12 most Instagrammable spots at Expo 2020 Dubai

If you need an excuse to head out and refresh your social media feed then Expo 2020 Dubai is the perfect place to do just that. Starting from October, you can get the chance to experience an entire world of awe-inspiring sights and picturesque installations all under one roof for six exciting months. No two days will be the same, with the fair’s colourful roster of musical events, parades and ever-changing light festivals. There’s more – world renowned architects were involved in embedding the 438-hectare site with unique structures and pavilions, so make sure to get in a few clicks during the golden hour. In our books, here are some of the most photogenic spots at Expo 2020 Dubai. | Above: Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion and Al Wasl Plaza

Ever seen an iridescent oil drill sculpture? Resembling a futuristic creature from the ocean depths, Kuwaiti artist Monira Al Qadiri’s ‘Chimera’ is part of Expo 2020’s Public Art Programme. Its exact location is currently unknown, but it is all part of the rewarding process – the 11 chosen artworks including ‘Chimera’ can be seen across the Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability Districts and Expo’s two parks onsite. Its electric and reflective colours and alien shape are sure to stand out on your feed.

A must-see installation for space lovers is the USA Pavilion’s scale-by-scale replica of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Named after the ‘Star Wars’ spacecraft Millennium Falcon, Falcon 9 is the second tallest structure onsite at a remarkable height of 42 metres. Make sure to get your Leaning Tower of Pisa-style pictures next to the rocket.

The shiny, reflective mirrors covering the façade of the Switzerland Pavilion call for a group selfie. Under the theme of ‘Reflections’, the pavilion brings together visitors to literally and metaphorically reflect on the future of our planet. While you wait in the queue, gather your friends and family to take a picture with perhaps one of the largest mirrors you will ever see.

Are you looking for a place to take aesthetically pleasing artsy pictures? The Sustainability District will feature five art installations by four local and regional contemporary artists in collaboration with Art Dubai. These structures shed light on the Middle Eastern perspective on the issue of sustainability. Zeinab Al Hashemi’s ‘Takween’ (pictured) is a prominent, visually appealing structure that shows two halves merging to become one, symbolising the interdependent relationship between humans and Nature.

Japan’s three-dimensional origami-inspired pavilion exterior is a combination of Arabesque and Asanoha (or hemp leaf) patterns. Participating under the theme of ‘Where ideas meet’, the Japanese pavilion and its picturesque structure is meant to embody the connection between Japan and Middle East. You can take a relaxing stroll along its path, while showing off the completely white and asymmetrical architectural wonder to your social media followers.

Step into Australia Pavilion’s welcoming tunnel lit with violet neon tubes and walls plastered with Indigenous street art. A picture taken here will be doused in mysterious purple vibes thanks to the dim atmosphere, making your snap look both eccentric and futuristic.

There are three Entry Portals located at the mouth of each Thematic District: Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity. Designed by London-based architect Asif Khan, the portals are the first thing you see on your way to the Expo site, towering at a height of 21 metres. The massive carbon-fibre doors are so light that a single person can swing them open – you can even get it on camera for the sceptics. Let all your friends and family see that you’ve entered The World’s Greatest Show as you strike a pose in front of this colossal monument.

Al Wasl Plaza is far more than just a beating heart that connects all of Expo; its dome also packs an extraordinary view, becoming a 360-degree cinema by night, from the inside and out. Memorialise the feeling of looking at the Al Wasl Plaza for the very first time and click a picture of its grand edifice that looks equally arresting when the sun is down or up.

Saudi Arabia Pavilion’s soaring-into-the-sky architecture is in a league by itself. The gravity-defying massive window is also the world’s largest LED display, flickering through the scenic sights of the Kingdom. Come sunset, watch the pavilion light up from the sides as well as the front in colourful displays.

Strolling through the pedestrian areas of the Thematic Districts feels like stepping into a rustic-themed gated community with their 67-metre-high solar trees, shaded walkways and open-air exhibitions. Make sure you take some time out to venture through the human-scaled districts to get a holistic experience of the fair, getting a few clicks along the way.

Another staggering installation reverses water waves. If you are a fan of the world’s largest choreographed fountain at The Dubai Mall, then you will love what Expo has in store. The Expo 2020 Water Feature is shaped like a 13-metre-high amphitheatre that sucks water right back up at night. While the waves dance to the music written by the composer for the HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’, there are hydrogen flames shooting up from the centre.

Nothing is going to give you the full Expo experience like the 360-degree observation tower called the Garden in the Sky. It is a double-decked circular platform that can take you to a height of 55 metres for an aerial view of the fair. At night, when thousands of lights are on and Expo’s main attractions have come to life, hop on to the tower for that one stellar horizon shot.