World’s Mega Event: Expo Dubai 20
By: Dr. Shiben Krishna Raina
The dynamic Dubai witnessed three major events during the last three months of the year 2021- the IPL Series of Cricket, the World Cup of Cricket and the Dubai Expo 2020. The Dubai Expo is still going on and will run up to 31st March 22nd. As a matter of fact, in November 2013, the United Arab Emirates won the franchise to host the World Expo in 2020 in Dubai. This is the first time that the World Expo is being staged in the Middle East.
Such a global mega-event attracts crores of visitors from home and abroad. This time the World Expo in Dubai is being organized under the theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. It is believed that through this theme, Expo Dubai 2020 will serve as a catalyst, bringing together talent and entrepreneurs from all over the world. Will connect more businessmen and set the background for minds and thoughts to tackle the common challenges before the world, especially during the pandemic of COVID-19.
The organizers of the Expo Dubai 20 say that they all have the power to create a better world and give a happy future to the world. ‘How we connect with each other amid sustainability, dynamism and opportunities and thus build a beautiful future?’ is the main slogan of Expo Dubai 2020.
Originally this mega-event was to be held from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the UAE and elsewhere, new dates were decided and now the world’s largest event is under way being held from October 2021 to March 31, 2022.
In this world-class event, 192 countries of the world with their rich cultural heritage and elegance are showing their art, culture, scientific and commercial achievements in their respective pavilions. All in an artistic and inventive manner! This mega-event also has India’s state-of-the-art pavilion which is spread over 8,750 square meters. The Union Minister of India, Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurated this pavilion of India at the Dubai Expo 2020 on October 1, 2021. The Indian Pavilion at the Dubai Expo has been envisioned as a hi-tech structure. It showcases the cultural features of ancient India as well as modern India through pictures, movies and digital technology.
The huge four-storey Indian Pavilion also highlights the export potential of India’s popular products and features like Yoga, literature, Ayurveda, art, cuisine and space technology. Pavilion of India has been established/built under the predominant theme of ‘India on the Move’ and ‘India’s Unity in the Diversity’.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his message at the inauguration of the Indian Pavilion, said that the main theme of Expo 2020 is Connecting Minds and Creating the Future. This spirit is clearly visible in India’s efforts as we move to build a new India. Union Minister Piyush Goyal at the inauguration function of the Indian Pavilion in Dubai also made it clear that India-UAE ties can be traced back to the Indus-Valley Civilization to the present day.
One of the reasons for our large presence at the Expo is our special enterprise with the UAE. The Indian Pavilion is a symbol of the pride, potential and power of Indian citizens living across the world and is proving that India is emerging as a global economic hub. Cabinet Minister Piyush Goyal pointed this out in his speech: “The UAE is the gateway to the whole of Africa and many other parts of the world. The UAE has a huge Indian diaspora. There is a huge market for leather footwear, and food products, which is labour-oriented and provides immense employment to Indians. This will be a partnership that will be beneficial for both the countries.”
As stated, India has built the world’s largest pavilion on the premises of Expo 2020, where Indian culture has been engraved with its magnificence. Models of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the Hindu temple under construction in Abu Dhabi can be seen at the very entrance of India’s pavilion at the Dubai Expo 2020. Along with showcasing its spiritual heritage, the Pavilion of India exhibits the achievements of India’s emerging sectors and ministries on two different floors. One floor is dedicated to the art, dance and culture of India shown on a giant LCD screen.
The Sun Temple of Konark, the Taj Mahal and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple are also visible in the Indian Pavilion. The Ekta-Statue (Statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel) is also being adorned here. According to a report, an invitation has been sent by the United Arab Government to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Dubai Expo and the UAE government has expressed the hope that PM Modi will accept his invitation. (As per reports Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to Dubai in January 2022) The Indian pavilion at the Expo has been designed on eleven different themes, showing the investment potential in India. Possibilities of investment in space technology, robotics, cyber security, healthcare, Make-in-India etc. have been highlighted through the Indian Pavilion.
Coming to the entertainment segment of this great mega-event, maestro A.R Rahman will be presenting exciting music while performing with ‘Firdous Orchestra’ for the first time at Expo 2020 Dubai. Rahman is a two-time Academy Award and double Grammy Award-winner. Rahman, who has been in Dubai since July, hopes that Expo 2020 Dubai will unite people and strengthen the concept of friendship and fraternity during the coming months at this world’s mega-fair through diversified songs and music. In an interview with Gulf News, the musician talked about breaking musical boundaries and working with 50 female musicians drawn from the Middle East is big news for music lovers. Rahman further said that the participation of Middle East women in music is a good sign and a promising endeavour for female music lovers.
About 192 countries including UAE, Japan, Italy, Germany, Pakistan, Indonesia, UK, USA, Kazakhstan, India, Saudi Arabia etc. have gathered here and all of them have their own pavilions/pavilions. As already mentioned, the Dubai Expo began on October 1, 2021, and will run for a total of 182 days till March 31. It is believed that 2.5 crore viewers are expected from all over the world to see it. The entire Expo is spread over an area of 110 hectares. 550 tons of steel have been used to make its central dome. The height of the entry gate is 21 meters.
The event is estimated to have cost about $6.8 billion to the organizers. Expo Dubai20 is a global exhibition of culture, technology and architecture whose core message is to connect ideas and build the future. Dubai wants this grand event to be known worldwide as a ‘talent-show’ and explore the meaningful potential of discussions on global challenges such as the economy and climate change from a common platform.
Reem Al-Hashemi, Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai, said during an interview: ‘—We are fully responsible for dealing with the situation of COVID, as well as organizing a great event for the visitors. We are confident that we will give the highest priority to public safety. The UAE has become the country with the largest number of vaccines in the world. Under which people have also got relief from many restrictions.
Some guidelines have been issued specifically for Expo 2020 Dubai. They are: It is mandatory for all visitors to wear a face mask. It is mandatory for people above 8 years of age to be fully vaccinated or to get a negative report in the Kovid-19 test. Entry to Expo is free for senior citizens while tickets/seasonal tickets are a must for the rest.
In short, Expo Dubai 20 is a wonderful amalgamation of products and ideas, technology and heritage, innovation and diverse cultural inheritance of the participating countries. The five main messages of Dubai Expo 2020 are specified as follows: Leave no one behind, build bridges, move forward together, maintain balance and explore and study the great challenges humanity is facing today.
The writer is an acclaimed Author and Translator, Currently in Sammer Villas, Dubai (UAE)
