Day 1 of Expo 2020 Dubai: UAE, Italy, Czech pavilions open, visitors at Al Wasl plaza, wandering robots

The UAE pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai on the opening day for visitors. The falcon, known for its agility, strength and courage, is a cultural symbol in the UAE that signifies the vitality of the nation and the importance of falconry in UAE tradition. It is no wonder that Expo 2020 Dubai’s UAE Pavilion, spanning 15,000 square metres and the largest on site, draws inspiration from this remarkably powerful bird.

Visitors entering UAE pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai. Based in the Opportunity District, the pavilion is shaded by floating and movable wings that make up the structure’s roof.

The roof structure is a hybrid between a shell and a portal frame composed of 28 wings. The wings take three minutes to open, completing a range of movements between 110 and 125 degrees.

A woman on stilts performs at Expo 2020 in Dubai.

Visitors on the opening day of Expo 2020. Photo: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

Visitors enjoy all that the Philippines Pavilion has to offer on the first day of the much anticipated Dubai Expo 2020 on 1st October, 2021.

From harnessing the power of the sun, the next element one will see upon entering the pavilion is the ubiquitous sand. The sand is a symbol of the Bedouin life as well as the UAE’s humble beginnings and resilience.

Visitors lined up to enter UAE pavilion on the opening day of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Interior of the Poland Pavilion, the tree-like wooden structure with a kinetic sculpture, references the large-scale migration of birds from Poland to the Arab world. It explores the nation's diverse global connections, as well as its role as a leading producer of goods.

Visitors at the Saudi pavilion. The unfolding rectangular façade of the sloping pavilion reaches to sky as if it is ready to take flight.

An acrobat performs at Expo 2020 in Dubai.

Young Emirati visitors Shamsha and Theyab.

Visitors walking at the Al Wasl Plaza at the Expo 2020 Dubai. Fondly referred to as the heart of Expo 2020 Dubai, Al Wasl Plaza is a visual marvel for the visitor for its striking scale; it's got a 130-metre-wide, 67.5-metre-tall dome that doubles as a 360-degree laser projection surface, making it the largest of its kind.

A visitor takes a selfie with a wandering robot at Expo 2020 in Dubai.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai opens the Sustainability portal on the opening day of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Russian pavillon at the Expo 2020 Dubai.

A visitor poses for a photograph in front of the US pavillion at the Expo 2020 Dubai.

The Japanese pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai. According to Isao Ando, the Pavilion Director and the Deputy Commissioner General of the Japanese section: “The façade brings together arabesque and origami motifs and represents the longstanding historical ties between Japan and the Middle East. The structure takes in traditional energy-saving systems from both cultures and can be seen as an example of sustainable architecture.”

Zeleros premieres hyperloop vehicle is presented during a media tour at Spain Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai in Dubai.

Australian pavilIon at the Expo 2020 Dubai.

The DP World Pavilion.

Thailand Pavilion. State-of-the-art technology meets traditional charm.

Czech Pavillon at the Expo 2020 Dubai. “Water and its conservation are the main focus of the Czech Pavilion, called the Czech Spring,” said Martin Tlapa, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Qataris take part in a traditional sword dance at the opening of the Qatar pavilion.

Spain pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai.

Chinese pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai on October 1, 2021.

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the Bahraini pavilion.

Japan pavillion at the Expo 2020 Dubai, on October 1, 2021.

Italy Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai has opened for visitors. Located between the Opportunity and Sustainability Districts of the venue, the pavilion operates under the thematic title ‘Beauty connects people’.

The Saudi Arabia Pavilion opens its doors to the public on the first day of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Musicians perform at the Kazakhstan Pavilion for visitors on the first day of the much anticipated Dubai Expo 2020 on 1st October, 2021.

Qatar pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Journalists visit the Spain Pavilion with the theme of Intelligence For Life at Expo 2020 Dubai, in Dubai.

A 3D copy of Michelangelo's David, one of the world's most famous marble sculptures, inside the Italian pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai on October 1, 2021.