Inspirational travel to World Expo 2020 (Dubai), 17-21 nov 2021

Together with Bloovi and 100 entrepreneurs we visited the World Expo 2020 in Dubai and had the opportunity to exchange with fellow entrepreneurs from different Belgian companies and sectors. This is a personal view on this inspirational trip, extended with some information on the expo and evolutions.

?The visit of the Expo 2020 is overwhelming. With more than 200 pavilions you need to chose what to see. I was impressed by the design off many pavilions and the different constructions. On the other hand, the content of the pavilions and different sub-themes was below my expectations. Much information was provided by digital screens, exhibition style. I would have preferred to experience more. Certainly in the domain of Mobility it’s a missed opportunity to show the possibilities of different technologies in a real life setting.

Nevertheless the experience was great and the company of more than 100 Belgian entrepreneurs very inspiring. We have learned about new evolutions and trends in the world and experienced some of it first-hand. Moreover, Dubai is a good example of a fast growing city in the world, investing a lot in sustainable mobility (see below on Dubai Metro) and building infrastructure for the future. Below an impression of our visit, enriched with some more detailed information on different technologies and trends encountered during our stay.

Let’s start with some general info about World Expo 2020 Dubai

The main site 438-hectare area located between the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. With the theme "Connecting Minds, Connecting the Future" the Expo continues the tradition - to create a festival for all and initiate collaboration and innovation.

The master plan is organized around a central plaza, entitled?Al Wasl, enclosed by three large thematic districts. Each one is dedicated to one of the sub-themes of Expo 2020 – Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.?It's also the first World Expo held in Middle East. Besides the 192 country pavilions, there are “special pavilions”, centered around the themes of opportunity, mobility, and sustainability. One of these, the “Mission Possible” pavilion, is hosted by the United Nations and gathers information, workshops etc .. related to the Sustainable Development Goals.

438 Hectares?– the main site of Expo 2020 Dubai is bigger than 600 football fields, 192 countries?are taking part in at the event which takes places over 182 days – or six months – after being delayed by a year. 200,000 workers?from around the world came together to realize the Expo dream. Their names are inscribed on the Workers’ Monument located along the main walkway of?Expo’s?Jubilee Park. 30 metres long and 21 metres high, the ultra-lightweight?carbon-fibre Expo portals (see picture on top of article) designed by acclaimed architect Asif Khan show the entrance to each of the three Expo 2020?districts.

Sustainability District : Respecting and living in balance with the world we inhabit to ensure a cleaner, safer, healthier future for all. View on some of the world’s most advanced technology in action, what countries are doing to master sustainability.

Mobility District?: Creating more efficient and effective movement of people, goods and ideas, both physically and virtually. The Alif mobility pavilion is one of the main 3 thematic pavilions at Expo 2020. The pavilion focusses on movement in general, starting from the past, and going fast forward to the future of travel, exploring smart cities, innovation, travel to space opportunities. The pavilion is like a time machine journey. Fast forward through the future of smart cities, innovations and AI possibilities. Ending my journey to space with a cool selfie in cosmonaut costume.

3° Opportunity district : Unlocking the potential for individuals and communities to shape the future Even one person can be the key to unlocking eight billion opportunities that can help individuals and communities create a better tomorrow, today. It’s time to unleash the potential within and be an agent of change.

A view on some technologies explored during the Expo 2020

The Terminus Group deploys more than 150 robots that perform a variety of tasks such as greeting you, providing assistance and performing in special displays, as well as helping with food and beverage delivery and hospitality services. The robots run on multi-touch and 5G technology (all provided by Terminus (Chinese Tech Company) (https://www.terminusgroup.com/)

Hyperloop

?Virgin Hyperloop, the only company in the world that has successfully tested hyperloop technology with passengers, launching the first new mode of mass transportation in over 100 years, offers Expo visitors a glimpse of what is to come.

In the DP pavilion, we can see a full-scale commercial cargo pod replica, which measures nearly 10 meters long. Plans are to build a Hyperloop connection between Dubai and Abu Dhabi (+/- 140km) in a few years from now. Total duration of the trip will be 10 minutes …. The DP World Cargospeed, which will be built using the zero-emission propulsion hyperloop system repurposed for cargo, will transport high-priority, time sensitive goods including fresh food and medical supplies as well as connect with other existing modes of road, rail and air transport at manufacturing parks, distribution centers, economic zones, and regional urban centers.

Dubai Metro / Train

We took the Dubai Metro Train from downtown to the World Expo. First class is called Gold and total price was €2.5 for a 50minutes trip, 40kms. Train positioning is via an automatic radio-linked data Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) system specially developed for urban rail operation. Dubai Metro is the world’s longest driverless network and celebrated its 12th anniversary last month, having carried 1.706 billion passengers as of the end of August. The Dubai Taxi Corporation’s (DTC) Strategic Plan 2021-2023 meanwhile commits to converting 5 per cent of the city’s taxi fleet to autonomous mode by 2023 and having around 4,000 self-driving taxis by 2030 – making Dubai the first city outside of the US to feature this technology.

To that end, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) signed an agreement with General Motors-majority owned autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Cruise, for the latter to become the city’s exclusive provider of self-driving taxis and ride-hailing services until 2029.

Beyond modes of transport, the future of mobility could also lean heavily on innovation in fuel. Apart from sustainable fuels, a big push currently is towards hydrogen. Countries in the region, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia are rightly therefore forward-planning and building hydrogen economies. The UAE has formed a green hydrogen alliance.

Infrastructure is another key challenge for the adoption of new technologies. There is one crucial condition that must be met to enable such a grand transformation to mobility: improved infrastructure. Without laying the proper foundations to allow these solutions to exist, they will remain concepts. We’re lucky that change in this part of the world can be instigated quickly and effectively.

The 1,200km Etihad Rail line which will connect all seven emirates of the UAE to Saudi Arabia, with passenger and freight services executed along the route, is yet another case study of far-sighted infrastructure planning within the region.

3D printing

?A lot of items used in the Expo 2020 exposition claim to be printed by 3D printers. For instance the big Michel Angelo statue in the Italian Pavilion or the bins in front of the Belgian Pavilion. Dubai also hosts a few 3D printed houses

Solar Energy : A lot of Solar Energy installations all over the Expo. 120 rotating solar panels?make up each of the18 E-trees planted around Terra – The Sustainability pavilion. They are programmed to follow the sun from dawn till dusk.

Compressed Air train : All visitors can take a unique sightseeing tour on the world's first compressed Air Train. It takes you around the Expo 2020 site.

Some of the Coolest country pavilions I visited

Belgium : 500 square meter exhibition offering visitors an insight into Belgian innovation as well as a kiosk of Belgian delicacies. The Belgian pavilion reflects our country’s status as a European mobility powerhouse. The lush Green Arch facade is the main talking point here as it promotes biomimicry, a concept in which solutions to modern-day problems are modelled after nature. ?"The Green Arch", highlights the emergence of connected green cities through its industrial, technological, and scientific knowledge. Belgium's urban planning prospects include creating smart mobility systems for the future, so the pavilion displays the country's visions for the year 2050, based on today's creative innovations of smart, clean, and secure mobility. On top of the Belgian Pavilion there is a rooftop with some great Begian beers !

Egypt : Egypt: home to one of the world’s greatest wonders but far more than a bucket-list destination. Indeed, from its rich history and ancient wonders to its modern feats of architecture (fi the?Grand Egyptian Museum which opens next year) Egypt also attracts curious travelers with a sense of adventure. An intriguing blend of ancient and modern, The Egypt Pavilion is a journey back in time and to the future at the same time. Made with over 10kg of solid gold and precious stones, the replica of the iconic golden mask of Egyptian King Tutankhamun is a must-see. A series of interactive displays also demonstrate the country’s technological and economic growth, while a virtual tour guide keeps visitors occupied.?

?UAE?(United Arab Emirates) : UAE being the host of the Dubai Expo 2020 certainly made sure their pavilion will stand out from the crowd. And, of course, it is one of the must-see ones that you should add to your list. 15,000-square-meter?in area, the UAE pavilion is the largest country showcase at Expo 2020. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the four-storey structure features 28 ‘moving’ wings. Locally produced, each of these carbon fibre panels pivots on a single point, concealing the solar roof. Inspired by the UAE’s national bird, the falcon, in flight, the roof can close in just three minutes.

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?Russia : Offering a snapshot of a country in motion, a shroud of multi-colour aluminium and steel tubes encases the pavilion. Inside, within a dark amphitheatre, a towering kinetic replica of the human brain comes to life with a dramatic animation telling the story of our interconnectedness. The structure of the pavilion is made out of colorful aluminum tubes which are bent to form the body of the building. The total length of the “threads” used is 46 KM! And the 6-color paint is added after to prevent aluminum from burning in the sun! Inside the Russian pavilion there is a giant construction representing the Human brain.This exposition pays tribute to the human brain. It is the science of the brain that will bring us the most important discoveries of the 21st century. These discoveries will have a deep impact on our consciousness and our minds and will transform our lives. The 7.5-meter-long and 5.5-meter-high art object are located on the third floor of the pavilion: it seems to float in a 13.5-meter-high space. A separate part of the pavilion's exposition is reserved for representative offices of Russian technology corporations that use various applied versions of artificial intelligence in their activities.

?UK : One of the most outstanding and beautifully designed, in my humble opinion, is a cone-shaped?cross-laminated timber?pavilion of UK. The presentation idea is also intriguing. The face of the building displays LED illuminated blocks of words which actually are an AI-generated poem. It consists of the words submitted by exhibition visitors. “AI uses an advanced machine learning algorithm to generate the cumulative collective poem which illuminates its twenty-meter diameter facade.”Seeing this, raises a question- technology and human collaboration, or technology over human creativity? Nonetheless, AI has a long way to go as an artistic tool, and I doubt it can ever surpass real human creativity.

Japan : My personal favorite is certainly Japan, with its origami-inspired architecture that looks humble and minimalistic compared to many other grandiose and color-loaded pavilions, the Japan exhibition will simply blow your mind away. The experience of the tour is simply great, something that many other countries could look up to. Everything from the politeness of the staff to presentation of the culture and innovation, to evoking the emotions, all this left a huge impression. Attention to detail in every single step during one hour tour was outstanding.

Saudi Arabia : Saudi Arabia’s pavilion is amongst the largest featured at the Expo 2020 Dubai. Imagined as a ‘window to the future’, the pavilion, with its now iconic tilted structure speaks of the Kingdom’s fast-unfurling progressive vision and a drive towards modernity that still keeps traditions and local heritage close to its heart.

The exterior of the Saudi Arabia pavilion features the largest in the world interactive mirror screen with around 8000 LED floor lights that illuminate into different multi-colored patterns. Those are reflected in the mirror. This impressive sight can be witnessed at night after dusk. Called “the window to the world”, Saudi Arabia’s pavilion invites visitors to get acquainted with the country’s rich past, breathtaking natural wonders and promising future. Indeed, from the outside, the building looks like it is seeking the skies, and it does imply Saudi Arabia’s limitless ambitions. The exhibition hall features lots of impressive installations as well. 13,000-square-metre?in area, the Saudi Pavilion holds three Guinness World Records:?The largest LED mirror screen display in the world, the world’s largest interactive floor featuring 8,000 LED lights, and at 32 meters, the world’s longest interactive water feature.

Besides the visit to the World Expo there was some time to meet fellow entrepreneurs / intrapreneurs and exchange ideas. I've met some great people and was happy to share this experience with them.

Thanks for the splendid organization Bloovi team !!

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