Expo boosts UAE’s prowess in inspiring synergies

Expo 2020 Dubai embodies the ambitions of the UAE to innovate and create the synergy needed to grasp the myriad opportunities lying ahead and meet tomorrow’s challenges, according to the Commissioner-General and President of Luxembourg Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Before the October 1 launch mega event, Maggy Nagel spoke to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) about the ongoing spectacular buildup for the year’s most-anticipated event. “Honoured to contribute to the success of this world-class event, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was the first country to officially formalise its participation in Expo 2020 Dubai,” Nagel said, adding that it is a clear expression of her country’s willingness to nurture relationship with the UAE and the Gulf region.

Held under the theme of ‘Resourceful Luxembourg’, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg’s pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, draws a parallel with the UAE’s outstanding economic development over the past decades, she said.

The theme is derived from the fact that Luxembourg continuously reinvented itself to adapt to ever-changing circumstances. “Luxembourg always knew how to combine its human, natural, technical, industrial, and financial resources to create its future. By choosing this theme, we are not only showcasing our remarkable economic transition in the past, but also commitment to administer our resources in a way that contributes to a better world for all of us. Luxembourg’s resources can be others’ valuable opportunities in the future,” Nagel said.

Thanks to the smart use of resources, Luxembourg moved from an agricultural country to an industrial power and a global financial centre with a redirection towards research, digital technologies, and space industries. “It’s this dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit that helps us to create solutions to upcoming challenges in the imminent future. In that context, we can draw a parallel with the UAE’s outstanding economic development over the past decades.” Commenting on holding international events during the coronavirus pandemic, Nagel said that “the pandemic has changed the way we interact and live together, and it showcased that we are much more interconnected than we might have been aware of. In that sense, Expo 2020 Dubai can be understood as the absolute will to come together as one and work cooperatively on a shared solution in a changed world.” “In fact, working together on the challenges of tomorrow, has never been more urgent,” she added.

Speaking about the main features of Luxembourg Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, Nagel said that its architecture is certainly extraordinary. Inspired by the form of a Moebius strip, an infinite ribbon, the building symbolises Luxembourg’s efforts towards a circular economy and its constant reinvention over the past decades.

“The scenography and the interior of the Luxembourg Pavilion are made to appeal to all 5 senses. Sight will be appealed by the Pavilion’s outstanding architecture and during the exploration tour, visitors will listen to the sounds of the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra next to the digital elements of the scenography. By the end of the tour, they will enjoy the smell of Luxembourg’s lush woods thanks to the signature fragrance and take the giant slide - a nod to the traditional fair Schueberfouer, which dates back to the Middle Ages,” Nagel said.

A visit to the pavilion would be incomplete without a stop in the Schengen Lounge. The Luxembourg Pavilion will present the Michelin-starred chef Kim Kevin de Dood, who has created a signature menu that reveals some of Luxembourg’s most popular dishes, mixed with unexpected and modern flavours.

“Finally, the diversity of our team is certainly a highlight of the Luxembourg Pavilion. In line with the fact that almost half of Luxembourg’s population are foreign passport holders, the team of the Luxembourg Pavilion cannot wait to welcome you in over 15 different languages,” Nagel said.

Diplomatic relations between the UAE and Luxembourg date back to the 1980s. As both countries are seeking to diversify their economies, Luxembourg’s participation at Expo 2020 Dubai constitutes a particularly promising source of opportunity creation. In this sense, Luxembourg decided to gift its Pavilion to the UAE to keep the source of bilateral opportunity creation alive.

“It’s with a mixture of pride and joy to see that our beautiful Pavilion will be a part of the innovative District 2020 and that Luxembourg’s presence will go beyond the six months of Expo 2020 Dubai,” Nagel said.

Luxembourg opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi on 20th November, 2011, which included the “Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office”, a dynamic one-stop portal, that helps any Middle Eastern company that needs assistance with the expansion of its business to Luxembourg and its entrance into the European markets. Today, the UAE is Luxembourg’s first trade partner in the Middle East.

Besides the official representation in the UAE, numerous Luxembourgish companies are registered in the UAE, and the multitude of bilateral agreements, as well as the large number of official visits to the UAE, seal the close relations between the countries.

Dulsco Gears Up for Expo: Dulsco, an integrated solutions provider and the Official Waste Management Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, is all set to deliver the most sustainable Expo ever by diverting 85% of the waste away from landfill using different bespoke treatment and solutions.

David Stockton, CEO of Dulsco said: “We are committed to helping Expo 2020 Dubai deliver its sustainability goals and showcase the UAE’s unwavering efforts to contribute to a more sustainable future for all whist showcasing and maximising our new technologies.”

As part of Dulsco’s Waste2Resource initiative for Expo 2020 Dubai, waste will be recycled and reused in the event, conserving valuable resources in the process, in line with the Expo’s subtheme of Sustainability and the UAE’s move towards achieving a circular economy. Dulsco trucks powered by biofuel will collect all the waste collected from the Expo 2020 Dubai site and transported to the Central Waste Facility (CWF) built onsite specially for the event to ensure a streamline efficient recycling and recovery process.

Once sorted, the recyclables will be transferred to the larger Dulsco facilities located in UAE, such as the state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility, which is capable of sorting multiple waste streams per day; Paper Pulp plant, where waste paper is converted into quality molded products such as trays and cupholders; as well as our Glass Upcycling initiative which turns glass collected from various waste streams into prized ornaments, in partnership with SMEs to recycle glass into memorabilia; plastic recycled into retail items such as t-shirts, caps, etc; and used cooking oil into biofuel to power our waste vehicles at the Expo 2020 Dubai site.

Organic waste from the Expo 2020 Dubai will also be converted to compost that fertilises the grounds of the existing site. Even construction waste from the site was recycled at Dulsco’s Construction and Demolition Waste facility and returned to help construct the Waste 2 Resource facility.

Other recyclables such as metal spares and consumable parts will be repurposed and recycled through its upcycling concept store initiative, The New Old & Reloved, which transforms waste into imaginative and stylish home décor.

“All these efforts bring the concept of the circular economy to life which the UAE has been aggressively pursuing as part of its sustainability agenda,” continued Stockton.

In addition, Dulsco will be actively participating in Expo 2020 Dubai with its own interactive platform, its very own Front of House stand at the Opportunity District which will showcase its various sustainability initiatives as a leading provider of environmental solutions and increase awareness around sustainability in the region. It will feature a highly entertaining and educational activity that will test Expo visitors’ knowledge of the 4R’s of waste management – reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle – while highlighting its waste management solutions and how its sustainability efforts are powering better and safer communities.

Prior to Expo 2020 Dubai’s opening, Dulsco launched an animated character, Birdy, that will lead its public awareness campaign in the 4R’s which is aimed at generating widespread support not just for the event but also for conservation efforts aimed at protecting and preserving the environment.

With the opening of the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, Dulsco is working hand-in-hand with Expo 2020 Dubai team to ensure that the millions of visitors who are expected to come will have a sustainable and memorable event experience.

Deals for ticket holders: The final countdown to ‘The World’s Greatest Show’ is on and Festival Plaza has a little something in store for all Expo 2020 Dubai ticket holders and employees to benefit from! selected restaurants, and stores are offering exclusive deals for those who already purchased their Expo 2020 Dubai tickets or work at the Expo between 1 October and 31 March 2022. Restaurants across Festival Plaza serving various cuisines are on board. Serving up India’s most-loved flavors, PepperMill, and Ming’s Chamber with extraordinary Asian cuisine are both offering a 20% discount on the total bill including a special business lunch deal. Hardee’s, Sapori, Asia Seven, Street Foods by Punjab Grill are among the list of Expo’s exclusive offers as well as Dunkin’ where you ‘Buy 6 Donuts, Get 6 Munchkins free’. Other retailers such as Mumoso, a fashionable and trendy design brand, is offering guests a blind bag when purchasing products with AED50 and a 15% off on beauty brand Flormar’s total bill. Offers are getting added everyday so checkout dubaifestivalplaza.com for more info. If you work at the Expo 2020 Dubai or are just visiting, use your tickets for some extra benefit and avail the best deals at Festival Plaza! Opened in

The Luxembourg Pavilion will present the Michelin-starred chef Kim Kevin de Dood, who has created a signature menu that reveals some of Luxembourg’s most popular dishes, mixed with unexpected and modern flavours.