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Expo Dubai 2020 Opens with Andrea Bocelli Performance

festival-fair · 2026-04-27

Expo Dubai 2020, the first world expo hosted in the Middle East in 170 years, opened with a grand ceremony under the Al Wasl dome. The event featured performances by Andrea Bocelli, Ellie Goulding, Lang Lang, and Mohammed Abdu. Bocelli closed the inaugural evening with 'The Prayer' as a Ghaf tree, symbol of the UAE and Expo, was lit. The Italian Pavilion, designed by Carlo Ratti, Italo Rota, Matteo Gatto, and F&M Ingegneria, won the Construction Innovation Award for best entrepreneurial project of the year. The expo's theme is 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future'.

Key facts

  • Expo Dubai 2020 opened after a one-year delay due to the pandemic.
  • First world expo hosted in the Middle East in 170 years.
  • Opening ceremony held under the Al Wasl dome.
  • 192 flags of participating countries paraded.
  • Andrea Bocelli performed 'The Prayer' and lit the Ghaf tree.
  • Other performers: Ellie Goulding, Lang Lang, Mohammed Abdu.
  • Italian Pavilion won Construction Innovation Award for best entrepreneurial project.
  • Italian Pavilion designed by Carlo Ratti, Italo Rota, Matteo Gatto, F&M Ingegneria.

Entities

Artists

  • Andrea Bocelli
  • Ellie Goulding
  • Lang Lang
  • Mohammed Abdu

Institutions

  • Expo Dubai 2020
  • Italian Pavilion
  • Construction Innovation Awards

Locations

  • Dubai
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Middle East

Sources