Maldives 

In celebration of the Maldives National Day, experience a Maldivian cultural performance under the Al Wasl Plaza dome.

A cultural performance during the Maldives National Day Ceremony in Al Wasl m6368

Maldives National Day Cultural Performance at Al Wasl Plaza m6427

Maldives National Day Cultural Performance at Al Wasl Plaza m6433

Maldives National Day Cultural Performance at Al Wasl Plaza m6434

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

Join us and celebrate the Maldives National Day at Expo 2020

Take a visual journey though one of the world’s most isolated and beautiful destinations at the Maldives Pavilion. This archipelago nation is a paradise of white-sand beaches spread across nearly 1,200 islands and surrounded by the Indian Ocean. It’s also home to some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling, among coral reefs and rainbows of tropical fish. Discover cultural highlights such as dance and drum performances, as well as traditional Maldivian dishes. Inspired by the country’s “environment first” philosophy, the pavilion also charts the nation’s historical and ongoing initiatives to achieve a sustainable future.


Maldives Pavilion

Maldives National Day

Maldives Cultural Performance

MENASA is an Emirati Design Platform curated by Samer Yamani, to celebrate Emirati artisanal work and to identify, curate, promote and present Emirati design and crafts through exclusive design collections and content.

In this event, an exciting line up of distinguished panelists in the field of design from around the world discuss unique perspectives of design storytelling, and how they have been able to break out of the expected and present the extraordinary.

The Power of Storytelling in Design

Objects and crafts on display at MENASA Emirati Design Platform Web Image m9541

MENASA’s third panel discussion, featuring distinguished panelists from around the world to discuss unique perspectives of design storytelling, and how they enable moving from the expected to the extraordinary.

MENASA – Emirati Design Platform - Audio Guide

MENASA 1

Menasa Image Gallery

MENASA - Emirati Design Platform offers visitors an overview of the UAE’s vibrant artisan culture. Its bespoke collections are created with top local and international designers and explore seven Emirati “Craft Stories”: safeefa, clay, talli, sadu, coffee making, Gargour making and pearl diving. Each story leads you through the processes involved in crafting the design collections. The programme’s space hosts design collections to stimulate and inspire. Many of the one-of-a-kind pieces on display are also available to take home, with each purchase helping to sustain the local design ecosystem.

Aiming to identify, curate, promote and present Emirati design and crafts through exclusive design collections and curated content, MENASA provides a unique opportunity to explore traditional Emirati crafts through contemporary design, innovative materials and advanced processes. The platform features exciting design collaborations between over 40 local and international designers from 11 countries.

8000 Waves Design

Crafts and Design

Exploring Emirati

MENASA – Emirati Design Platform

MENASA: The Power of Storytelling in Design

Presented by MENASA, Emirati Design Platform, this question and answer session with Dr Ricardo Devesa, Editor in Chief of ACTAR Publishers, covers the newly-launched MENASA Publication as well as its valuable contribution to design content around the world.

Following the session is a private reception at MENASA and the official MENASA Publication launch. A testament to the incredible work presented at MENASA by local artisans, designers, organisations and international collaborators under the support of Expo 2020 Dubai, the MENASA publication represents a collective effort to present contemporary design and crafts from the UAE to the world.


MENASA Publication Official Launch with Dr. Ricardo Devesa

MENASA

A question and answer session with Dr Ricardo Devesa, Editor in Chief of ACTAR Publishers, covering the newly-launched MENASA Publication as well as its valuable contribution to design content around the world.

Architecture II: Al Wasl Plaza

EXHIBITOR Magazine's World Expo Awards

EXHIBITOR Magazine Announces World Expo Award Winners

Al Wasl Plaza

Al Wasl 

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.

Description 

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

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. 

Al Wasl Plaza 360° Immersive Experiences

The Beating Heart of Expo 2020

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. 


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Maldives National Day.