Enthusiasm grows as Expo draws near

The splendid response elicited by the nationwide celebratory events across the UAE held to mark the one-year countdown to Expo 2020 Dubai on Sunday unambiguously highlights the tremendous enthusiasm building up for the mega event.

Expo 2020 Dubai is slated to be the ‘World’s Greatest Show’ and Sunday marked exactly one year until the world’s first-ever Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region launches under the grand theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.’

The highlight of the celebrations turned out to be the live performance by global superstar Mariah Carey and acclaimed Emirati artist and Expo 2020 Ambassador Hussein Al Jassmi at the Burj Park, Downtown Dubai.

The entire country joined in the celebratory mode as simultaneous festivities took place at Louvre Abu Dhabi, Al Majaz Waterfront in Sharjah, Ajman Museum, Umm Al Quwain Corniche, Al Qawasim Corniche in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah Fort.

Variety added charm to the shows as every programme featured grassroots music and performing arts, amazing food, graphic art and more – plus live streams of Dubai’s headline acts and the Burj Khalifa countdown.

Unity in diversity has been a hallmark of the UAE. Across all seven emirates, performances by 100 artistes from 26 different nationalities highlighted the nation’s rich talent pool and multicultural modern society, as well as the global appeal of Expo 2020.

Interestingly, in line with Expo 2020’s sub-theme of Sustainability, single-use plastic water bottles were not sold at any of the celebrations.

Instead, Expo 2020 provided free drinking water and 98 per cent biodegradable and compostable paper water bottles to visitors, performers and staff.

Things are shaping up fast with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, announcing recently a new national logo featuring the Ghaf tree, which will be used by government and private entities for campaigns, initiatives and programmes during 2019.

Students in the country will be able to explore new worlds of innovation and inspiration. The UAE Ministry of Education and private educational groups in the UAE have signed commitment agreements that place school students at the heart of the next World Expo.

With these commitments, hundreds of thousands of students can experience unforgettable educational and inspirational journeys at Expo 2020 Dubai through more than one million visits.

The Expo School Programme announced recently the launch of Expo 2020 Young Stars, created to provide an extraordinary opportunity for the students of the UAE to perform in Al Wasl Plaza, the heart and soul of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Each participating school will create its own unique show based on the themes and spirit of Expo 2020.

Expo 2020 Young Stars provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students, their schools and families to play an active role in Expo 2020 and showcase their talents to the world.

As Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, well explained, the UAE’s ability to transcend sensitivities and challenges and to connect countries and nations to the region in this way (referring to Expo) is unprecedented.

In his own words: “One of the positive things that is happening in our region is that stability, prosperity and joint action have become everybody’s dream and desire. Our hosting of Expo is yet another embodiment of this endeavour and a great step on the path towards prosperity of mankind.”