Spotlight on the twin islands at The World’s Greatest Show

The world may have had to wait an extra year for Dubai Expo 2020 to begin. Still, when it finally opened with a bang at the beginning of October at its inauguration ceremony, everyone agreed it was worth the wait.

AAlthough the theme for this year’s exhibition is “Connecting Minds and Creating the Future”, the Expo has always been a trailblazing event, all the way to its start in London in 1851 with “The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations”. Opened by Queen Victoria in the architectural marvel Crystal Palace, a giant glass-and-iron structure built especially for the event, The Great Exhibition housed over 100,000 objects displayed along more than ten miles. Not surprisingly, it was probably the most successful and memorable cultural affair of the 19th century, visited by over 15,000 contributors and considered the world’s first international event. Not only did the exposition showcase the very latest inventions and wonders like an early fax machine and a stereoscope, but the Crystal Palace also hosted the first public toilets - something we all take for granted today, but back then being able to “spend a penny” was a very welcome novelty. Since then, expos have continued to be at the forefront of innovation and invention.

Al Wasl Dome, centrepiece of Expo Dubai 2020

The Eiffel Tower in Paris – still the most visited monument in the world - was constructed for the Exposition Universelle in 1889. Had it not been for this event, the skyline of Paris would look very different today. Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the first telephone in 1876 at Philadelphia’s Centennial Exposition of Arts, and the first live television broadcast was made at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. The first Expo to be held in an Arab nation, Expo 2020 Dubai, is no exception. As one of the most future-forward expos in history and focusing on mobility, sustainability and opportunity, three of the world’s most important driving forces today, the event is exhibiting countless technological advances in fields such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy and transport. Even the iconic Al Wasl dome, the centrepiece of the four-square-kilometre site in the desert, is the world’s largest unsupported dome and provides the largest 360-degree projection surface. One hundred and ninety-two countries are participating in the 182-day event, and more than 25 million visitors are expected. Indeed in the first month and a half alone, over four million people visited the impressive site. Antigua & Barbuda is found in the imposing Mobility pavilion designed by Foster + Partners, which features the world’s largest passenger lift. In this district, visitors can catch a ride in an autonomous vehicle and even explore space.

Al Wasl Dome, centrepiece of Expo Dubai 2020

For the first time in World Expo history, every participating country has its own pavilion. That belonging to the twin islands exhibits the exceptional strides the country has made in their socio-economic growth over the years. The Dubai Expo is truly an opportunity to showcase the country to visitors from all over the globe. As Shermain Jeremy, special projects and events manager from the Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority, pointed out, “I would say 90 percent of the people who come through the pavilion are not familiar with Antigua & Barbuda.” Over 100,000 visitors came through the doors of Antigua’s pavilion in the first month alone, meaning that there are at least 100,000 new fans of these paradise islands in the world today, a figure that is growing every day the Expo is open.

The pavilion’s slogan “The beach is just the beginning” is how the twin islands have been pitching themselves for a while; indeed, it couldn’t be more accurate. For whilst Antigua & Barbuda is certainly showcasing the incredible beaches and turquoise waters for which it is best known, its presence in Dubai is highlighting everything else available in terms of nature, tourism, culture, sporting traditions, and economy. Visitors can enjoy local artisans selling their wares, play the traditional game of Warri, and listen to local music. However, many other cultural and informative events have been taking place to demonstrate the opportunities in the tourism and economic sectors, especially for those previously unfamiliar with this Caribbean nation.

As expected, the country’s jewel in the crown, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nelson’s Dockyard, is taking pride of place inside the pavilion alongside other attractions like the world-class yachting, sailing and water sports on offer. For a country so focused on its ecocredentials, unsurprisingly, the pavilion highlights many of the pioneering sustainability efforts made over the past few years, including the islands’ ongoing initiatives to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy solutions. The Citizenship by Investment Unit has been on hand to guide those who have been impressed by all that’s on offer in Antigua & Barbuda and are considering becoming citizens of these paradise islands with all the benefits citizenship entails. And as an island nation surrounded by the sea, The Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping (ADOMS) are also around to highlight the country’s many marine and shipping possibilities. But certainly, the country’s highlight of the exhibition so far was the celebration of Antigua & Barbuda’s 40th Anniversary of Independence on November 1st. The spotlight was well and truly placed on the twin islands, with a flag-raising ceremony at the striking Al Wasl Plaza, the central hub of the whole exposition, and the broadcasting of Wadadli, a short cultural presentation exploring the music, dance and heritage of the islands. Claude Lewis, winner of the US reality cooking show, Chopped, came to the stand to cook some of the islands’ most popular dishes for visitors, and various appearances were made by local musical legends like the “Soca Diva” Claudette Peters. And with three more months of this exciting event remaining, let’s see what Antigua has in store for the many new visitors set to discover the wonderful twin islands.