Expo 2020 Dubai: the A-Z

A is for… Al Wasl Plaza
Imagine a dome that’s taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and almost as wide as the London Eye is high. This will be the sight that greets visitors to Al Wasl Plaza, the centrepiece of Expo 2020 Dubai which will host major celebrations during and after the Expo. The dome will double up as a 360-degree projection screen, showing footage which you can watch from both inside and outside.

B is for… Bees
A colony of honey bees that set up home at Expo was safely relocated from the construction site to a nearby location, and from October 2020 visitors will have the chance to taste some of the honey produced by the hive. How’s that for some sweet sustainability?

C is for… Chinese New Year and Christmas
These are just two of the unmissable mega-celebrations that will be taking place during the 173 days of Expo 2020, alongside international festivities such as Diwali, New Year’s Eve and UAE National Day. Each one promises to be an entertainment-packed experience that visitors won’t forget in a hurry.

D is for… District 2020
So what happens to the site once Expo 2020 Dubai closes its doors? It’s a question we’re often asked, and the answer is District 2020 – a future city that will retain at least 80 per cent of Expo’s built environment including Al Wasl Plaza and the Sustainability Pavilion, which will become a children and science centre.

E is for… Extra-terrestrial life
If you’ve ever looked up at the stars and wondered if other forms of life exist out there, you’re not alone. Unleash your inner sci-fi nerd at Expo 2020, and discover how China is trying to detect interstellar signals from alien life through its 500m-wide FAST radio satellite, or contribute to a poem at the UK Pavilion, inspired by an idea from Stephen Hawking about how humanity might express itself in an encounter with extraterrestrials.

F is for… Food, glorious food
Fancy yourself as a culinary connoisseur? Then you can’t miss out on the foodie’s paradise that is Expo 2020. World-famous chefs, deep-dive gastronomic tours, local gems, creative fusion dishes, high-tech dining experiences, more than 200 F&B outlets…did you just start to feel hungry, too?

G is for… Gnasher
That’s the name of the giant, sharp-toothed machine of endless consumption – one of the colourful characters you’ll meet in the Sustainability Pavilion. The insatiable Gnasher ingests endless amounts of natural resources to churn out single-use products – highlighting the madness of our disposable consumer culture.

H is for… Horizontal elevator
What will the lift of the future look like? Take a look for yourself, as the world’s first ropeless elevator is showcased at Expo. The innovation uses magnetic technology and can not only move up and down like a traditional lift, but also side to side.

I is for… Immersive entertainment
Look forward to 60-plus live performances every day at Expo – including world-famous musical acts, comedy greats, digital theatre productions, poetry slams, fashion shows, traditional dance and plenty more.

J is for… Joud
Explore the soul of the undiscovered Saudi Arabia through ‘Joud’ – a documentary that uses experimental storytelling inspired by a pre-Islamic form of poetry.

K is for… Kaleidoscope
Take in the sights and smells of the French Riviera in the polygon-shaped Monaco Pavilion. Spread across multiple levels, much like the mazy streets of Monaco, the experience includes the ‘Kaleidoscope’ exhibition area where you can discover all about the nation’s art, culture, innovation, history and gastronomy.

L is for… Lionel Messi
Did you know that the football legend is also an Expo 2020 global ambassador? Messi and Expo passed around a message of unity and collaboration around the world in a short film released earlier this year.

M is for… Mars
Will humans really inhabit the red planet one day? Discover all about the UAE’s mission to land on Mars in 2021, where the Hope spacecraft will perform in-depth studies on the planet and its atmosphere.

N is for… Next-gen connectivity
Say goodbye to buffering, as you step onto a 5G-enabled smart site. The state-of-the-art technology is around 20 times faster than the current 4G, so you won’t miss a thing when documenting your visit to Expo.

O is for… Opera
In a cultural milestone for the UAE, Expo is launching the nation’s first ever opera. Featuring music and dialogue from Emirati nationals Mohammed Fairouz and Maha Gargash, ‘Al Wasl’ will be performed in Arabic and English, exploring the UAE’s Bedouin roots and its modern status as a forward-thinking multicultural hub.

P is for… Poetic technology
Are you a poet who doesn’t know it and might like to show it? Contribute to an ever-changing illuminated poem on the exterior of the UK Pavilion, created through a combination of visitors’ imaginations and artificial intelligence.

Q is for… Queues
Or, more specifically, the lack of them. Expo 2020 will welcome 150,000 visitors per day on average, and its smart site will use artificial intelligence, cutting-edge crowd-flow management systems, smart ticketing and more to ensure everything runs seamlessly.

R is for… Robo-Beethoven
Hear the legendary composer’s works in a brand new light – including electronic, acoustic and rock – as they’re brought to life by performing robots in the Germany Pavilion.

S is for… Solar-powered concrete
Did you know that researchers in Germany have invented concrete that can generate solar power? Discover how they did it, what its uses are and why fruit juice played an integral role in the team’s experiments.

T is for… Twisted Roots
More than 30,000 Expo 2020 Dubai staff and volunteers will be dressed by Emirati designer Latifa Al Gurg, founder of fashion label Twisted Roots, after she won a competition to design Expo’s workforce uniforms.

U is for… UAE Pavilion
The falcon-inspired UAE Pavilion will be a must for any visitor looking to light up their social media – with the structure’s ‘wings’ moving up and down to harvest clean energy. Inside, you can explore the past, present and future of the UAE and its people.

V is for… Vertical farming
Did you know the world’s largest vertical farm sits right next to the Expo 2020 site? Fresh produce from the farm will be served to millions at Expo as part of a collaboration with Emirates Flight Catering – showcasing the future of sustainable cuisine in the most delicious ways possible. You’ll also find a cone-shaped vertical farm in the Netherlands Pavilion, a structure which will create its own rainfall and grow mushrooms that can be used as building materials.

W is for… World’s Greatest Show in the Making
If you’re getting Expo fever, then go and see site taking shape for yourself! Until August 31 2019, Expo is inviting the public to enjoy the ‘World’s Greatest Show in the Making’ tour – with buses transporting you around the site and offering a sneak preview of its iconic architecture.

X is for… XDubai
Expo teamed up with the high-adrenaline XDubai to create a short film marking its ‘Two Years to Go’ celebration. The pulse-raising video includes a scene in which four wingsuited stuntpeople jump from a helicopter and soar through the Dubai Frame. Not long now until the one-year countdown begins…

Y is for… Young Einsteins
A trip to Expo is sure to spark your child’s imagination as they explore scientific marvels of the future, from build-your-own-robot workshops to tinkering sessions.

Z is for… Zambian agriculture
Land Life Company is a grantee of Expo Live, Expo 2020’s global $100 million innovation and partnership programme. With Expo’s support and funding, the organisation is restoring degraded land in Zambia by planting cutting-edge biodegradable tree incubators, creating fresh opportunities for the African country’s young population.