POCKET GUIDE
OCTOBER 01, 2021 - MARCH 31, 2022
YOUR GUIDE TO EXPO 2020 DUBAI IN ASSOCIATION WITH
GLOBAL DINING, FAMILY FUN, RECORD-BREAKING ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS, ACTIVITIES & MORE
Editor-in-Chief
Obaid Humaid Al Tayer
Managing Partner & Group Editor
WELCOME
lan Fairservice
Head of Content – What’s On Laura Coughlin | laura.coughlin@motivate.ae Deputy Editor Elise Kerr | elise.kerr@motivate.ae Online Reporter Miles Buckeridge | miles.buckeridge@motivate.ae Online Reporter Lauren Fletcher | lauren.fletcher@motivate.ae Junior Online Reporter Aarti Saundalkar | aarti@motivate.ae Senior Video Editor Surajit Dutta | surajit@motivate.ae Content Creative Artist Joachim Guay | joachim.guay@motivate.ae Web Developer Firoz Kaladi | firoz@motivate.ae Art Director Sheila Deocareza | sheila@motivate.ae Junior Designer Remy Thokchom | thokchom.remy@motivate.ae General Manager – Production Sunil Kumar | sunil@motivate.ae Assistant Production Manager Binu Purandaran | binu@motivate.ae Production Supervisor Venita Pinto | venita@motivate.ae Chief Commercial Officer Anthony Milne | anthony@motivate.ae Publisher, Dubai David Burke | davidb@motivate.ae Group Sales Manager Varsha Bhatia | varsha@motivate.ae Senior Sales Manager Taran Singh | taran.singh@motivate.ae Violeta Botorogeanu | violeta@motivate.ae Digital Sales Director Sabir Khodabux | sabir.khodabux@motivate.ae WHATSON.AE | WHATSONSAUDIARABIA.COM
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IT’S HERE… Nearly 10 years ago Dubai had a dream. That dream was to host the first ever World Expo in an Arab country. Now, the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai is finally upon us – postponed for 12 months due to the pandemic. Expo 2020 officially runs from October 1 to March 31, and you know the wait will have all been worth it. To celebrate its arrival, we’ve crammed in all our favourite bits to look out for at Expo 2020 inside this nifty Expo guide, sifting through the fabulous food offerings (page 6), jam-packed entertainment programme (page 10), familyfriendly activities (page 12) and exciting sporting opportunities (page 14). Of course, this is just the tip of the Expo 2020 iceberg, but we hope it’s a useful starting point. For more details and info on how to book your tickets, be sure to visit expo2020dubai.com. See you at the site!
06 EXPO 2020 | F&B Highlights
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD Expo 2020 is a dining destination in its own right, where globally-celebrated chefs, local favourites, brand-new dining concepts, and exciting country pavilion restaurants collide. Here’s a look at the highlights…
04
MEET THE MASTERCHEFS
04 David Thompson
Joining the heavy hitters at Expo 2020 is David Thompson, who has made cooking Thai food his life’s work, famous particularly for his Thai street food chain Long Chim.
01 David Myers
Californian Michelin chef David Myers, better known as the Gypsy Chef, is bringing a slice of LA’s Abbot Kinney Blvd to Dubai with his hugely popular ADRIFT Burger Bar.
05 Geoffrey Zakarian
The celebrated ArmenianAmerican chef is set to debut The National Bar & Dining Rooms – his vision of a grand café, offering modern bistro cuisine from breakfast to dinner.
02 Rohit Ghai
One of the culinary world’s most in-demand chefs, Rohit Ghai brings his acclaimed restaurant Kutir from London’s Chelsea to Expo 2020. Expect an authentic yet highly experimental menu.
02
EXPO 2020 DUBAI
01
03 Matthew Kenney
Recognised as one of the leaders in plant-based cuisine, American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney brings three of his restaurant concepts from the US to Expo 2020.
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07 INTERNATIONAL CONCEPTS Other tasty arrivals include British concept – and bakery school – Bread Ahead, specialising in doughnuts and gluten-free and sourdough breads; Beirut’s neighbourhood joint, BARON, bringing passion to the plate with fresh ingredients from farm and sea and Kojaki, a fusion concept that melds Japanese and Korean cuisines, with signature dishes such as Korean barbecue and Japanese robata.
BARON
Bread Ahead Kojaki
HOMEGROWN UAE FAVOURITES A host of homegrown talent will feature heavily in the line-up of eateries at Expo 2020, spanning cuisines from India to Ireland, and include classic UAE brands such as Arabian Tea House, Indian gem and biryani
specialists Al Farwania, Filipino hotspot Dampa Seafood Grill, Lebanese stalwart Al Reef Bakery;
and Hanon Feras Sweets, renowned for its traditional Middle Eastern dessert, kanafa. The six-month spectacle also features Pakistani street food go-to, Ravi Restaurant, Maraheb Yemeni Restaurant, and Sarouja Restaurant & Café, a popular Syrian and Mediterranean spot.
EXPERIMENTAL DINING If you like your meals with a side of immersive theatrics, be sure to purchase tickets to The Future of Food: Epochal Banquet, a never-before-seen multi-course experience cooked up by UK-based multi-sensory experience design studio Bompas & Parr. Diners will have the opportunity to taste super-light delicacies formed using the same technique that NASA uses to collect comet dust, where edible creations glow in the dark, and desserts change flavours. The two-hour dining experience costs from Dhs550 and tickets can be purchased via expo2020dubai.com. @bompasandparr
EXPO 2020 DUBAI
08 EXPO 2020 | F&B Highlights
THE FOOD HALLS Alkebulan African dining hall
Curated by former opera singer-turned-restauranteur, Alexander Smalls, Alkebulan is a celebration of African cuisine and features almost a dozen chef-led concepts from across the African continent. Each counter and concept has its own unique design that honours the individuality of the region, cuisine and chef. Highlights include Afro Street Eatery, which champion West African street food, Penja, the award-winning pop-up concept, and Seven Seafood offering a contemporary look at East African seafood. @alkebulandininghall Alexander Smalls
EXPO 2020 DUBAI
Rising Flavours dining hall
talabat Kitchen
Food delivery superstars talabat have been named the Official Food Delivery Provider for Expo 2020 and will be showcasing more than 30 brands inside talabat kichen, an innovative, sustainable two-storey cloud kitchen. talabat will cater to both dine-in and delivery customers, with talabat riders delivering to fixed locations throughout Expo’s site using safe, sustainably responsible e-scooters. Look out for its autonomous delivery vehicles, and the innovative robotic ice-cream confectioner and barista ready to wow visitors at Expo 2020.
Inspired by the countries of the GCC, Rising Flavours’ three-storey dining hall – decorated by GCC artists – highlights the range and creativity of the Gulf region’s ever-evolving food scene. The ground floor features a rotating line-up of of chefs from the UAE, Oman, KSA and beyond, including Douha Abdullah Al Otaishan, Saudi Arabia’s first female executive chef, Bahraini restaurateur Roaya Saleh, Hattem Mattar, the Arab world’s first pitmaster; Emirati Musabbeh Al Kaabi, and many more. The firstfloor restaurant is a licensed fine-dining venue hosting a chef’s table and theatrical cooking show. You’ll also find live performances, from the traditional to the contemporary.
09 THEMATIC PAVILIONS
Meanwhile, Expo 2020 Dubai’s three Thematic Pavilions are each home to custommade eateries and cafes giving visitors a delicious taste of its subthemes.
TERRA
The Sustainability Pavilion has number of plant-based venues, largely manned by plant-based celebrity chef Matthew Kenny, including Veg’d, an all-day vegan restaurant focusing on sustainable dishes, XYST, which places emphasis on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine and Mudrá, a beautiful rooftop bar – with amazing views over the Expo site – featuring exciting cocktails and plantbased cuisine.
MISSION POSSIBLE
ALIF
The Mobility Pavilion hosts Alif Café by farm2table, a casual eatery from Abu Dhabi-based chef Jessica Queitsch, shining a light on the heritage of key ingredients from the silk route such as coffee, rice, pasta and spices.
Chef Jessica Queitsch
The Opportunity Pavilion aims to place significant emphasis on food and drink producers. One of its highlights is the dedicated working space where visitors will find top Emirati coffee roastery Canvas by Coffee Culture.
“It’s universally agreed that one of the best ways to discover a country is by sampling its cuisine, and at Expo 2020, visitors are able to eat their way around the world without leaving the UAE.” – Marjan Faraidooni, Chief Experience Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai
EXPO 2020 DUBAI
10 EXPO 2020 | Entertainment Highlights
LET THE MUSIC PLAY
Al Wasl Plaza
From its line-up of regional musicians, eclectic weekend music festivals, and celebration of dance worldwide, Expo 2020 is set to become an entertainment epicentre…
MUSIC EVENTS Music makes up a significant part of the varied entertainment programme at Expo 2020. Here’s a few events to look out for…
Firdaus Orchestra (October-March)
Formed exclusively for Expo 2020 Dubai and mentored by Oscar-winning composer and songwriter A.R. Rahman, the Firdaus Orchestra is an eclectic, 50-member ensemble comprising talented female musicians from across the UAE and wider MENA region. Playing on the Jubilee Stage, and forging new paths for female musicians in the Arab world, the Firdaus Orchestra will also compose music for the much-anticipated Expo 2020 Opening Ceremony.
EXPO 2020 DUBAI
Music in the Garden
As part of the curated daily programming of Al Wasl Plaza, a variety of acts from Expo’s International Participants will perform live music in the plaza’s gardens and surrounding areas.
Expo House Band
A permanent fixture across the Expo site, the Expo House Band will delight guests with their musical prowess.
Ludovico Einaudi (October)
Known for his simple minimalist piano works, acclaimed Italian pianist and composer Ludovico Einaudi brings a contemporary edge
to classical music. Combining emotion and intimacy into his melodies, he enraptures his audiences and creates a transcendent experience beloved by millions.
Nasheed Al Wasl
In a series of 30-minute choral concerts, Nasheed Al Wasl brings together UAE school students for a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to perform extracts from Al Wasl Opera, Expo’s commissioned opera, on the Jubilee Stage.
11
UAE-based As Per Casper
Expo Beats festival A feel-good music journey across the globe, Expo Beats is a series of music festivals taking place once a month (on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 4pm) on the Jubilee Stage. The line-up includes talents from as far as Hawaii to the tribal rhythms of Tanzania shining a light on music, dance, visual and spoken word. Things kick off with World Beats in October, covering musical talents from across the planet, with many exciting monthly themes to follow.
LATE NIGHTS @ EXPO From 10.30pm to 1am every Thursday and Friday, the Jubiliee Stage hosts Late Nights @ Expo, featuring never-beforeseen collaborations from artists from across the world. Performers include Syrian music songwriter Iyad Rimawi with his orchestra, Jordanian singersongwriter Dina Stars, and Chilean musician Sergio Catalan.
INFINITE NIGHTS Al Wasl Plaza – the beating heart of Expo 2020 and home to the world’s largest 360-degree projection surface – will stage a starstudded line-up of global and regional performers for its Infinite Nights series, kicking off with Arab singing sensation Kadim Al Sahir on
October 15. These innovative ‘phygital’ show experiences, featuring state-of-the-art entertainment technology, will see several top-tier artists bring their unique energy to Expo 2020. More info at expodubai2020.com.
DANCE EVENTS
For thousands of years, dance has been a core form of human expression. Building on this unique and evocative form of storytelling, Expo 2020 will take audiences on a whirlwind tour of some of the world’s most captivating dance styles. Highlights include Sarakasi Allstars, three-time hip-hop dance champs The Royal Family, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, and Gala Flemenca.
EXPO 2020 DUBAI
12 EXPO 2020 | Family Highlights
ALL TOGETHER NOW Expo 2020 is a playground for adventure-seeking families with live performances, installations and journeys of discovery. Here are 10 family-fun experiences to look out for…
02 VISIT THE GARDEN IN THE SKY For a completely new perspective, take a ride up to the top of the 55-metre-high Garden in the Sky observation tower for a panoramic view of Expo 2020.
03 EARLY-BIRD TICKETS
01 COLLECT STAMPS ON YOUR EXPO PASSPORT Looking for the perfect keepsake? Don’t forget to pick up your Expo passport from the Official Store and get it stamped at every pavilion you visit. EXPO 2020 DUBAI
Make the most of Expo’s opening month with the October Pass. Enjoy unlimited access for just Dhs95. Offer available until October 15.
SEE YOURSELF AS AN ASTRONAUT At Alif – The Mobility Pavilion, visitors are invited to stand in front of Hazza Al Mansouri’s spacesuit and have their face projected onto his helmet.
13 04 CHECK OUT MISTER SCRAP’S SCRAPYARD IDOL MASCOT SHOW Watch in awe as the full Expo 2020 mascot ensemble sing and dance in this unique stage show for little ones.
05 MEET ROBOTIC PENGUINS At the Monaco Pavilion, guests are welcome to meet and play with their interactive robotic penguins.
06 HELP FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE Kids of all ages will love Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion, a playful, fullyinteractive experience that brings to life Expo 2020’s commitment to sustainability. Taking visitors through the wonders of the natural world, Terra is designed to inspire sustainable choices for generations to come.
FAMILY TICKETS
EXPO SCHOOL PROGRAMME
Every school student in the UAE is being offered the chance to experience four curated educational journeys of Expo 2020 Dubai for free, with the Expo School Programme. The four journeys – Legacy of the UAE, World of Opportunities, Sustainable Planet and Universe in Motion – take place across Expo’s three vibrant Thematic Districts with each promising immersive learning experiences designed to inspire students to think critically, communicate effectively and grow intellectually. schools.expo2020dubai.com
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09
BRAVE A SLIPPERY SLOPE
EXPLORE AL FORSAN PARK
The Luxembourg Pavilion features a whopping 21-metre-tall slide, where visitors coast down into a green, woody space that evokes the country’s beautiful forests.
With its interlaced network of paths, the park offers a rich mosaic of opportunities for cultural interaction and recreation, including Latifa’s Adventures in Space City, where kids can bounce over nets in the ‘zero-gravity’ chamber, leap into orbit around swings and hop aboard a replica of the UAE’s Hope Probe.
08 GO CRAZY IN RASHID’S PLAYGROUND Located in Jubilee Park, Rashid’s Playground is an ocean-themed adventure. Highlights include sharks on springs, whale slides, ocean liners and an interactive 3D maze.
Far too much to do in a day, right? Why not pick up the family package, for unlimited entries for the entire duration of Expo 2020? Packages cost Dhs950, valid for two parents, children (under-18s go free), and a nanny plus additional F&B benefits and 25 per cent off five additional tickets.
10 FILL YOUR BELLIES AT THE FOOD TRUCK PARKS Located in every district within Expo 2020, the Food Truck Parks serve up delicious grab-and-go, family-friendly fare, from pizza, hot dogs, burgers and Lebanese snacks to ice cream, waffles, fruit smoothies, mini pancakes and more. EXPO 2020 DUBAI
14 EXPO 2020 | Sporting Highlights
GOOD SPORTS
From sporting hero meet-and-greets, free fitness activations, and the chance to discover a world of new sports head to the Sports, Fitness & Wellbeing Hub at Expo 2020…
Inside The Hub Set to become the number one location for all things sport, the new Sports, Fitness & Wellbeing Hub is a whopping 5,400 sqm space complete with multisports area for basketball, volleyball, tennis and netball, a five-a-side football pitch, ‘Big Bash’ cricket nets, an indoor fitness studio, a fitness stage, showcases and celebrity signings.
Sporting heroes Many of the 192 participating countries will be bringing national sporting heroes to Expo 2020, including Croatia’s Ballon d’Or-winning footballer Luka Modrić, former Wimbledon tennis champion Goran Ivanišević, and NBA basketball stars Dario Šarić and Bojan Bogdanović. Britain’s boxing legend Anthony Joshua who, thanks to his Nigerian heritage, will collaborate with the Nigeria Pavilion, while many famous Irish faces will be popping up at the Ireland Pavilion. EXPO 2020 DUBAI
Main events Expo 2020 will be collaborating with Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Fitness Challenge on numerous events, including The Expo Run – a high-profile race, held on Friday November 19, that will see runners take part over distances of 10km, 5km or 3km. Also be sure to see legendary basketball exhibitionists the Harlem Globetrotters, who will help launch the Dubai Fitness Challenge at Expo 2020.
Pavilion action Australia aims to host hundreds of events, including a range of Skills and Drills sessions at the Sports, Fitness and Wellness Hub, while their neighbours New Zealand bring classes from famed fitness brand Les Mills, and Italy will offer five- to 14-yearolds the chance to hone their sporting skills with a workshop run by the Italian Olympic Federation. For more information on the exciting sporting action across Expo 2020, and to book relevant sessions, visit expo2020dubai.com.