Exploring Expo 2020 is like discovering another world. A world filled with innovation, education, peace, harmony, delight and wonder. A place to discover possibilities for sustainability, mobility and opportunity. The best of us and our world in one place.
UAE
Visitors can experience the UAE Pavilion both inside and outside. As part of the queueing process, staff issue us a ticket and invite us to wait for our number while exploring the garden or resting in the shaded majilis areas. Upon entering the exhibit, we encounter a desert landscape crafted from sand gathered from all seven Emirates.
The dunes reflect on the history of the Emiratis as a nomadic people living in the desert and later by the sea trading pearls. The desert slowly gives way to a glass city that emerges from the sand and we are introduced to the diversity of the Emirates populations along a corridor leading to a large circular theatre. The theatre shows a short animated film that also depicts the history of the Emirates through the tribes and unification to the innovative nation that it is today. After the film there is time to read more about certain industries in the main hall before departing.
Egypt
Egypt is presented as a series of videos within a gallery exploring Egypt’s past, present and future ambitions. The gallery also contains exhibits of ancient artifacts including the Coffin of Psamtik and an immersive 3D ‘time travel’ experience.
Upstairs is further information about Egypt’s industries, innovations and tourism. Tours exit through a gift shop.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a land of agriculture, driven largely by hydropower and known through the world as the birthplace of coffee. Other crops include legumes, oilseeds, sugarcane and vegetables. With a population of circa 117 million, around 85% of its labour force is employed by the agriculture industry.
Malta
A small exhibition that cannot possibly encompass the beauty of such a rich nation and culture in such a small room.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone, a small country of around 8 million on Africa’s West Coast, relies heavily on subsistence agriculture, which employs most of the population. The exhibit reflects the people’s strong ties to their land. Rich in minerals, Sierra Leone also thrives on its mining trade, particularly in diamonds.
Palestine
Designers built the Palestine pavilion to recreate the experience of walking its streets among some of the region’s most recognizable landmarks. The entrance features domes inspired by the architecture of many Palestinian buildings, including the bazaars. They imported the pavement directly from Palestine to evoke the feeling of walking through the holy city of Jerusalem.
USA
The USA pavilion begins with a welcome speech before we step on to a travelator. This is a clever way to smooth the flow of foot traffic through the exhibits. The first section depicts the history of the country from the time of white inhabitation with a focus on freedom and the country’s ideals. The next room presents a short history of inventions and achievements, while the three-room experience focuses on the idea that freedom creates opportunities for everyone. After stepping off the travelator, we enter a room that explores space, showing that the sky is no longer the limit (8-minute loop).
Afterwards there is a replica of one of the Mars Opportunity rover that spent 14 years exploring the surface of the planet. Outside in the courtyard is the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket which conducts a ‘blast off’ every evening. During the day the space ship serves as a spectacular canopy for the pavilion’s dining area.
DP World
An impressive and well thought out pavillion. Dubai Ports (DP) exhibits centre around connectivity and the main themes of the expo – mobility, sustainability and opportunity. These are presented in the context of DP World’s role as a leader in global supply chain solutions.
We get a glimpse into the mind boggling statistics of global logistics and port container handling. Exhibits help us understand where our goods come from and end up. And we get a sneak peek at what might be in store for the future of the worlds cargo services.
ENOC
The Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) Pavillion focuses on energy in the most positive sense. As we await entry, there are kinetic seats to sit on. Once inside, we are welcomed to discover all the ways that energy is used. Our city of Dubai represents the use of energy all over the world. The digital age is not lost. We are invited to send our energy up an obelisk to be combined with the rest of the group’s. Finally we reflect on energy and its current and future source and use.
India
India takes us on a tour of its country by theme. We enter to a world of projections and achievements. This are depicts themes from India’s space program to yoga, its own worldwide wellness phenomenon. Exhibits are dedicated to India’s various corporate sectors: pharmaceutical; technology; and production; as well as its cultural and historic heritage.
Good To Know
Tickets for Expo 2020 are available online or at the gate. The site is easily accessible by car, taxi, bus or metro.
There are many food outlets throughout the site that celebrate a world of flavours. Try Mama’esh (Palestine Pavilion) or any of the Eat at Expo street food sites.
Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to que for the larger, more popular pavilions.
Would I Return?
Yes.
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