The Pavilions Premiere is a limited-time opportunity for visitors to preview Expo 2020’s Thematic Pavilions and will provide a glimpse of what is to come when Expo 2020 Dubai – the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region – welcomes the world from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion, will open to the public from January 22, while Alif – The Mobility Pavilion and Mission Possible – The Opportunity Pavilion will follow later in the first quarter of 2021. Pavilions Premiere bookings can be made online and cost Dh25. Visitors are urged to book early as the experience will operate five days per week with limited operating hours and capacity restrictions due to enhanced health and safety measures.
Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau and UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, said: “We are delighted to start 2021 on such a positive note as we welcome the UAE community to be the first to experience Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion at a moment in our history that is unparalleled in terms of its impact on humanity.
“This period of rapid, unprecedented change has brought with it a pressing need to rethink the way we exist, and is further accelerated by a global health crisis that has touched each and every individual on Earth. While 2020 may be remembered as a year that changed us forever, it has also given us a tremendous opportunity to come together as a global society and find answers to our most pressing challenges.
“This remains the focal purpose of Expo 2020 Dubai and the vision of the UAE’s leadership, while our Thematic Pavilions – Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability – rally the call for collective action to tackle these challenges in order to create a better future for all humanity.”
Visitors will be able to explore Terra and enjoy the unique surrounding public spaces which include a children’s playground, gift shop, dining and more. Terra (which means ‘Planet Earth’) will offer an immersive journey through the wonders of the natural world, including an interactive walk through the roots of the forest, where every footstep affects the ‘wood-wide-web’. Uncovering the hidden harmful impacts of our choices, the emotive experience is designed to encourage visitors of all ages, and the younger generation in particular, to consider how their behaviour impacts the environment and break the cycle of consumerism, empowering them to become agents of change.
A playful, exploratory experience, Terra will remain in legacy as a science centre that will inspire sustainable choices for generations to come
A playful, exploratory experience, Terra will remain in legacy as a science centre that will inspire sustainable choices for generations to come.
Marjan Faraidooni, Chief Experience Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai said: “Expo 2020 aims to be one of the most sustainable World Expos in history and supports the UAE’s efforts as a champion of green development, so it is fitting that our first visitors will enjoy a preview of the Sustainability Pavilion – an interactive and personal experience that will highlight the urgency of addressing some of the world’s greatest environmental challenges.
The iconic pavilion, designed by the world-renowned Grimshaw Architects, sets an example for sustainable building design. Built to be net-zero for both energy and water, it features 1,055 photovoltaic panels arranged on a 130-metre-wide roof canopy and atop a series of ‘Energy Trees’. The pavilion also uses cutting-edge water-reduction strategies, water recycling and alternative water sources.
February events in Dubai
AS popular golfing event OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic concludes successfully in late January this year, we share a few other events to take place in February are as follows:
Russian State Opera Bizet’s Carmen will hold a performance in Dubai Opera on February 7 and 8. Also coming to the Dubai Opera this year is Verdi’s Aida, which will be held on February 9 and 10. On February 18, the Gipsy Kings by André Reyes returns to Dubai Opera for an evening of dancing and singing along to the rhythm of their audience’s favourites.
The public can also take part in high-energy tournaments at the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series from February 14 until March 5. The prestigious event in Dubai’s sporting calendar is well anticipated every year, attracting some of the world’s leading polo players and high-profile audiences to enjoy world-class competition and entertainment.
The Desert Warrior Challenge will be returning on February 19 to test participant’s physical and mental strength in the midst of Al Marmoom Desert. The event will also see a new Desert Warrior crowned.
Also returning this February is the Super Sport Run Series with its dynamic races taking place at The Track, Meydan Golf.
With the return of annual Emirates Airline Festival of Literature until February 13, book lovers can attend insightful sessions, debates and workshops hosted by world-renowned authors and be inspired by literary heroes.
Food lovers can look forward to the Dubai Food Festival, which is being organised from February 25 until March 13. The festival allows visitors to experience fine dining, hidden gems, home grown restaurant concepts and global brands. The public can even take part in guided food tours, cooking masterclasses and themed feasts.
Organised from the March 9-13 at Dubai Harbour, the Dubai International Boat Show is set to showcase luxury superyachts and leisure crafts from around the world, with some estimated at $707.7 million.