Expo 2020 Dubai: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future

The World Expo is one of the oldest and largest global events, taking place every five years. From October 2021 to March 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai welcomed over 24 million visitors to the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region and the first to be hosted by an Arab nation. The UAE proudly shared its open and inclusive vision for the world at Expo 2020.

Over six months, 192 participating countries exchanged new ideas and perspectives under Expo 2020’s theme, “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.” Expo 2020 broadened participants’ horizons while incubating solutions to create a better world for everyone, everywhere.

Visitors at Expo connected across three subthemes:

  • Opportunity: Unlocking the potential for individuals and communities to shape the future
  • Mobility: Creating smarter and more productive movement of people, goods and ideas, both physically and virtually
  • Sustainability: Respecting and living in balance with the world we inhabit to ensure a sustainable future for all

For the first time in World Expo history, every country had its own pavilion to share the best of their cultures, innovation and human progress. In partnership with Cartier, Expo 2020 Dubai also featured a Women's Pavilion to shine light on the trailblazing women who are exploring new frontiers. The UAE is a leader in gender equity, ranked first in the Middle East and 24th globally in the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security’s 2021 WPS Index.

Coinciding with the UAE’s 50th anniversary, Expo 2020 is the realization of a dream 50 years in the making — to bring the world together. Over the past 50 years, the UAE has built its society on mutual respect and tolerance. At Expo 2020 Dubai, the UAE shared its progress with visitors while looking ahead at the possibilities the next 50 years hold.

Expo 202 Dubai Terra Sustainability Pavilion

The Expo 2020 Site and Its Legacy

The Expo site featured 192 individual Country Pavilions that showcased the unique architecture and culture of their countries. Thematic Districts that reflected the three subthemes featured performance spaces, art installations, gardens and pavilions that house interactive exhibitions.

Creating a legacy of sustainability has been at the core of Expo 2020 Dubai from the beginning. By integrating a variety of techniques and technologies across industries, Expo 2020 Dubai aims to be one of the greenest World Expos ever and sets a new benchmark for future World Expos. More than 80 percent of Expo 2020’s infrastructure is built to last and will transition into a human-centric smart city named District 2020. The legacy of innovation Expo 2020 brought to the world will live on in District 2020 which is slated to host 85 start-ups and small businesses from nearly 30 countries. 

At the invitation of the Dubai government, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also plans to construct a temple and meetinghouse on the Expo site, marking the first in the region. The temple will serve as a gathering place for Church members from across the Emirates, and nearly 8,000 Latter-day Saints living in the region – further emphasizing the UAE’s values of religious coexistence and inclusion.

Named after the Arabic word for ‘connection’, Al Wasl Plaza, designed by American firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, served as the centerpiece of Expo 2020. It hosted major ceremonies and celebrations throughout the global gathering, including the awe-inspiring opening and closing ceremonies. The venue with its immersive ’s 360-degree projection surface will continue to be an event space in the new District 2020. 

Wasl Plaza

US Partners

A significant number of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Official Partners and Official Suppliers are US-based and US-founded companies and organizations including:

  • Cisco (Official Premier Digital Network Partner)
  • Mastercard (Official Payment Technology Partner)
  • PepsiCo (Official Beverage and Snack Partner)
  • UPS (Official Logistics Partner)
  • Christie (Official Projection and Display Partner)
  • Domino’s (Official Pizza Provider)
USA Expo 2020 Dubai Pavilion