Dubai: The Expo 2020 logo just got a facelift.
The new design, inspired by a golden ring, was unveiled to the public in Dubai on Sunday by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The new logo was projected onto the Burj Khalifa as crowds of people cheered on.
Speaking about the new design, Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of the Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, said: “The logo is inspired by an artifact that is found in the archaeological site of Saruq Al Hadid…it’s a tiny gold object… [that is] very detailed, made of pure gold [and] has very small artistic designs around it.”
The reason why this ring inspired the new logo is because it has a circular shape, which inspires connectivity, resilience and strength, Al Hashimi said.
A competition to create the official logo for Expo 2020 was launched last year, attracting 19,000 participants. Entrants were expected to create a design that reflects the main theme of the event: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. All entries were reviewed by a panel of design experts, while the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee created a shortlist of finalists.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, presented awards toTunisian Mohamed Souhaiel Bin Ali, one of the finalists, along with Mouza Al Mansouri, of the UAE, and Valerii Ilnitski, of Moldova.
“Thank you to our finalists and to everyone who submitted their aspirations and ideas for what Expo 2020 would represent. What this shows is that this event has the wholehearted support and belief of the people of the United Arab Emirates. It makes us even more aware of how important it is to produce an utterly exceptional Expo,” Al Hashimy said.
Expo 2020, a six-month exposition that is expected to attract 25 million visitors, will run from October 2020 to April 2021 at Dubai Trade Centre — Jebel Ali, a 438 hectare site equidistant from the centres of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The emirate won the bid to host the event in November 2013.
The winners of the architectural competition to design the theme pavilions for the Expo 2020 were announced about two weeks ago. The winning design for the Opportunity Pavilion was submitted by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), based in Copenhagen and New York, while London-based Foster + Partners are behind the design for the Mobility Pavilion, and Grimshaw Architects submitted the winning design for the Sustainability Pavilion.
“We are hopeful that in July 2016 we will start the building phase,” Al Hashimy said.
Construction at the Expo 2020 site is expected to be completed by 2019.
