Co-curated with the UAE Ministry of Community Development and UNICEF, this people-facing flagship event will raise awareness and celebrate World Children’s Day, spotlighting the UAE’s leadership role in the area, and highlighting Expo Participants’ best practices and success stories.

World Children's Day Concert

Celebrating World Children's Day with music, dance, poetry and more on Expo's central stage, co-curated with the UAE Ministry of Community Development and UNICEF.

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.

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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

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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

World Children’s Day is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare. Young people will ‘take over’ Expo 2020 on Saturday at the biggest celebration yet of World Children’s Day 2021. Organized by Expo 2020 Dubai, in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Community Development and UNICEF, the packed agenda includes a Specialist Event showcasing the international community’s efforts to reimagine and build a child-friendly post-COVID-19 world, and an inspiring concert with music, dance, poetry and more on Expo's central stage.

"A Better Future for Every Child"

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World Children's Day

With our planet today home to 7.8 billion people, we put the spotlight on co-existence, understanding different faiths, creating inclusive dialogue, and so much more. During this Theme Week, Expo will provide a platform for diverse voices from all corners of the world to reimagine how spaces, environments and storytelling can become more inclusive by focusing on multiculturalism and peaceful co-existence.

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How can we foster a greater common understanding to enable more tolerant and inclusive societies?

Tolerance & Inclusivity Week

World Children’s Day: Concert

Upcoming Bollywood action drama movie RRR is set to take the box offices by storm. See cast members Jr NTR, Ram Charan, Alia Bhatt and SS Rajamouli live on the Jubilee Stage at Expo 2020 Dubai and find out more about this upcoming hit! 

RRR Cast Special Appearance 

RRR Cast Appearance

See the stars of upcoming action drama movie RRR in person on the Jubilee Stage! 

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With a striking design inspired by fossilised sand dunes, Jubilee Stage is an open-air festival stage. Located in Jubilee Park, it hosts performances and large concerts.

Jubilee Stage

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RRR Cast Special Appearance

Watch Filipino musician Ely Buendia take over the Jubilee Stage with a concert that will have audiences dancing the night away. Buendia gained fame as the guitarist, lead vocalist and principal songwriter for rock band the Eraserheads and he's widely regarded as a musical icon in the Philippines. His critically acclaimed music frequently tops the charts and, live at Expo 2020 Dubai, audiences can expect to hear some of Buendia's biggest hits. 

Ely Buendia

Watch Filipino musician Ely Buendia take over the Jubilee Stage with a concert that will have audiences dancing the night away at Expo 2020 Dubai. 

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Ely Buendia 

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See CNN anchor learn traditional Irish dance from iconic group

The National

'Riverdance' set to reel in visitors at Expo 2020 Dubai

From Seville to Dubai, Riverdance comes full circle at Expo

Time Out Abu Dhabi

See incredible Irish dance show, Riverdance, at Expo 2020 Dubai

Gulf Today

Irish Riverdance steals the show at Expo 2020 Dubai

A unique show created specifically for Expo 2020 Dubai, merging the familiar sounds and slick choreography of Riverdance with a fusion of new sounds and Emirati instrumentation to reflect the world coming together at Expo 2020.

Riverdance

Enjoy a Riverdance as never seen before, with a special production fusing traditional and contemporary music and dance.

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stamp Ireland

Newgrange monument in Ireland is a staggering feat of Stone Age engineering, allowing sunlight into its inner chamber only once each year: at sunrise on the winter solstice. The Ireland Pavilion highlights more than 5,000 years of Irish heritage and know-how with a design inspired by this cultural treasure. Curated around the theme of “Thinking Ireland”, the pavilion’s exhibits trace the long lineage of Irish innovation, from ancient stone-working feats to modern-day advancements in science and technology. Don’t miss the exhibition’s innovative light-filtering cone, built in homage to its 5,200-year-old ancestor at Newgrange.

Ireland Flag

Blending neo-classical architecture with ancient themes, the Ireland Pavilion consists of two single-story buildings surrounded by a screen of white columns and topped by a massive ridged funnel structure. The bronze-coloured main building, called the Oculus, is rectangular in form and features inscribed Celtic designs.

World Children’s Day: Concert

World Children's Day Concert

Tolerance & Inclusivity Week.

This event is part of the
World Children's Day.

World Children's Day Concert

Tolerance & Inclusivity Week.

This event is part of theWorld Children's Day.

This event is part of the
World Children's Day.