For the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony's final act, Al Wasl Plaza was transformed into a magical garden with dancers in fantastical costumes representing blossoming flowers. At the centre of the stage rose a huge silver and white ghaf tree, the UAE's national tree, as Grammy Award-winning Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli walked out to perform his rousing hit The Prayer.
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But what's the significance of the ghaf tree and why was it centre stage at the ceremony?
In the UAE, the ghaf, which goes by the scientific name prosopis cineraria, has cultural, historical and environmental significance. Declared as the national tree in 2008, the indigenous tree can tolerate harsh conditions and live for 120 years.
Scroll through the gallery below for pictures from the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony:
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Spectacular fireworks and entertainment welcome the world to Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday night. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
The opening ceremony under the magnificent Al Wasl dome. Photo: Karim Sahib / AFP -
The silver and white ghaf tree forms a centrepiece at the performance centre of Al Wasl Plaza during the opening ceremony. Photo: Ali Haider / EPA -
Andrea Bocelli takes the stage at the opening ceremony. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony. Getty -
Ellie Goulding performs at the Expo 2020 opening ceremony. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, at the Expo 2020 opening ceremony. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Chinese pianist Lang Lang opens the performance at Al Wasl Plaza for the Middle East's first Expo. Photo: Ali Haider / EPA -
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday. Photo: Reuters -
In the pink with a splash of colour as the event starts with a bang. Photo: Reuters -
The impressive opening ceremony for Expo 2020 Dubai, which was streamed live to millions around the world. Photo: Giuseppe Cacace / AFP -
All flowered up at the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony. Reuters -
If the opening night is anything to go by, the entire event promises to be quite a spectacle. Reuters -
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Kamran Jebreili / AP -
Lights, colour and fun are the order of the day. Photo: Reuters -
Andra Day takes centre stage. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, declares Expo 2020 Dubai open with a prayer. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
World-renowned Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi performs in his country's Expo opening ceremony. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Ahlam AlShamsi performs. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Dimitri Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions, the governing body of world's fairs, addresses the audience at the opening ceremony. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Hussain Al Jassmi, Mayssa Karaa and Almas perform during the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai. AFP -
Fireworks light up the skies around the Expo site in Dubai. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
A logo of Expo 2020 Dubai is projected during the opening ceremony. AFP -
Flag-raising at the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday. -
Ahlam AlShamsi performs during the opening ceremony. Photo: Kamran Jebreili / AP -
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Reuters -
The opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday. Photo: Reuters -
The full spectacle that was the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony on Thursday night. Photo: David Jimenez / Expo 2020 Dubai -
Dubai opens its Expo 2020 with an extravagant opening ceremony of fireworks, flags and light shows. Photo: AFP -
Opening ceremony fireworks. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
A young Emirati performs in the story of the ring that inspired the Expo 2020 Dubai logo. Photo: Christophe Viseux / Expo 2020 Dubai -
The world's fair was delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Performers line up to welcome visitors to the site of Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: AFP -
Emirati girls welcome guests before the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Traditions at play to help kick off the event. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Guests arrive before the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A buzz is spreading around the site before the opening ceremony. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Al Wasl Plaza before the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The national flags of countries participating in Expo 2020 Dubai. AFP -
Excited spectators arrive. AFP -
Members of staff pose for a picture before the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
An ideal photo opportunity. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Last-minute preparations, as meticulous as ever, for the big event. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Final preparations are under way in Al Wasl Plaza before the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony on Thursday. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Officials have anticipated and prepared for every eventuality that could crop up during the 182-day world's fair. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National
Ghaf leaves and pods provided food in the past during famines and its nutritious branches were used to feed livestock. It is also said to have medicinal properties and the Bedouins would use ghaf trees for navigation.
The trees are particularly environmentally friendly because they are able to survive on very little water and help sustain other plant and animal life. Ghaf trees range from three to five metres, and its roots can go as deep as 30 metres, which is one of the reasons they are able to survive the harsh summer.
Salama, Expo 2020's ghaf tree
A lone ghaf tree at the Expo 2020 Dubai site, estimated to be more than 70 year old, was preserved when construction first began. In 2019, organisers released an animated film in its honour, detailing how it has endured the harsh desert conditions through changing times.
The short film shows Salama witnessing the country through the ages, starting with the UAE's unification in 1971 and concludes with it perched on a hill overlooking the site of Expo 2020.
"Salama grew on the land of the UAE and witnessed many generations over the years. Similar to its culture, she resisted and grew and flourished under all circumstances," reads a description on the Expo 2020 Dubai website.
Year of Tolerance logo
In 2019, which was declared the Year of Tolerance in the UAE, the ghaf tree was chosen as its logo.
"The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan [Founding Father of the UAE] gave great importance to the ghaf and issued laws and regulations prohibiting the cutting of the tree throughout the country," the Supreme National Committee of the Year of Tolerance said.
"Our ancestors and tribes gathered under the shadows of the ghaf trees to discuss their daily matters. Also, a number of UAE rulers used to meet their citizens and listen to their demands directly under the shadows of these trees. The ghaf tree symbolises stability and peace in the desert and has the ability to adapt in the desert."
An homage to Sheikh Zayed
Last year, a project to plant more than 2,000 ghaf trees to form Sheikh Zayed’s fingerprint in Abu Dhabi was announced.
The 2,082 trees will be planted on 36,000 square metres of land near Al Dhafra Camel Festival site, south-west of Abu Dhabi city, the Maitha Bint Ahmed Al Nahyan Foundation for Community and Cultural Initiatives said.
Sheikha Maitha bint Ahmed, the foundation’s chairwoman, said she chose to commemorate the UAE Founding Father in this way because of his passion for the environment.
Sheikh Zayed launched large programmes of tree planting in the 1970s and had hoped to turn the desert green to provide shade, and improve the appearance of the villages and make them more habitable.
The shape of the plantation was designed by Al Reef Design Company to symbolise Sheikh Zayed’s positive mark on the country. Once complete, the site will be open to visitors from around the world.
Children's book on ghaf tree
In 2019, Emirati businesswoman Hanadi Al Fahim used the country's national symbol to educate youngsters in heritage and history through her book The Little Ghaf Tree.
The illustrated book, published in English and Arabic, is intended to instil "in our children a love for our culture and environment, while educating them on the importance of preserving our environment and co-existing with nature and neighbours," she told The National.
"My admiration started in 2006 when we sponsored a campaign with Emirates Nature to save the ghaf tree and pave the way for it to be the national tree," she said. "Through this sponsorship, I learned about all the beautiful traits of this tree and decided to continue trying to inform people.
"When my nieces and nephews were born that is when it clicked for me and I felt like I wanted to pass on this information."
Planting a million ghaf trees
Fuel-delivery company Cafu in May launched an ambitious project to use drone technology to plant a million ghaf tree seeds across the UAE in an effort to combat climate change.
The two-year strategy will involve swarms of drones launching the seeds into the ground from a height of 10 metres.
The company has completed the first two rounds of the programme with drone seeding taking place in the Mleiha Desert in Sharjah.
“The key benefit we hope to create is to discover a new way to plant trees in a cost-effective way,” Cafu general manager Antonio Al Asmar told The National.
“We want to show that planting seeds by drone technology is a much more efficient method than using hundreds of people to do the same task.”
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Like every tree, the ghaf also tells a story – that of the UAE
