he was responsible for providing scientific, engineering, and technical support to MSFC’s Engineering Directorate, Science and Technology Office, Flight Programs and Partnerships Office, as well as future programs and projects. Randy was the Deputy General Manager and Director of the ESTS Group’s Engineering Directorate where he supported programs such as the Space Shuttle Return-to-Flight, the International Space Station, and the development of microgravity materials science experiments. 

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Vice President, Jacobs; General Manager, NASA Enterprise Solutions

Randy Lycans

Sustainability @ Expo: Protecting the Great Unknown

Expo aims to deliver one of the most sustainable World Expos in history, supporting the UAE in its journey towards a green economy. Sustainability is integrated across both our operations and programming, embracing every opportunity to create meaningful impact, and inspiring the global community to play an active role in becoming part of a sustainable future.

The Live in Balance track of Expo 2020 Dubai's Programme for People and Planet features a tapestry of event series and experiences that spotlight our relationship with the natural world, and position Expo as a critical catalyst for restoring balance with our planet.

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Participants

France National Day.