Expo 2020: 13 countries that hosted World Expos before Dubai

Almost two centuries ago, the world was introduced to its very first Expo. It sparked an enthusiasm for discovery in sectors such as technology, arts and architecture.

Every five years, countries come together to showcase the very best of these innovations. The spring-board for ideas, without which the development of the modern world could not have been possible, will this year be situated in Dubai. Here’s a look at the global fairs that came before – and the marvelous machinations they introduced to the modern world.

UNITED KINGDOM IN 1851 AND 1862: Great Britain hosted the very first World Expo, welcoming six million visitors who marvelled at the displays of machinery, fine arts and raw materials. One of the most notable inventions on display in 1851 was the printing press. The printing press was cutting-edge technology for the time; it could produce 5,000 copies within an hour and was later used for the printing of ‘The Times’ newspaper in the 19th century. In Expo 2020, the UK pavilion will be showcasing displays related to artificial intelligence and space.

FRANCE IN 1855, 1867, 1878, 1889, 1900 AND 1937: The fourth time it hosted the World Expo, France constructed the iconic Eiffel tower in hopes of building the highest structure in the world. To this day, the tower looms over Paris at a monumental height of 300 metres. This year, visitors will get a glimpse of France’s architectural skilfulness as they set their eyes on France’s pavilion - its unique design encompasses 2,500 square metres of solar tiles set up around the building. Plus, it’s been built to provide a panoramic view of the Expo site.

AUSTRIA IN 1873: During the Vienna Expo of 1873, a Belgian inventor discovered the industrial use of the electric motor. This was a major break-through in the scientific field since most machines were powered by steam – reliable and large-scale use of electricity had not yet been learned.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN 1876, 1893, 1904, 1915, 1933, 1939 AND 1962: The US has hosted the most number of Expos, modern entertainment ripened with the help of these exhibitions. In 1893, flocks of people arrived to experience the first-ever Ferris wheel in Chicago at “The Midway Pleasance”, a stretch of land at the Expo site dedicated to rides and games that paved the way for the future of amusement parks such as Disneyland. The US pavilion at the upcoming Expo will have extraordinary experiences including media shows of US’s technological advancements, a rocket blast-off spectacle and an exploration of the terrains of American parks.

AUSTRALIA IN 1880: The Melbourne Expo presented a myriad of objects from across the world – jewellery, photographs, cotton products and leather accessories to name a few. It provided visitors with the opportunity to understand other cultures first-hand. They could sip Indian tea, devour British sweets or try Dutch cocoa. The Australian pavilion this year has planned to give their visitors a window into their history through a journey of ancient traditions all the way to their modern day inventions.

SPAIN IN 1888, 1929 AND 1992: 'The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc' was the star of the show at the Barcelona Expo in 1929. The fountain had protruded water jets that lit up with changing colours. Following this tradition, Spain’s pavilion this year is ready to welcome visitors who are interested in the arts - with their art installation and theatrical performance among other things.

BELGIUM IN 1897, 1905, 1910, 1913, 1935 AND 1958: Many prominent developments came out of the Brussels Expo in 1897. The ‘Machine Gallery’ displayed the most advanced technology of the time including boilers, electric converters and ventilation systems. This year, the Belgium pavilion will be open to visitors who would like to try authentic Belgian cuisine, sweet waffles or their world-famous chocolate.

ITALY IN 1906 AND 2015: The most recent expo was held in Milan in 2015. The theme of food was emphasised greatly during the Expo by exploring ways to make production and consumption more efficient. The ‘Future Food District’ introduced an interactive supermarket and new ways for chefs to prepare food.

HAITI IN 1949: The Expo site in Haiti was constructed near the waterfront. The construction was supervised by an architect from New York, August Schmiedigen, who had previously worked for other World Expos. Haiti proudly showcased their culture with their artefacts and folklore.

CANADA IN 1967: At the Montreal Expo, the Soviet Union exhibited the original space capsule in which the first man orbited the Earth. It was a significant step forward for space exploration. Canada, in the Expo 2020, will delve into sectors concerning education, agriculture, aerospace and more.

JAPAN IN 1970 AND 2005: Japan’s futuristic expos had many exceptional innovations but one that caught the eye was the world’s first IMAX in Osaka back in 1970. Japan’s Expo 2020 pavilion is created to be a deeply engaging encounter of the art, technology and culture that has blossomed from this East Asian country.

GERMANY IN 2000: Staying on track with the agenda to remain sustainable during World Expos, pavilion architects started finding more eco-friendly alternatives to create their designs. At the Hannover Expo, the Japan Pavilion (pictured), for example, used a ‘paper-tube technique’ that required building the pavilion from recycled paper from Germany. The country pavilion at the Dubai Expo will take visitors on a journey through their Energy Lab, the Future City Lab and the Biodiversity Lab.

CHINA IN 2010: The Shanghai Expo - functioning under the name ‘Better city, Better life’ - served as a platform for discussing and providing novel solutions for urban challenges. The Expo provided a boost for the expansion of China’s major cities. It subsequently assisted in the development of the longest metro system in the world.