Immersive Khaleeji music and culture

Sajjad Ahmad, Deputy Business Editor

Some of the best-known musicians from the Gulf and wider Arab world will come together to showcase the finest Emirati and regional music and culture in new series of shows titled Jalsat @ Expo, at Expo 2020 Dubai, set to kick off in ten days.

Star names who will grace Jalsat @Expo include Saudi singer Aseel Abu Baker, Moroccan artist Asmaa Al-Mnawar, Bahraini singer Mohammed Al Bakri, Bahraini artist Mashael, Yemeni singer-songwriter Fouad Abdelwahad, Saudi singer Dalia Mubarak, Kuwaiti singer Mutref Al Mutref, Kuwaiti singer Alaa Al Hindi, Iraqi artist Majid Al Mohandis and Iraqi singer-songwriter Aseel Hameem.

The six events, held monthly exclusively at Expo 2020 Dubai, take the form of vibrant Khaleeji-led jam sessions, giving visitors to the biggest cultural gathering in the world an exciting introduction to Arabic traditions, the welcoming spirit of the UAE and the essence of Expo’s connecting ethos.

Nahla AlMheiri, Director - UAE Content at Expo 2020 Dubai, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “The heritage of the UAE is rich and deeply-rooted in history. That is why our ancestors intended to preserve it, by telling its story through rhymes, poems, as well as popular performances and folkloric shows, so that it is passed down from one generation to the next over time; and this tradition is common among most GCC countries. Through Jalsat @ Expo, we are giving audiences from around the world a window into distinct features of Khaleeji culture and showcasing some of the region’s Arabic and Khaleeji leading talents.” A lively formation of more than 30 performers and celebrated musicians from nations from around the region ensure each show in the series creates once-in-a-lifetime experiences for audiences and musicians alike. A total of 18 instrumentalists will focus on instruments including the oud - a type of mandolin popular in the Arab world - saxophone and percussion, accompanied by six back-up singers and six dancers.

Kicking off on 12 October 2021, the two-hour shows take place from 2030-2230 on Jubilee Stage once a month for the duration of Expo. Jalsat - which translates to “session” or “sitting” - will operate with enhanced health and safety measures in line with the latest UAE Government guidance.

Expo 2020, which runs from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, welcomes visitors to join the making of a new world through a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture, with music providing a unifying, uplifting force.

Future of Finance’ conference: The ‘Future of Finance’ conference, hosted by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) on 13th and 14th October 2021, will see an impressive round-up of speakers. The event will bring together governors of central banks, industry leaders and heads of financial and technology institutions from around the world.

The two-day conference, which will convene under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of CBUAE, will explore and promote the theme of Expo 2020 Dubai ‘Connecting Minds and Creating the Future’. It will provide a platform to facilitate the exchange of knowledge on key themes shaping the future of finance.

Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of CBUAE, commented, “We congratulate the UAE’s leadership and its people on the successful launch of Expo 2020 Dubai, which is a great achievement that culminates the nation’s 50 years and commences the journey for the next fifty years. The hosting of the Expo after exceptional circumstances in 2020 is an outcome of continuous efforts and a reflection that the UAE has no such word as impossible.”

Balama added, “The world today requires an integrated effort across different sectors, and it is only by combining our knowledge and expertise that we can aim to strengthen the global financial industry. We are delighted to be welcoming some of our most esteemed colleagues and experts from around the world to discuss the opportunities and challenges that we collectively face, as it is truly by connecting minds we can create a better future.”

Participating speakers from the UAE include    Sheikha Shamma Bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, CEO of Alliances for Global Sustainability, Founder of Shamma Bint Sultan Sustainability Initiatives and Co-Founder of Aurora50; Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director-General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority; Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government; Colonel Khalifa Matar Al Humairi, Executive Director of Customer Happiness Centres at the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship; and Rola Abu Manneh, CEO at Standard Chartered Bank- UAE.

International speakers who will take part in the event include Andreas Dombret, former member of Executive Board of Dutsche Bundesbank and Chairman of Houlihan Lokey; Denis Beau, Deputy Governor, Banque De France; Vachira Arromdee, Deputy Governor, Bank of Thailand; Luiz Awazu Pereira da Silva, Deputy General Manager of the Bank for International Settlement- Switzerland; Benedicte Nolens, Head of Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub, Hong Kong Centre; Colin Pu, Executive Director, Hong Kong Monetary Authority; Dr. Mohamed Omran, Executive Chairman, Financial Regulatory Authority of Egypt; Gauri Singh, Deputy Director-General at International Renewable Energy Agency; Dr Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director-General for Islamic Development Bank Institute; and Dr. Abdelilah Belatik, Secretary General at the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions and Chief Economist.

Separately, The Malaysia Pavilion launched its e-platform, a virtual version of the physical Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, to provide an added facility for the general public to experience the Pavilion exhibits as well as drive traffic and enhance connectivity for Malaysia’s trade and business programmes.

The on-demand platform can be accessed through the Malaysia Pavilion website at www.malaysiaexpo2020.com and aims to provide Malaysian business participants a global reach with greater reach and speed.

The launch of the e-platform was announced by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister YAB Dato’ Sri Dr Adham Baba during his opening speech at the Malaysian International Technology Summit (MITS) on 5 October 2021. His speech was delivered by the Ambassador of Malaysia to the United Arab Emirates, His Excellency Mohd Tarid Sufian.

Malaysia’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai is spearheaded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) with Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre (MGTC) as implementing agency. Malaysia carries the theme of ‘Energising Sustainability’ at the Expo.

The general public can access the platform to experience the permanent exhibits at the Energising Today and Energising Tomorrow segments which are spread across seven exhibit areas namely, the Malaysian Rainforest, Sustainable Agricommodities, Malaysia 2030 (exhibit 3 and 5), Re-energising the Future, Smart City and Smart Network. The narrative of the Energising Today segment is on sustainable land-use management and the balanced relationship between the country’s forest conservation and the development of agricommodities.

The remaining five exhibit halls under the Energising Tomorrow segment showcase Malaysia’s commitment to become a developed and high-income nation with science, technology and innovation as the main thrusts.

The Energising Harmony segment is for visitors to enjoy cultural performances by the National Department for Culture and Arts that showcases the nation’s unique and colourful make-up of diverse ethnicities with multi-cultures and heritage.