Expo2020, which will last for 6 months, started in Dubai on October 1. Expo2020 is a very large-scale event, in both senses of the word "scale". Each country has its own pavilion, in addition, there are pavilions of companies and industries. If you spend an average of half an hour on each, then (say, 200 pavilions, although I think there are more) it will take 100 hours. So you can go there for two whole weeks and still not see everything, because many events happen at the same time.
The parking lot, which was almost empty early in the morning, was filled with cars in the afternoon. It becomes clear why buses run for 15 minutes only around the parking lot, stopping in different sectors. Even this is an indication of the scale and it's impressive.
Admission costs 95 dirhams (approximately $25 ), and in October there is a promo that this ticket is valid for a whole month.
Expo2020 is first of all about presentation. Pavilions of countries are like embassies, where in 10-40 minutes everyone will be able to see installations, paintings, brands of countries, and of course, it will be possible to communicate with representatives of each country. Most of the pavilions are made in the spirit of futurism and with the latest technology and seek to convey a basic impression of the country in a relatively short period of time (hence the many audio-visual elements).
The Ukrainian pavilion was great. At the entrance, you are greeted by wheat, but also - wheat futuristic, and ATV (ATV) Sherp. Then there are a few more floors with exhibitions of Ukrainian artists, startups, and companies. An event with the participation of consuls is heard singing "Chervona Ruta". Similar events now take place in many pavilions of the Expo, somewhere they are open, somewhere only by invitation. There is a lot to see in the Ukrainian pavilion, while others have much less content, some of which are limited to a visual presentation of their country.
The pavilion of Saudi Arabia was epic, especially the hall with a visualization of the most interesting places in the country. The big Italian Pavilion has a coffee shop, and it's nice to hear Italian for the first time in a long time. In the Romanian pavilion - water tasting, a very important thing for such heat. In the Belarusian pavilion, there is an interesting hall, made like a forest, where you seem to descend to the roots. I liked the pavilion of Lithuania because it is Lithuania) guides also tell very interesting stories about their country. The Qatari pavilion has a cool design, albeit a minimalist one. But for me, the pavilions of the United States and the UAE were a little bit disappointing.
So for the next six months, Dubai will be the capital of world cultural diplomacy. If you are here, it is definitely worth visiting Expo2020, this small text is just a drop in the ocean of events that take place here.
It's better to come yourself, but just in case I've made some videos and you can check them here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVhO5GFoppNse9wyExWzKDt3mrn-06fM3
