Expo 2020 Dubai

Expo 2020 is the World Expo which is coming to an end this month (in March 2022) being hosted by Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.

This Expo was originally scheduled for October 2020 to 10 April 2021 but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being postponed by a year, organizers kept the name Expo 2020 for marketing and branding purposes. The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) general assembly in Paris named Dubai as the host on 27 November 2013.

World Expos have been known to average 200,000 visitors per day – or more – and some 50 to 70 million visitors during their six-month duration. Montreal’s Expo ‘67 attracted 54 million visitors, Osaka’s Expo ’70, 64 million visitors, the Seville Expo ’92, 41 million visitors and Shanghai’s Expo 2010 attracted 70 million visitors. World Expos are one of the oldest and largest international events on the planet, taking place every five years and lasting six months. Expo 2025 is a forthcoming World Expo which will be held in Osaka, Japan. Expo 2023 was initially scheduled to be held in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This was to have been the first time that a BIE Expo was held in Argentina, and the first in Latin America since BIE’s creation – the 1875 exposition was the last one held in Latin America. In October 2020 however, Argentina announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing financial crisis, the Expo would not be held as planned in 2023.

With sustainability being a major theme, the site of Expo 2020 Dubai will transition to ‘District 2020’ following the end of the Expo as a sustainable human-centric smart city which will reuse at least 80% of the infrastructure including EEED Gold and Platinum-certified buildings. 

THE BEST OF EXPO 2020

Last month two of the Thacks Awards panelists jetted into Dubai to look for the best features at the Dubai Expo 2020. And the verdict is in! Although the Brits are known for great fish and ships, the Australian Pavilion’s ‘Aussie Grill’ which serves up interesting ‘creative infusions’ had a gastronomical winner with their straightforward ‘Fish and Chips’ – battered barramundi, thick cut chips, tartare sauce and fresh lemon. The crisply fresh batter and tasty fish was a winning combination. And besides the many country pavilions, what were the Top 3 best attractions?

3. Dome of Al Wasl Plaza: In third place was the mere dome of the Al Wasl Plaza which is tall enough to fit the Leaning Tower of Pisa beneath it. As ‘the beating heart of Expo 2020’ it is an impressive feat which hosted immersive 360 degree video projections throughout the Expo including mesmerising animations and a fireworks type show – without the pollution.

2.Garden in the Sky: The Garden in the Sky is a brilliant rotating observation tower complete with trees and seating areas that lifts visitors to 55 metres above the Expo for beautiful panoramic views over the Expo area and the city and desert in the distance. At night-time the ring lights around the observation cabins gives it a cool UFO feel.

1.Surreal: More than four stories high, the water feature installation which ‘bathes visitors in surreal waterfalls’ (but they don’t get wet) was designed by LA-based water feature firm WET, and is able to take you back to your childhood. You feel like you’re about to be engulfed by a wave or a waterfall but the water cleverly gets collected around your feet and you feel the air move around you. At night-time the lighting and music takes you to a different world.

The most random display was a feature on the human brain in the Russian Pavilion which seemed to lack relevance in not being country-specific.

SEE 2022’s ‘THACKS AWARDS’ WINNERS HERE.

SEE THE 2021 ‘THACKS AWARDS’ WINNERS HERE.

MEET THE INTERNATIONAL PANELISTS HERE.

READ ALL THE BLOG POSTS HERE.