This month UAE celebrates 50 years since the unification of the Emirates. The backdrop of this vibrant celebration is a futuristic urban landscape in many cities. Yet the world's eyes are on EXPO 2020 Dubai, the largest and most lavished international gathering of the world's nations.
EXPO 2020 Dubai opened its doors on October 1st and has become the most representative world exhibition of 192 countries under the theme "Connecting Minds and Creating the Future."
An artifact dating back to the Iron Age inspired the Logo of EXPO 2020 Dubai. It represents the Emirates' message that their culture has deep roots. To the surprise of archeologists, 4000-year-old gold rings and seals found at the Saruq Al Hadid site in Al Marmoom revealed that the region was a center of trade and cultural connections to many other civilizations and far away kingdoms.
There was a competition to create the official logo in 2015. There were over 19,000 participants. The night Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum unveiling of the Expo 2020 Dubai logo, he awarded the three finalists Mohamed Souheil Bin Ali, Mouza Al Mansouri and Valerii Ilnitskii.
At the opening ceremony, Ellie Goulding, with Anything Could Happen, set the pace of one of the most extravagant visual exhibitions ever.
The transformative power of EXPO 2020 Dubai will reshape the perception of nations and cultures forever.
This magnificent event aligned with the vision of Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of the UAE federation, has captured the imagination of the people around the world. Innovation with the environment in mind is the driving force that defined the remarkable exhibitions at this Fair.
Sheikh Zayed, a humble man in nature with a profound intellect, can only be characterized as a visionary with endless dreams for a nation and caring about the environment, women empowerment, world peace and prosperity.
This magnificent Fair is a living testimony of the founder's vision of the federation. It was postponed since October last year due to the COVID pandemic — so far, it has surpassed the seven million visitors mark in twelve weeks. It took 6.8 billion U.S. dollars to build the 4.3 sq. km and will be open until March 31st, 2022. The organizers' target is to host 25 million visitors and provide a 33 billion boost to the local economy.
Expo 2020 Dubai is the first opportunity for the world to convene post‑pandemic. Canada considers Dubai a commercial hub of the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, with an open and competitive economy, a thirst for innovation, and an excellent logistics network with regional and international connections. Canadian companies in various key industry sectors are taken advantage of access to multiple markets at once, maximizing their relationships at this event.
The yellow passports became an instant success. The visitors of this Fair stamp their Passports at the pavillions they visit. If you plan to visit EXPO 2020 Dubai, and you are in Media Marketing, Packaging, Publishing or Social Media, don't miss this opportunity to experience the exhibitions of Brazil, Canada, Chile, Finland, Pakistan, Russia, Spain, and UAE. This Fair is the perfect place to interact and network with people from many countries.
These are the stamps of places I have worked in the past. I am happy to see their exhibits at EXPO 2020 Dubai. I learned that The Star newspaper thrives in Castries, Saint Lucia. The founder Rick Wayne remains controversial in politics and a prominent leader of its community. One of my first press commissionings.
Fair visitors, if they reach 50 unique stamps in their Passports, will instantly participate in weekly raffle draws. Some countries have taken their presence at the Fair very seriously and planned and reached out to the most talented architects of this generation.
The concepts and architectural designs will become iconic and a source of inspiration for emerging talents, such as Germany's pavilion by the well-known group LAVA (Laboratory for Visionary Architecture), a collective group of gifted architects whose work has gained admiration worldwide.
But the most stunning exhibits are the UAE Pavilion, designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava. It is an elegant structure that evokes the endless flow and motion of a bird's wings stretched in flight. Visitors are welcome to feel free and roam around unrestrained within pure and boundless spatial enclosures to look ahead and dream about the possibilities.
The political conflicts in The Middle East last century lingered for many decades, and it wasn't until the seventies that redefined the world business and political landscape. Specifically, since OPEC and the unification of Emirates into a federation created a regional powerhouse that today is far more prevalent and influential than in the seventies.
Perhaps Sheikh Ahmed Yamani was insightful in predicting the end of the oil industry. In 2005, the UAE ratified the Kyoto Protocol to the U.N., becoming one of the first major oil-producing countries to join the Convention on Climate Change.
These decisive steps are paramount considering that the UAE faces environmental challenges such as energy, water, and carbon footprint, which are among the highest in the world on a per-capita basis. The hot and dry climate requires a high amount of power and the import of consumer goods not produced in the country. The UAE's natural limited freshwater sources demand a water desalinization process causing an impact on the marine environment from discharging highly concentrated seawater to the Arabian Gulf.
Anyone who experienced Dubai's urban landscape and explored Abu Dhabi and other UAE states realized emirates experienced unprecedented economic growth and wisely invested the oil revenues in education, a health system, and the country's infrastructure. However, the source of wealth and economic development is shifting rapidly. Many industries are emerging and are far more profitable and sustainable with the environment in mind.
On October 7th, weeks before COP26, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan announced Net Zero 2050 strategic initiative. UAE will host the COP28 International Climate Conference in 2023.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden, inspired by these initiatives, signed last week an executive order directing the federal government to get to net-zero emissions by 2050.
In UAE, smooth and wide highways lead to the futuristic and ultimate expression of harmony of modern paradise. The downtown core of Dubai stands tall from endless and open flatlands as a treasure of the human imagination.
The museum in Al Ain, the oldest in UAE founded by Sheikh Zayed, has an authentic artifacts collection from the stone age. Archaeological discoveries by Jens Vellev and his Danish team in this mountain range showed that burial sites are 5,000 years old.
Personally, reaching the summit of Jebel Hafeet Mountain was an invitation to reflect and contemplate the transformations the UAE experienced in recent years. Regardless of the harshness of its environment, the people's strength and resilience were the driving force to prosperity. Precise were the words of Sheik Zayed when he argued that the spirit behind progress is the human spirit.
"Fraternity is the new frontier of humanity." Pope Francis.
This year, the world celebrated in Abu Dhabi the International Day of Human Fraternity inspired by the Sheikh Zayed legacy.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Moroccan-French activist Latifa Ibn Ziaten became the 2021 recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity award.
This award has amplified the legacy of Sheikh Zayed of tolerance and respect for others, regardless of their religion, gender, race, or nationality.
"...the true Muslim is friendly to all human beings and a brother to other Muslims and non-Muslims alike." Sheikh Zayed.
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Scholar-Statesman Award from the Washington Institute at a special ceremony at the Presidential Palace.
Israel and the United Arab Emirates launched talks to establish a free trade agreement between the two countries.
This week's high-level meetings consolidated diplomatic ties and paved the way to trade contracts representing a significant regional development. According to economic analysts, this trade agreement might reach one trillion US dollars in the first year.
By January, citizens of both countries will be free to travel without a visa.
UAE shows the world that mindful peace and openness are essential for meaningful progress.
A closing note. On Dec 15th, 2021, UNESCO has added Arabic calligraphy to its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. UNESCO describes Arabic calligraphy as "the artistic practice of handwriting Arabic script in a fluid manner to convey harmony, grace, and beauty."
Jan's first-hand field experiences expand several years in process optimization, waste reduction, and press operator's training. He is bilingual in English and Spanish and a G7® Expert in colour management. First published in English, this article intended to reach the graphic arts industry professionals directly involved in the printing process interested in process optimization, quality, and waste reduction.
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