In just 37 days, the next World Expo will be taking place here in Dubai. As we patiently count down the days, here are some of the highlights we can expect when Expo 2020 Dubai throws open its doors on 1 October 2021.
A world-first dining experience includes edible luminescence
The Future of Food: Epochal Banquet is a never-before-seen experience cooked up by UK-based multi-sensory experience design studio Bompas & Parr. The ground-breaking foodie adventure will feature numerous world firsts, taking creativity, innovation and technology to a new level.
Throughout the two-hour experience, diners will travel, guided with the help of cutting-edge technology and world-class performers, through a multi-room immersive experience designed to expand your perception of the possibilities of the future of food across a three-course dining experience paired with matching drinks. Diners will have the opportunity to taste super-light delicacies formed using the same technique that NASA uses to collect comet dust, edible creations that glow in the dark, flavour-changing desserts and ultra-rare ingredients, including new-to-the-plate plants. Available throughout the six months of Expo 2020, tickets for the two-hour culinary odyssey will be available from early September, starting at AED550.
Syria Pavilion to showcase replica of the world’s oldest alphabet
Visitors to the Syria Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will see a replica of the Ugaritic alphabet, widely believed to be the first alphabet in history, dating back to around 1,400 BC. The pavilion will reveal more about the development of writing and the alphabet in several areas across Syria, in addition to the alphabet’s impact and the influence of the Arabic language on many other languages around the world. There will also be an interactive audiovisual experience in which visitors can sing and play mankind’s oldest musical notation, which was written in Ugarit more than 3,500 years ago.
African cuisine will be on full display at Alkebulan dining hall
Visitors to Expo 2020 are set to enjoy the flavours and traditions of Africa at Alkebulan, a unique dining hall that will shine a spotlight on the contemporary food and music from across the continent. It will host ten outlets created by seven African chefs, each with a unique design that honours the individuality of the continent and its cuisine. For example, Shoebox Bakery by pastry chef Mame Sow is a pan-African bakery experience that spans sweet and savoury treats, while Bar Cane by Coco will serve some of the world’s finest doughnuts. TV chef Kiran Jethwa’s The Tasty Goat showcases the complex flavours of barbecued meat. In contrast, Penja by award-winning pop-up chefs Pierre Siewe, Glory Kabe and Moos Gbane promises innovative African cuisine from Cameroon and Benin. For sundowners, head to Jiko Cocktails by Tribe Hotel Kenya.
talabat to showcase the future of food delivery
Named as Official Food Delivery Provider for the world’s biggest cultural gathering, talabat will offer 30 brands and 15 different cuisines, with ten autonomous delivery vehicles, plus a robotic ice-cream confectioner and barista. Catering to dine-in and delivery customers, with talabat riders delivering to fixed locations throughout Expo’s site, the region’s leading food delivery and quick commerce platform will offer exciting global cuisines in innovative and efficient ways. Diners can use the talabat Kitchen screens or the talabat app to place their order, with meals delivered on a dedicated conveyer belt.
Free Entry when you fly Emirates
Emirates offers travellers flying to Dubai between 1 October 2021 and 31 March 2022, a free day pass to Expo 2020 Dubai for every flight ticket booked with the airline. To claim your pass, enter the details for each passenger here.
GO: Visit www.expo2020dubai.com for more information.
