Water is the foundation of all life on Earth. It is central to sustainable development, thriving ecosystems and the survival of humanity. Yet, this most precious resource is ﬁnite and must be used and consumed wisely. Many of the most pressing challenges our world is facing, such as climate change, food security or conﬂict, are linked to water and can only be solved through adequate water governance, integrated resource management, and cooperation.
The annual global World Water Day invites the world to celebrate the importance of water, exploring the various dimensions in which humans interact with water and sparking conversations on how we can reimagine our relationship with water. The World Water Day at Expo 2020 Dubai explores how we can improve the sustainable use and consumption of water and preserve water resources for future generations through innovation, activism, governance, and behavioral change. Everyone has a role to play in protecting our most precious resource and the World Water Day spotlights this through storytelling, discussions with thought leaders and experts.

Water is Life

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Celebrating and exploring the importance of water and how we interact with it, and sparking conversations on how we can reimagine our relationship with this precious resource.

The Nexus for People and Planet

Located in the heart of the Opportunity District, the Nexus for People and Planet serves as the home for Expo 2020 Dubai's Programme for People and Planet, hosting a number of engaging events and talks that highlight some of the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time.

Nexus for People and Planet

Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment speaks during the World Water Day - Flagship at Nexus m67211

Visitors during the World Water Day - Flagship at Nexus m67217

Zoe Haseman, Global Head of Sustainability, Jacobs speaks during the World Water Day - Flagship at Nexus m67215

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Co-curated with the UAE Minister of State's Office for Food and Water Security and UN Water, Expo 2020 Dubai celebrates World Water Day exploring different ways in which water resources can be reserved. This year's theme is "Making the Invisible Visible".

World Water Day

World Water Day 2022

Water fuels our sustenance but also moves money, goods and people around the world, provides a valuable source of renewable energy, and enables the world’s food to grow. This week will help us understand how to preserve and sustainably manage this precious finite resource for infinite uses. The programme will highlight the true value of water, as well as progress and best practice in ensuring clean and adequate water for people, industry and the planet.

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 How will we protect our most precious resource today, for tomorrow?

Water Week 

Expo aims to deliver one of the most sustainable World Expos in history, supporting the UAE in its journey towards a green economy. Sustainability is integrated across both our operations and programming, embracing every opportunity to create meaningful impact, and inspiring the global community to play an active role in becoming part of a sustainable future.

The Live in Balance track of Expo 2020 Dubai's Programme for People and Planet features a tapestry of event series and experiences that spotlight our relationship with the natural world, and position Expo as a critical catalyst for restoring balance with our planet.

Restoring Balance with our Planet

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Live in Balance

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What unique qualities do women bring to the table as global leaders? Join Her Excellency, Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai; and Indra Nooyi, former CEO and Chairman of PepsiCo, as they share what inspires and motivates them to create change. They will also share what gives their life purpose, how they leverage their global influence to champion women’s rights and what they see as the next steps in creating a more equal world for all.

Indra Nooyi is one of the world’s foremost business visionaries and a groundbreaker in global business. She is the former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of PepsiCo, and recent author of her memoir, My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future.

This conversation will be moderated by the Festival’s Director, Ahlam Bolooki

Global Leadership: Work, Family and Our Future - Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature

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Join H.E. Reem Al Hashimy and Indra Nooyi as they offer a fascinating insight into what inspires and motivates them to create change. 

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

Her Excellency Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy (R), UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai & Indra Nooyi (C), Indian-American business executive and former chairperson and CEO of PepsiCo speaks at (1)

Her Excellency Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy (R), UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai & Indra Nooyi (C), Indian-American business executive and former chairperson and CEO of PepsiCo speaks at (2)

Her Excellency Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy (R), UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai & Indra Nooyi (C), Indian-American business executive and former chairperson and CEO of PepsiCo speaks at (3)

Her Excellency Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy (R), UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai & Indra Nooyi (C), Indian-American business executive and former chairperson and CEO of PepsiCo speaks at

Global Leadership: Work, Family and Our Future with H.E. Reem Al Hashimy and Indra Nooyi

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Stories of females leading the way in climate and biodiversity from the Arab and Islamic world.

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Inside Expo: The Brave Women

Women's Pavilion - Audio Guide

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Women's Pavilion Image gallery

Women make tremendous contributions to the world, yet many remain unknown or forgotten. The Women’s Pavilion in collaboration with Cartier at Expo 2020 challenges this imbalance by taking visitors on a journey through the remarkable achievements of women across the globe. Our showcase underscores the principle that “When women thrive, all of humanity thrives”.

The pavilion showcases the exceptional accomplishments of women, world-famous and unknown. Immerse yourself in the triumphs of women through history, discover the journeys women have taken to claim their equality and dive into the stories of the inspirational women shaping our future.


Globe-spanning tour of women’s achievements and ongoing challenges

Multisensory exhibition created by actor/artist Mélanie Laurent and Emirati artists

Majlis-inspired social space for live conversations and events

Women's 

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Reflecting the UAE’s commitment to women’s empowerment and gender equality, the Women’s Pavilion serves as a catalyst for social transformation, both in Dubai and far beyond. By championing exceptional women, it aims to inspire dialogue, shatter gender misconceptions, and leave a lasting legacy of positive change for women worldwide.

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inspiring change

Championing women, 

Women's Pavilion 

Climate and Biodiversity Week to spur the world into action to protect our planet

We stand at the brink of a crucial moment in time - a moment in which we must take decisive collective action to protect our planet, and the life it sustains, for future generations. It is an opportunity for us to take our place in history as the generation that stepped up to halt climate change, and transform human activity to operate within Earth's planetary boundaries. 

Expo 2020 Dubai's Climate & Biodiversity Week convenes government decision-makers, business leaders, youth advocates and our millions of visitors to address the greatest challenge of our time and generate solutions critical to the future of our civilisation and the health of our planet. 

What's your Promise to our Planet?

Climate and Biodiversity

How do we work together to better manage climate change and protect biodiversity? 

Climate & Biodiversity Week Programme

Insight Report from Climate and Biodiversity Week

Natural Resource and Biodiversity Conservation

Climate & Biodiversity Week

Explore how better we could advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Arabia and Islamic region to protect our planet:
• How does the history of Arab world and the understanding of Islmaic values help the us understand climate adaptation? What is women’s value and role in the process? 
• What practices demonstrate the rich tradition of Arab and Muslim world instilling sustainability in every day life? And how do we preserve this knowledge?
• What more needs to be done to put women at the center of climate change and biodiversity conservation in the Arab region and the Islamic world? 
• What is the link among the teachings of the Islamic religion, cultural heritage and every day practices in the Arab and Muslic world, which led to the formal adaptation of “the Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change” in 2015 to call on Muslims all over the world to combat climate change?

Thuraya is a member in World Commission on Protected areas, MEWA-EAGL and Marine Turtle Specialists Group in IUCN. Chair for the technical team for managing the project of transplanting 10 million wild trees in Oman and chair for technical team for developing Oman Environment Strategy 1st Coherent of National 
Leadership and Competitiveness program and Chair for West Asia Arabian Plant Specialist Group (SSC_ IUCN) She Joined the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs in 2000 as an environmental specialist .From 2005-2010 I was a director of Marine conservation department and from 2010-2015 Director of Biodiversity Department. From Mid-2015 until recently she is working as an assistance director general of nature conservation.

Man and Biosphere Reserves Council and Natural Expert in World Heritage Commission in UNESCO, Oman

Thuraya Said Al Sariri 

Dr. Lourdes F. Vega is a Member of Emirates Scientists Council, of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Academy of Sciences and of the Academy of Mathematics, Physical Chemistry and Natural Sciences of Granada. In 2020 she received the Mohammed Bin Rashid (MBR) Medal for Scientific Distinguishment for her contributions in clean energy and sustainable products. She is also the President of the Association of Spanish Scientists and Researchers in the UAE. With more than 220 publications and 5 patents under exploitation, Prof. Vega is an internationally recognized expert in clean energy and sustainable products. The recipient of several international awards, she is listed top 2% most cited worldwide scientist in Chemical Engineering. One of her passions is to mentor young females to develop their full potential.

Professor in Chemical Engineering, Director of the Research & Innovation Center, Khalifa University

Lourdes Vega

Graduated from the Institute of Applied Technologies in Business Management, Ms. Idbourrous is the Director of the Union of Women's Cooperatives of the Arganeraie UCFA Tissaliwine. She is also the founder and president of the National Federation of Women in the Arganeraie Sector FNFARGANE. She has been the winner of the COP22 gender and climate award; she founded the first female cooperative by young girls graduated in the renewable thermal energy sector. She supports pre and post creation of new informal cooperatives towards the form and encouragement of young girls graduates and non-graduates for the transfer of technology and the preservation of ancestral know-how related to the production of argan.

Panelist Manager of the Arganeraie Women's Cooperatives Union UCFA, Tissaliwine

Jamila Idbourrous 

Degan is the Executive Director of Adeso, a development organization that is changing the way people think about and deliver aid in Africa. Degan has been leading the decolonization development movement and was the architect of the Grand Bargain commitment of 25% of funding to go directly to local organizations. Degan also co-founded the Network for Empowered Aid Response, a Global South civil society network trying to transform the current humanitarian and development system. Since 2020 she founded a consultancy firm, DA Global, and has worked with organizations like Sesame Workshop, British Red Cross  on issues around Decolonizing Aid and how to transform organizational strategies to be aligned with anti-colonial and anti-racist principles. Her methodology  have been featured in the New York Times, Al Jazeera, etc.


Executive Director of Adeso (formerly Horn Relief)


Degan Ali

Bouchra Baibanou, the first Moroccan to climb the seven summits. She is also the first Moroccan and North African women to climb Everest, the highest summit in the world 8848m. She is married and mother, engineer. She is the chief of women commission in the federation Royale Moroccan of ski and 
mountain sport. She is an inspirational and motivational speaker, inside and outside Morocco. She is also a life coach. She received many awards from the King of Morocco and from many organizations. She participated in many festivals in the world and TEDx. Bouchra is a positive role models for young women in Arabic country and especially in Morocco; she did many activities in Morocco to empower girls and help them to success in life through sport.

Bouchra Baibanou

Women of Arabia and Islam | Stories of Sustainability from the Muslim World 

World Expos have always been meeting places for people across cultures and geographies; an opportunity to come together and celebrate human ingenuity and forge meaningful human connections. As the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, and with the participation of more than 192 countries, Expo 2020 Dubai looks to take this legacy even further. The Build Bridges track of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Programme for People and Planet features a tapestry of event series and experiences that celebrate our common humanity and the vital connections that can help us prosper together as a worldwide community.

Knowing One Another Better

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Build Bridges 

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With the ever-increasing complexity of our world, fostering innovative societies can be part of the solution to addressing global challenges. Governments have an important role to play in widening the lens around innovation and implementing systems that generate robust and creative communities.

As innovation ecosystems mature, there are exciting opportunities to create truly innovative societies where all sectors—governments, corporations, NGOs, academia, entrepreneurs and individuals—collaborate to solve complex societal challenges.

Governments have an important role to play in fostering creative and collaborative communities. They can move beyond a narrow sector perspective and "innovation for innovation’s sake", towards enabling environments—systems and culture—where cross-sectoral innovation is applied to major challenges and produce "innovation for greater good".

Mission-driven approaches can provide us with valuable models through focused, time-bound, and cross-sectoral approaches to innovation. These models help us harness our collective knowledge to address complex challenges such as climate change, pollution, well-being, digital ethics, and clean energy for all, and could light the way forward.

Innovation Nation: Creating Innovative Societies to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges

Inno Nation Feb 4

Organized with Spain, this is the first of two sessions discussing how societies create innovative solutions to solve humanity’s greatest challenges. Stay tuned for the next session taking place on February 15.

Session agenda - Innovation Nation (Session 1)

Creating a Cultural Renaissance

EXHIBITOR Magazine Announces World Expo Award Winners

EXHIBITOR Magazine's World Expo Awards

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The Spain Pavilion at Expo 2020 is an open, eco-friendly exhibition that seamlessly blends ancient heritage and cutting-edge innovation.

An airy ground floor features several small, naturally cooled plazas that are ideal for relaxing or snacking on tapas. Venture underground into aroomy basement, and you’ll explore a “forest of the future” filled with thought-provoking exhibits on Spain’s contributions to global sustainability.


Spain logo

Inspired by Spain’s age-old links to the Arab world, the Spain Pavilion takes the shape of a lively field of sheer, conical towers in hues of brick, orange, and saffron yellow. Visitors venture under this vast canopy of peaks, built from reusable materials including wood, iron and fabric, to explore a series of breezy plazas. The underside of each airy dome is decorated with unique textures that reflect their exhibits: swirls of woven straw, a green canopy of plants, falls of digital water, and more. One dome also shelters a tasty tapas restaurant.

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Spain Pavilion 

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Saeed Al Saeed, Science and Technology Advisor, Ministery of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation UAE speaks during the World Majlis Innovation Nation at the Spain Pavilion m43247

Prof Javier Garcia Martinez, President of the International Union of Pure Chemistry, Spain speaks during the World Majlis Innovation Nation at the Spain Pavilion m43257

Oscar Di Montigny, Ideator of the Humanovability vision, Italy speaks during the World Majlis Innovation Nation at the Spain Pavilion m43250

Arun Sundaraajan, Harold Price Chair in Entrepeneurship stern school of Buisness, New York University, USA speaks during the World Majlis Innovation Nation at the Spain Pavilion m43249

Amin Gafaranga, Founder, Atelier Design-Thinking Academy, Rwanda speaks during the World Majlis Innovation Nation at the Spain Pavilion m43262

Alya Al Mazrouei, Director, UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science, UAE speaks during the World Majlis Innovation Nation at the Spain Pavilion m43258

World Majlis | Innovation Nation: Session 1

Explore a series of exciting conversations inspired by the theme of Expo 2020 Dubai. The World Majlis is a vibrant forum where diverse points of views are shared on important topics of our time. Each conversation brings together globally recognised thought-leaders who are invited for their exceptional contributions to the theme and their unique perspective on the topic. In each Majlis, students and members of the public are also welcome to contribute and engage.

World Majlis

Conversations on complex issues that bring together thought leaders, visionaries and changemakers.

World Water Day

Water is Life

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Water Week .

This event is part of the
World Water Day 2022.

This event is part of the
Live in Balance.

Water is Life

Image Gallery

Water Week .

This event is part of theWorld Water Day 2022.

This event is part of theLive in Balance.

This event is part of the
World Water Day 2022.

This event is part of the
Live in Balance.