1 October 2021 – 31 March 2022
How can businesses work together to solve global challenges? How will humanity come together to recover from the first global pandemic of the 21st century? What’s the next British innovation set to change the world? These are just some of the ideas that will be explored as part of an exciting programme of activity set to take place in the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, now opening on 1 October 2021.
With more than 190 participating countries, Expo 2020 Dubai is the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region and the largest event ever to take place in the Arab world. Expo 2020 Dubai offers an unrivalled opportunity for businesses of all sizes to engage with a wide audience, potential investors and new customer base.
Under the theme of ‘Innovating for a Shared Future’, the UK’s presence at Expo 2020 Dubai will explore solutions to global challenges, profile British businesses from the world of travel, food and drink, fashion, education and more. Throughout the six-month event, the UK Pavilion will showcase the UK’s strengths in sectors such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and space to visitors. it will also promote the UK as a world-class destination for trade, investment, education and tourism.
Hosting a business event within the spectacular UK Pavilion will enable organisations to showcase new innovations, drive thought-leadership, network with both new and established business connections, find new customers and collaborate with likeminded people from across the globe.
The UK Pavilion has been designed by Avantgarde, the leading global brand experience agency, working with lead designer and artist Es Devlin OBE, best known for her stage sets co-created with musicians including Beyonce, U2 and Adele.
Laura Faulkner OBE, UK Commissioner for Expo 2020 Dubai, says, “This is the most extensive and prestigious UK presence at a World Expo since we hosted the first ever Great Exhibition in London in 1851. As we embark on a new era of global free trade, this is the perfect opportunity for forward-thinking UK businesses to find new partners, customers and collaborators from around the world.”
After winning a competition to design the UK Pavilion at Astana Expo 2017, award-winning British architect Asif Khan has been commissioned to create 21-metre tall Entry Portals and over 6km of concourses and arrival areas the public realm for Expo 2020 Dubai.
Speaking on his previous collaboration with the UK Government, Asif said:
“It was a privilege to represent the UK on a global stage like Astana Expo 2017 through designing the UK Pavilion. The awards and visitors that it received certainly opened up my work to a broader international audience and helped me and the team to develop new relationships, some of which evolved into future design commissions.”
For more information about UK businesses can get involved, to register your interest in taking part and to take a virtual tour of the UK Pavilion, please visit: https://www.great.gov.uk/expo2020
Join the conversation on Twitter at @UKPavilion2020 #Expo2020 #UKSoundscape
