Don’t be fooled by the year, Dubai Expo 2020 is happening in the UAE right now. It is truly a melting pot of world cultures, cuisines, technology, innovation, creativity, science, art, and architecture; which makes it a once-in-a-lifetime experience that shouldn’t be missed!
The best part? There’s something for everyone.
If you’re a culture and travel enthusiast like me, the Expo is your dreamland. Spread over 1000 acres, the Expo proudly presents 200 pavilions spread across five zones – Mobility, Sustainability, Opportunity, Al Forsan and Jubilee with Al Wasl Dome as the center.
While a majority of these pavilions are hosted by countries across the world, some represent themes like Mobility (Alif), Sustainability (Terra), Women’s pavilion among other immersive experiences which are well worth a visit.
Sharing below some tips from my personal experience ~
- Timing: Dedicate at least two full days. It’s preferable to arrive in the morning to avoid evening rush hours which would only add to the waiting time at popular pavilions. I spent 3 whole days and managed to cover about 50 pavilions. Expo pavilion timings are 10 am to 10 pm. Some restaurants and events might go on until later in the night as indicated on the official Expo website.
- Getting there – The Dubai Metro Red line and Expo Rider buses take you straight to the Expo entrance. Alternatively, you can book Uber/Careem cabs. Parking is free and there’s shuttle service to and from the parking lot to the entrance. Keep your e-ticket (QR code) and double vaccination certificate ready for check at the entrance. Masks are mandatory throughout the campus and sanitizer dispensers are placed every few meters.
- Passport – You can buy an Expo Passport at one of the kiosks inside the Expo for 20 AED and get it stamped at each pavilion – a great way to take back your own unique souvenir. Some pavilions have the stamping booths at the entrance while most have them towards the exit. Be sure to present the right one at the Dubai immigration on your trip back!
- Dress code – Highly recommend wearing your most comfortable pair of shoes as you might be walking an average of 10,000 steps in a single visit. Also, a good idea to keep your sunglasses handy and wear weather appropriate clothing. When I visited end of January, it was sweater weather in the evenings.
- App – Download the Dubai 2020 Expo mobile application. It’s a great way to navigate your way between pavilions (some are more than 1 km away), find places to eat and keep a tab of daily events. You can also book a slot to visit specific pavilions to cut down on queuing time.
It’s probably wise to make a wishlist of the pavilions you’d like to visit since it is very easy to get distracted by several exciting things happening throughout the Expo – live performances, neighboring country pavilions, a cozy looking cafe!
Sharing below 10 of my favourite pavilions ~
- Saudi Arabia
2. Kazakhstan
3. Peru
4. Spain
5. Russia
6. Singapore
7. Hungary
8. Pakistan
9. Palestine
10. Ukraine
Other country pavilions worth visiting are UAE, Germany, Indonesia, USA, Angola, Mexico, Iran, Moldova, Romania, Belarus, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Netherlands. I either learned something fascinating about a lesser-known culture or was blown away by their out-of-the-box innovation or simply connected with a local national which made these pavilions stand out for me.
The Dubai Expo 2020 is on until 31. March 2022 and indeed a great way to soak in the essence of world cultures, taste global flavors, shake a leg to folk dances and music, make new international friends and improve your Cultural Intelligence.
Kulture Kaleidoscope 