Expo 2020 Dubai has become the breeding ground for innovation that will significantly shape the future, address momentous global challenges, and provide effective solutions to combat them. Expo 2020 Dubai kicked off on October 1, 2021, and will continue until March 31, 2022, with more than 200 participants, including 191 countries, institutions, and international organizations.
Expo 2020 presented various innovations, including the 17 global goals to achieve peace and prosperity for humanity and the planet. The exhibition's "Expo Live" program also supports innovative projects that positively impact societies and the environment by providing financial grants to innovators under the slogan "Innovation from all and to all."
Here are some important innovations from Expo 2020:
Among the essential innovations presented during Expo 2020 is the Netherland Pavilion’s vertical farming, which shapes the future of urban agriculture, and promotes the concept of sustainability for a zero-waste environment. This is in line with the principles and concepts of a circular economy, as well as the “Maggie Bucket” project in Ghana, which is a comprehensive, low-end, cost-effective facility, easy to reproduce, and intended to ensure safe handwashing practices.
Both pavilions demonstrate the experience of converting crop residues into commercially viable consumer products to address two major problems of air pollution and plastic pollution. They exhibit many other innovations such as low-cost ambulances, methods of extracting fuels from plastic, and alternatives to biodegradable plastics.
It also explores the use of solar energy in preparing coffee, as it is the second-largest traded commodity in the world, and the method of preparing it consumes a lot of unclean energy.
Arab countries presented several vital projects, including “Setat Bayt”, a vocational training program that focuses on sewing, knitting, embroidery, and home business skills for the fragile communities in Jordan. Examples of other projects presented are transportation innovations such as the Hyperloop capsule for commercial transport and the full-size passenger cabin in the DP World Pavilion. Another future innovation worth noting is the frankincense tree product in the Sultanate of Oman’s Pavilion. Frankincense is displayed as a healthy and natural product that could potentially treat many diseases once the research is complete.
Expo 2020 Dubai is working to attract talent across borders through the World Council of "Expo 2020 Dubai" initiative, which discusses the specialization of emerging companies with innovation factors, speed of adaptation, and strong connection to their customers.
The Saudi Arabia Pavilion is the second largest pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, with 13,059 square meters. It has achieved a record number of visits, amounting to 2 million visitors from various Arab and foreign nationalities and high-level diplomatic delegations from multiple countries. It is an opportunity for its visitors to learn about the nature, heritage, and form of life in the Kingdom, through daily activities, based on its four main pillars; a vibrant community, a rich national heritage, beautiful nature, and future opportunities.
What do these innovations mean for the Youth of Saudi?
Expo 2020 provides an opportunity for countries worldwide to learn about economic recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and to develop business by highlighting the advantages enjoyed by the various sectors in those countries. The Saudi Pavilion is an excellent example of this.
The Saudi Pavilion presented distinguished activities and events related to sustainable energy, science, and technology, as well as presenting The Kingdom's major development projects in light of Saudi Vision 2030 and its nature and heritage sites registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List through an integrated digital journey using the latest technologies. The Saudi Pavilion's sections range from heritage, nature, economy, development, science and technology, and others.
The Saudi pavilion is not only an opportunity to share the Kingdom’s heritage but for Saudi youth to showcase their success and future plans for Saudi.
Will we see the next Expo in KSA?
Saudi Arabia has announced that it has submitted an official request to the International Bureau of Exhibitions, the organizing body of the World Expo, to host the exhibition in 2030 in Riyadh, under the slogan “The Era of Change: Moving Our Planet towards the Future” from October 1, 2030, to April 1, from the year 2031.
The exhibition is a great challenge for the Kingdom and the youth of Saudi Arabia, to opportunities, to establish a historical innovative version of the World Expo and provide an unprecedented global experience in Riyadh, in line with the economic and social reform plan of Vision 2030.