Dubai: The world converged at Expo 2020 Dubai to celebrate the 50th Jubilee of the UAE on the eve of the UAE’s National Day. The spectacular show was to commemorate the 50 years of the founding of the nation.
Held at Al Wasl Plaza, the show was a fitting tribute to the UAE’s incredible melding of tradition and modernity. Dubbed Journey to the 50th , the show was an ode to the country’s indomitable spirit and ingenuity.
President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared the year 2021 as ‘The Year of the 50th’, and the show took a step back in time to showcase the immense progress the country has made thus far. While it is a tribute to the past, the show also demonstrated the future ambitions of the country.
“As the UAE marks 50 years since its epochal unification, and Expo 2020 embarks on a long weekend of celebrations to honour the occasion, we are proud to present ‘Journey of the 50th’ to UAE nationals, residents and the rest of the world. Despite being a young nation, the UAE is a world leader in so many fields, and our Golden Jubilee spectacle gives an insight into the nation’s journey to greatness, while underscoring how upbeat we are about its bright future,” said Tareq Ghosheh, Chief Events and Entertainment Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai.
“The show was created in line with the spirit of Al Wasl Plaza, utilising new technology and production tricks to create moments that will be engraved in people’s minds and hearts for years to come,” he added.
Drawing upon the wisdom of an elderly woman Umm Khalifa, who represents the knowledge of the past, her granddaughter Al Reem – signifying the promise of future – learns that by strengthening her connection with her roots, she will be equipped to achieve anything she wishes in the future.
There were performances by a choir of school children from across the UAE backed by an orchestra and the entire cast for a stirring performance of the UAE National Anthem. There was also a rousing rendition of Ya Hayaha – a song that was played during the UAE’s Silver Jubilee on 2 December, 1996, to mark 30 years of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE’s founding father, as ruler of Abu Dhabi.
For those who missed the show, they can catch it from December 2 to 4.
