Spectacular drone footage of the Expo 2020 site has given a tantalising glimpse of what awaits people in three months.
Finishing touches are being put on structures across the site in the Dubai South area before the grand opening on October 1.
Footage shared by the Expo pans across the majestic Al Wasl Plaza, called the 'heartbeat' of the site.
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A bird's eye view of the winged design of the Expo 2020 Metro Station that can be seen behind the gigantic Dubai Exhibition Centre. All photos courtesy Expo 2020 Dubai. -
Opportunity Pavilion, one of three theme districts of Expo 2020 Dubai, lights up at night. -
A night view of the Opportunity Pavilion, one of three theme districts, that will draw visitors to connect in a plaza-themed interior. -
Drone footage shows a glimpse of country pavilions of the UAE, Morocco, Saudi and Spain at the Expo 2020 Dubai where more than 190 countries will participate during the six-month World Fair. -
Energy trees that capture power from the sun border the Sustainability Pavilion, one of the three main theme districts of Expo 2020 Dubai. -
A screengrab showing how more than 1,000 solar panels cap the Sustainability Pavilion, in one of the main theme districts at the Expo 2020 Dubai. -
Footage of the Al Wasl Plaza, called the crown jewel and centrepiece of the site. -
Rehearsal of a light show at the Al Wasl Plaza in Expo 2020 Dubai that promises dramatic displays every night when the World Fair opens in October. -
A screengrab showing the Al Wasl Plaza at night where there will be spectacular light shows every night once the Expo 2020 opens in Dubai this year. -
The Mobility Pavilion houses the world’s largest passenger lift that can carry more than 160 people at a time. -
Mobility is a major theme of the Expo 2020 Dubai and the pavilion will host demonstrations of autonomous vehicles, hoverboards and jetpacks.
The massive dome sits in the centre of three themed districts – opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
The bird’s eye view offers a glimpse of the steel rings that cover the translucent dome.
Spectacular shots of the Dubai Metro line show it snaking into the gold-winged structure of the Expo 2020 Metro Station.
The camera then swoops over the vast Dubai Exhibition Centre that will host global exhibitions and concerts throughout the six-month World Fair.
When the drone hovers high over the gigantic roof of the Sustainability Pavilion, it gets close enough to capture each of the more than 1,000 solar panels that blanket the canopy.
Viewers can count the surrounding 18 "energy trees" that tilt back as they track the sun. The unique architecture ensures the solar cells store and generate sufficient alternative electricity to cover the pavilion’s requirements throughout the Expo.
Panoramic drone shots are mixed with street-level video of what it is like to walk along the shaded pathways built across the site.
The steps leading to the amphitheatre around the mobility pavilion are tucked in the shade of three arms of the stainless steel-rimmed building.
Once the World Fair opens, visitors can rest here or watch planned demonstrations featuring hoverboards and jet packs.
The footage also provides a peek into the "opportunity pavilion" with its layered glass panes stacked on top of each other.
Little has been revealed about the site's interior but the footage shows the terracotta plaza that aims to bring people together.
Even from a distance, standout country pavilions can be seen from the UAE’s winged falcon facade, the red and yellow colours of Spain’s tall cones, the expansive window of Saudi Arabia's structure that opens to the sky and the earthy rectangular blocks of Morocco’s offerings.
The footage shared by the Expo team also gives a sneak peek of the site at night with fairy lights framing the trees and the colourful beams illuminating Al Wasl Plaza.
The Expo will launch a mobile app so residents and tourists can keep up-to-date with information about the 60 events per day, from parades to workshops and firework displays.
World Expos usually take place every five years but Expo 2020 Dubai was delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic and allowed to keep its original name.
