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

Gabon National Day Ceremony

Gabon

Inside Expo_New

Architecture II: Al Wasl Plaza

Exhibitor logo

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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.

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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

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Cultural Performance during the Gabon National Day Ceremony at Al Wasl m17483

Cultural Performance by Gabonese Military Band during Gabon National Day Ceremony at Al Wasl m17543

Cultural Performance by Gabonese Military Band during Gabon National Day Ceremony at Al Wasl m17549

Cultural Performance by Gabonese Military Band during Gabon National Day Ceremony at Al Wasl m17552

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

Gabon logo

With more than 10 per cent of Gabon designated as national parkland, this Central African nation is a haven for a spectacular array of wildlife: from gorillas and forest elephants to marine turtles and three species of crocodiles. 
Get wild at the Gabon Pavilion, and explore this adventure sports paradise, which boasts hundreds of kilometres of rugged forest ready for quad off-roading and eco safari hikes. Meanwhile, vibrant capital city Libreville shows off Gabon’s more cosmopolitan side, meshing African tradition with colonial French flair. 

Gabon Pavilion

Gabon National Day

Gabon National Day Ceremony 

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Join us in celebrating Gabon's National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Gabon: National Day Press Conference

Join us as we explore the pavilions celebrating the diverse world of animal life at Expo 2020! We visit the Gabon, Madagascar and Slovenia Pavilions! 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. Enjoy watching the show and chat on Facebook, YouTube or Twitch account to earn points! Photosensitivity warning: some locations in Live@Expo broadcasts may feature bright flashing lights that may affect photosensitive viewers.

Ep 27: Slovenia, Gabon and Madagascar Pavilions

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Join us as we explore the pavilions celebrating the diverse world of animal life at Expo 2020. We visit the Gabon, Madagascar and Slovenia 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!

Experience an eco-tourism haven boasting plant and animal species found nowhere else on the planet. 

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Madagascar Image Gallery

A true natural marvel, creatures that call this African island home include wide-eyed sifaka lemurs, nocturnal aye-ayes, vividly-coloured tomato frogs and the world’s rarest duck — the Madagascar Pochard. The Madagascar Pavilion showcases the best of the island’s tourism destinations, details its efforts to make trademark industries more sustainable and highlights the potential for investors to get involved in one of the globe’s most special destinations.


Madagascar

Find out how Madagascar is building a sustainable, synergetic relationship with its environment.

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Madagascar Pavilion

Slovenia pavilion

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Slovenia Carousel

Slovenia has become known as the green heart of Europe for its lush forests and picturesque lakes, and the nation is sharing this at Expo 2020. With its huge plant-covered façade and stylish “floating forest” feel, the Slovenia Pavilion is a soothing green oasis where you can explore the country’s natural treasures and sustainable solutions.

The pavilion boasts exhibits such as multisensory 360-degree projected movies and a virtual heartbeat composed of visitors’ unique biosignatures. It also focuses on the cherished Slovenian tradition of beekeeping, with features about honey spas and Slovenia’s other bee-themed tourism attractions.


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Slovenia 

The architectural team behind the Slovenia Pavilion used the simple words “water, greenery, wood” as a jumping off point to build a dreamy floating forest. The central building is an immense glass and steel oval structure almost entirely covered in a vertical garden of local plants and flowers in varying shades of green. This cloud-like forest is set on columns that hover over a shallow pool that represents Slovenia’s lakes and rivers. 

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and wood 

Water, greenery

Slovenia Pavilion

Live@Expo Ep 27: Slovenia, Gabon and Madagascar 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.

Gabon National Day Ceremony

Image Gallery

Gabon National Day.