Know the UAE: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future

Dubai: Every World Expo runs under a central theme of universal concern to all of humanity.

Expo 2020 Dubai’s theme is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. It recognizes that generating sustainable solutions to global problems demands collaboration across cultures, nations and regions.

It is also a reflection of the modern world: connected as never before, and changing with great speed.

This is what Expo 2020, its participants and visitors will explore, well into the future.

The inspiration for the logo is a gold ring dating back almost 4,000 years, which was discovered at an archaeological site in the desert.

The logo of Expo 2020 Dubai is a delicate composition of circles and loops encircling a gold light that shines through the centre, and conveys the message of the event – Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.

The discovery of the site, Sarouq Al Hadeed, was made by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, when he was ying over the desert in a helicopter and noticed that the sand dunes over the site were very different from those in surrounding areas.

The decision to feature the simple ring in the logo was made by Shaikh Mohammad, to represent the message that the UAE is a young nation but has connections to ancient civilisations.

"Over 4,000 years ago, the people who lived in this land had a deep creative spirit, and today the people of this country are building the nation’s future for centuries to come."

- His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

The logo was unveiled at a ceremony on March 27, 2016, when it was projected in gold light on to the Burj Khalifa

Pavilions, exhibitions, events and entertainment will come together to create an immersive experience across an area of 2sq km.

Spreading outwards from this centre will be three ‘souq’ areas, each focused on sub-themes: Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity

Duration: 173 days

25.4m expected visitors during the six months between October 2020 and April 2021

173,000 visitors per day

40,000 Children per day

235,000 visitors per weekend day

247,000 visitors per peak day

200 VIP visitors

280 press agencies

The UAE Pavilion is inspired by the shape of a falcon in flœight. The dramatic design evokes the pioneering spirit and power of connections that transformed the UAE from a collection of small, desert communities into a global connection point. The winning concept has been designed by Spanish „rm Santiago Calatrava, ažer a seven-month competition organised by Abu Dhabi-based Masdar. The jury included representatives from Expo, Masdar, Emaar and the National Media Council.