In celebration of Indonesia National Day at Expo 2020, take in a captivating cultural dance performance.

Indonesia: Cultural Performance

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A mesmerising cultural dance performance from Indonesia.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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

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

Indonesia - Copie

Indonesia is a nation of astonishing size and complexity: 270 million people spread across thousands of biodiverse islands. The Indonesia Pavilion at Expo 2020 presents a rich panorama of the nation’s natural and cultural treasures, from its traditional dances to the Java-grown coffee that perks up the entire world.

With an architectural design that brings time-honoured Indonesian weaving patterns into the present day, the pavilion offers a stylish bridge between history and modernity. Explore the country’s ancient tropical forests, tour a miniature version of contemporary Jakarta’s bustling night markets and much more.


Traditional weaving designs are the centrepiece of the Indonesia Pavilion, which decorates its boxy main building in a variety of interlaced patterns. The three-level structure features a textured stone façade that wraps around the top of the building, adorned with alternating stretches of vertical ridges and raised, turned cubes. 

from Indonesia

Traditional textiles

Indonesia Pavilion

Indonesia National Day 

Indonesia pavilion

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Indonesia Carousel

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Indonesia

Enjoy the music and energy of Grupo Bahía. Representative of the music and culture of Colombia's Pacific coast, Grupo Bahia preserve the roots, feeling and spirituality of Colombian sound.  Having performed for around 22 years, they are part of a cultural movement that has universal recognition. UNESCO has declared the music of the marimba and chants of Colombia’s South Pacific as “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”. Come and enjoy the music of Grupo Bahía when they take to the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre stage.  

Grupo Bahía

Bahia

Come and enjoy the music of Grupo Bahía when they take to the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre stage.  

Colombia Pavilion

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Colombia Carousel

From the streets of Bogotá and beyond, the entire world dances to the beats of Colombian music stars like Shakira and J Balvin. At the lively Colombia Pavilion, you’ll see — and most importantly, hear — how this infectious rhythm connects the nation to a thriving future of culture, innovation and urban growth.

The pavilion’s airy, free-ranging design represents Colombia itself, open and unbounded. In and around its four light-filled floors, an abundance of rhythmic attractions awaits: interactive instruments that let you play along with the music, a giant digital jukebox, holographic light shows and more.


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The Colombia pavilion’s airy, playful design looks more like a three-dimensional checkerboard than a traditional building. The structure trades typical walls for a rectangular grid of colossal white metal beams and transparent panels and floors, which meet at varying levels to create a four-story tower of platforms, open air plazas, and spacious rooms that peek out in unexpected directions. 


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that connects us to the future

The rhythm 

Colombia: Grupo Bahía 

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

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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.


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Vietnam Pavilion

Vietnam: Arts Show

In celebration of Kuwait's National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai, enjoy a unique performance that fuses the old and the modern, showcasing Kuwait's rich musical heritage and diverse culture.

Al Wasl Plaza radiates with an operatic show performed by the soprano Amani Al Hajji, who is the first female opera singer from the Arabian Gulf. She sings Italian, Russian, German, French and English with effortless ease and has a love of Puccini's music.

The evening also features the famous Kuwait TV Folkloric Troupe, which was established in 1978 with the aim of preserving the musical heritage of Kuwait.

Amani Al Hajji and TV Band

Al Mas folkloric kuwaiti band

In celebration of Kuwait's National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai, enjoy an operatic show performed by the soprano Amani Al Hajji, and a traditional music performance by the Kuwait TV Folkloric Troupe.

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

Kuwait

Kuwait National Day

Kuwait Pavilion

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As a people who have thrived amid the desert’s unforgiving sands, Kuwaitis understand the importance of conserving natural resources. The Kuwait Pavilion at Expo 2020 shares this ethos with the world, focusing on all aspects of sustainability – from efficient new transport networks to futuristic smart homes.

The pavilion’s architecture references the region’s glowing sand and sun, while the towering central funnel is a nod to Kuwait City’s distinctive conical water towers. Journey inside to explore reimagined cities, interactive data banks and a one-of-a-kind “Life Spring” that offers a dazzling visualisation of Kuwait’s sustainable future.


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Influenced by the iconic shapes of the nation’s water towers, sun and sand, the Kuwait Pavilion is a grand golden structure, made of countless triangles joined in a geometric design with a funnel-like canopy overhead. 

Indonesia: Cultural Performance

Indonesia: Cultural Performance

Participants

Indonesia National Day .