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

Indonesia: Cultural Performance

Indonesia flag

A mesmerising cultural dance performance from Indonesia.

Inside Expo_New

Architecture II: Al Wasl Plaza

Exhibitor logo

EXHIBITOR Magazine's World Expo Awards

EXHIBITOR Magazine Announces World Expo Award Winners

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

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

stamp Indonesia

Indonesia Carousel

Indonesia logo

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

stamp Colombia

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.


colombia logo

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. 


6110

that connects us to the future

The rhythm 

Colombia: Grupo Bahía 

In celebration of Saudi Arabia's National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai, enjoy a night of Saudi Music featuring talented young singer Aedh Yousef, live from the Jubilee stage. Aedh is known best for his collaborative use of instruments, sounds, genres and vocals. His unique style is heavily influenced by his wide-ranging musical palette and interest in exploring different cultures. A night not to be missed. 

A Night of Saudi Music, featuring Aedh Yousef

Ayed Yousef

Enjoy a night of Saudi Music in celebration of the Kingdom's National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai, featuring the talented Saudi singer Aedh Yousef. 


Flags

Join us in celebrating Saudi Arabia's National Day at Expo 2020

KSA Flags

Saudi Arabia National Day

KSA pavilion feature image 

stamp SaudiArabia

KSA carousel

As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia opens itself to the world, its contribution to Expo 2020 mirrors the nation’s grand ambitions. Boasting a vast façade that covers the area of two football pitches, the Saudi Arabia Pavilion takes the form of an opening window that soars into the sky bearing messages of inspiration.

Your Saudi experience begins in the open plaza under the pavilion, where the giant screen above and LEDs below combine to create a dazzling light show. Next, the “Heritage Path” escalator will transport you to immersive exhibits – and you can end your journey with refreshments and shopping in the pavilion’s scenic palm garden.


Spectacular mirrored architectural design, dazzlingly lit on all sides

Immersive exhibition space highlighted by a multicoloured floating sphere

Palm garden featuring dining and retail options

Saudi A Features

KSA logo

The monumental Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion is a mirrored slab that extends up diagonally from the ground, resembling a giant window opening toward the sky. The immense structure soars six storeys into the air and covers more than 13,000 square metres, or the area of two football pitches. The sides of the pavilion feature a decorative motif of grey horizontal lines like layered metal, while its vast underbelly — which shades an enormous plaza — is mirrored and smooth. 


Saudi intro image 

to the sky

A window 

Saudi Arabia Pavilion 

Saudi Arabia: A Night of Saudi Music, featuring Aedh Yousef

The Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), is the most important annual cultural event in Mexico and the largest book fair in the Latin-speaking world. The event hosts representatives from Sharjah; being announced as the official Guest of Honour for the 36th edition of the book fair. This prestigious title was awarded in recognition of Sharjah’s numerous cultural projects, making the Emirate the first Arab city to represent the region at the FIL. Sharjah's participation in FIL 2022 is of significant value to showcase the rich Arabic culture and diverse heritage to Latin America and the World.

Presentation of the Guadalajara International Book Fair

Mexico: Presentation of the Guadalajara International Book Fair

This event represents the 36th edition of the Guadalajara International Book Fair, one of the most significant cultural events in Latin America, and hosts the Emirate of Sharjah as the 2022 guest of honour.

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

stamp Terra

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.

Octavia's Playground

Timelapse of Terra 

Mexico 4

stamp Mexico

Every winter, millions of migrating black and orange Monarch butterflies set the forests of Central Mexico ablaze with colour. The Mexico Pavilion takes this graceful creature and a rainbow of iconic Mexican flowers, as inspiration for a symbolic and vivid presentation of the country’s flourishing creativity and innovation. Explore rich multimedia displays that highlight how the act of pollination fosters exciting new growth in nature, gastronomy and business. Enjoy iconic Mexican art and performance and get a unique taste of authentic and boundary-pushing Mexican cuisine.


Indonesia: Cultural Performance

Indonesia: Cultural Performance

Participants

Indonesia National Day .