Dubai Expo 2020 (Al Wasl Plaza)

Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates

Visualization © ASGG / OVI

Commercial Buildings

Lighting Designers: OFFICE FOR VISUAL INTERACTION, INC. (OVI)

Location: Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates

The 150-meter diameter Al Wasl Plaza is being designed as a central hub for the exposition. The space will bring people of all backgrounds together to “Connect Minds,” a key ambition of the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region. Al Wasl is the historical name for Dubai but also means “connection” in Arabic, reflecting both Dubai’s goal of bringing people together at the Expo and the plaza’s physical location at the heart of the site.

The plaza will connect the three thematic districts – Opportunity, Sustainability, and Mobility – as well as the other main concourses, including the Dubai Metro link and the UAE Pavilion, through its seven entrances and exits.

The plaza will be topped by a 65-meter-high domed trellis that was inspired by the shape of the Expo 2020 Dubai logo and will act as an immersive 360-degree projection surface. As the dome is translucent, the projection will be visible to both those inside and out of the covered plaza. Numerous other features in the plaza include restaurants, fountains, and parks.