What Was Expo 2020 Dubai?

A World Expo hosted in Dubai from 1 Oct 2021 to 31 Mar 2022, branded
Featured 193 participating countries, each with its own pavilion—an Expo first.
Drew over 24 million visits during its six-month run
Organized around three central themes: Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability

📍 Venue & Architectural Highlights

Located on a 438‑hectare site between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, designed by HOK around the iconic Al Wasl Plaza
Al Wasl Plaza served as the central hub and featured a massive dome used for ceremonies and projections
Signature pavilions include:
- UAE Pavilion by Calatrava: shaped like a falcon in flight, with 28 solar-powered movable wings, LEED Platinum certification, and a shaded jungle zone in the basement
- Sustainability Pavilion (Terra): built by Grimshaw with solar ‘energy trees’, water-harvesting features, LEED Platinum, designed to become a science & children’s centre post‑Expo
- Singapore Pavilion: an urban rainforest designed to showcase biodiversity, solar tech, desalination, and kinetic sculpture;
- Saudi Arabia Pavilion: futuristic design, awarded ‘Best Pavilion’ at Expo awards
- Additional standout designs from Germany (“Campus Germany”), UK, Netherlands, Japan, and others.

Virgin Hyperloop showcased at the DP World FLOW Pavilion — a full-scale pod experience demonstrating future transport.
Over 1000 photovoltaic panels, cutting-edge sustainability exhibits, and initiatives such as “Water‑in‑doses” instead of plastic bottles .
“Programme for People and Planet”: cultural, social, economic, and sustainability programming to foster global collaboration and innovation

After closing, the site transformed into Expo City Dubai, a mixed-use innovation-driven, people-centric community.
Offers parks, cultural spaces, offices (e.g., Fujifilm), with Al Wasl Plaza and several attractions open year-round
Several pavilions repurposed into cultural venues, start-up hubs, and public amenities in the emerging District 2020.

Expo City Dubai is now publicly accessible:

Al Wasl Plaza is open 24/7.
Attractions like Jubilee Park and Surreal Waterfalls are free-access; others may require tickets
Timings typically 10:00–18:00 with last entry at 17:15 expocitydubai.com.