Breathtaking events to showcase UAE’s rise

A four-day slate of world-class events and immersive Emirati experiences at Expo 2020 Dubai will mark 50 years since the founding of the UAE in show-stopping style as the country celebrates its Golden Jubilee with renewed optimism for the next half century.

Running from 1-4 December, the site-wide celebration - taking each and every visitor to Expo on a journey of authentic Emirati experiences and stories - will include world-class ceremonies, exceptional musical showcases, meaningful cross-cultural conversations, culturally-fused performances and engaging exhibits.

As announced by the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 2021 is known as ‘The Year of the 50th’. Commemorating 50 years since the founding of the UAE in 1971, it is a moment to reflect on the remarkable journey of its ‘Early Dreamers’ as the nation looks to the next 50 years with the same bold ambition.

Highlights at Expo 2020 include UAE National Day, celebrated every year to commemorate 2 December 1971 when the UAE declared independence as a sovereign nation following the efforts of UAE Founding Father, the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to unite the emirates.

From 1015 GST on Thursday, 2 December, visitors are invited to Expo 2020’s UAE National Day Ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza, including the raising of the flag, high-level speeches and anthem performances by a children’s choir, concluding with an Al Azi Performance by Al Wasmi. This will also feature alongside horses of the Dubai Police and the UAE Ministry of Interior Marching Band in the ‘Colours of the World Parade’ between 1245 and 1315 GST.

Simultaneously, a performance of ‘Al Azi’, where an Arabic poet leads a chorus that ‘answers’ his call, will take place at 1300 GST at Al Wasl Plaza in a truly authentic celebration of pride in the traditional Arab values of unity, solidarity and courage. A gravity-defying aerial performance by Dubai Police will follow shortly after, alongside a 30-minute musical showcase by Emirati singer Fatma Zahrat Al Ain, and a jaw-dropping flyover display by the UAE Air Force aerobatics team ‘Al Fursan’.

Visitors are also invited to Expo’s Jubilee Stage and Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre (DMA) to watch a live broadcast of the UAE National Day Ceremony, broadcast from Hatta, from 1730 GST.

DMA will host ‘Journey of a Thread’, a live performance of Emirati craftsmanship that dives into the heart of Emirati culture, followed by a not-to-be-missed fireworks display at 2000 GST and headline concert by Emirati singing star Eida Al Menhali at Jubilee Stage from 2030 GST.

The diamond in the crown of Expo 2020’s Programming will be Al Wasl Plaza’s immersive theatrical show, ‘Journey of the 50th’. Set to take place from 01-04 December, the show will push the boundaries of what is possible in Al Wasl Plaza, featuring a blend of human performance, theatrics and the unique capabilities of the venue in a never-before-seen way. Over 200 hundred performers including Participating Countries will take part of this theatrical show.

Amna Abulhoul, Executive Creative Director, Events and Entertainment, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “In the spirit of Expo 2020 Dubai, the story of ‘Journey of the 50th’ embodies the meaning of the quote ‘We are not a country in a world - we are world in a country’ by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. As the show unfolds, we will learn about the origins of the Emirati people, the people of this land, who follow the current of the sea, know the language of the stars and hear the wind as it speaks. Their true connection to the earth and how the values of our forefathers still continue to push us forward today.” Further details on UAE National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai can be found below.

In addition, December 2021 at Expo 2020 is packed full with unmissable Emirati events, attractions, and performances in celebration of the UAE Golden Jubilee, from calligraphy to pearl diving, the Bedouin lifestyle to the Dubai story, abayas to camel milk cafés.

‘Power the Future: At Expo 2020 Dubai, Cisco announced the launch of a UAE-wide competition for university students. ‘Power the Future: The Cisco Sustainability Challenge’ invites young entrepreneurs and environmental advocates to share how technology can accelerate the sustainability agenda and measure its impact. In close alignment with the UAE’s vision to build an innovative, sustainable and green future, Cisco is encouraging students to provide insights into the biggest challenges facing the region. Each participant must identify a challenge, design a solution which leverages technology, and highlight clear impact - focusing on one of four themes: Sustainable Mobility, Sustainable Buildings, Sustainable Utilities, Sustainable Citizen Services and Governance. “For the Cisco Sustainability Challenge, we are leveraging our tools and expertise to empower the youth, push the boundaries of innovation and bring our sustainable future to life.

Expo 2020 Dubai aspires to be the most sustainable World Expo in history, and with this, serves as a tremendously important platform on which to engage the youth, hear their ideas and make a difference. I am excited to see the submissions in due course and encourage all university students across the UAE to take part in helping to shape a smarter tomorrow,” said Adele Trombetta, Vice President of Customer Experience at Cisco Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Russia.

“Cisco’s purpose is to power an inclusive future for all. We believe that in order to make this possible, people, technology and sustainability must work in harmony. As a technology provider, we have the opportunity and, in many ways, the responsibility to lead this agenda. I am extremely proud of our team for inspiring others and giving their time to nurture young talent.

I look forward to seeing the innovations which result from this challenge,” said Wendy Mars, President of Cisco’s Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia region (EMEAR). Winning entries will be publicized by Cisco and Expo 2020 Dubai for wider exposure to the international community, while selected entrants will also receive a 6-month mentorship program from technology experts at Cisco to further build their experience and skillset.

Colombia major tourism attractions: The Colombia Pavilion has centered the spotlight to Risaralda, one of the four areas in Colombia that make up its Coffee Cultural Landscape area designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Several intriguing events were organised at the nation’s pavilion from November 21 to 23, 2021, allowing visitors to marvel at the exhibition of Risaralda, an area designated for its coffee producing legacy.

The two-day exhibition also highlighted Risaralda’s other major tourism attractions and its position as a destination for wellness.

The region is considered as a great destination for health tourism in Colombia with teams of high-level professionals who practice all kinds of holistic wellness treatments.

The pavilion also showcased Risaralda’s range of products and services in the sectors of agribusiness, textile, health, and technology including strategic projects such as the Eje Cafetero Logistics Platform.

The Eje Cafetero is a pivotal project aimed at enhancing the logistics in primary coffee production areas, stretching to over 50 kilometers and covers strategic entry ports to facilitate the region’s transformation to becoming a tourism, industrial and business epicenter.

In a bid to attract more potential investors from the UAE and other Gulf countries, the Risaralda delegation also presented the ‘Pereira Airport City’ project, one of the initiatives of Colombia offering complete tourist and cultural experience. In addition, the delegation highlighted the Center in Science & Biodiversity of Risaralda (CiBi) project which acts as a research center and tourist attraction highlighting the rich fauna and flora in the region. Risaralda is one of Colombia’s top agrotourism destinations with over 45 thousand hectares of coffee plantation cultivated by over 19,000 families.

A visit to the region could be a real treat for coffee fanatics as they will be able to discover the complete process of coffee bean cultivation and production while enjoying several varieties of Colombian coffee, which is famed for its remarkable scent and flavour.