Dubai Expo 2020: BETTER LIVING THROUGH CREATIVITY

After more than 18 months of postponement, the overarching lesson of Dubai Expo 2020 was: flexibility. The theme for this edition was “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”. Often these expos offer thrilling proof of the science fiction novelist William Gibson’s maxim that “the future is already here, it’s just not evenly distributed yet.” This time around, the pandemic offered a reminder that sometimes, the future just has to wait.

When it finally arrived in November, the Expo was more than worth the delay. With more than 200 pavilions from 192 countries, exhibiting over more than 1000 acres, it was a true showcase of human ingenuity. Whether you were interested in innovations in design, architecture, entertainment, lighting, sound, sustainability or healthcare, there was something for everyone. The centrepiece was the dome over the Al Wasl Plaza, which is destined to become a tourist attraction in its own right, but everywhere you looked there were things to admire. Even overlooking the Dome itself was Jubilee, a stunning rooftop bar and restaurant.

In fact, food was at the centre of several interesting exhibits, hardly a surprise, as it is one of the most dynamic areas for the meeting of tradition, creativity and sustainability. Take Alkebulan, a beautifully assembled culinary exhibit. Named for an ancient word for Africa that translates as “Mother of Mankind,” it provided a theatre for the range, depth and creativity of African cuisine, with a masterful design by The Bluehaus Group, built by fit-out contractors ISG. Or Adrift, whose burgers were popular enough to prompt a visit by Sheikh Hamdan, who knows his gastronomy.