Expo 2020 showcases the beauty of multiculturalism in the UAE

Dubai - The country can be called the most cosmopolitan place on Earth, where the whole population collaborates in building a better society.

With the whole world’s focus now on Dubai after the much-awaited Expo 2020 Dubai kicked off this month, it’s worth remembering that the event is not just about putting up a great spectacle; it’s about staging the Middle East’s first ever event of this scale during a pandemic, overcoming challenges, beating the odds and showing that the UAE is more than capable of designing, building and launching a project that has global impact.

Which is rather fitting, as the nation has been welcoming the world to its shores for more than 50 years. It is one of the things that makes this event so unique, compared to previous Expos held around the world, because the UAE is home to people from around 200 different nations and territories, living together, working together and collectively contributing to the economic and social growth of one of the world’s youngest nations. Which means we can quite rightly call ourselves the most cosmopolitan place on Earth, where the whole population collaborates in building a better society.

The creation of Expo 2020 Dubai has resulted in the most fitting platform to showcase the beauty of multiculturalism in the UAE at every level, where people of a range of lifestyles and status are able to put any differences aside to create something so wonderfully demonstrative of a truly compassionate and supportive community.

The Expo’s opening ceremony was watched live around the world by millions who tuned in to witness the culmination of years of hard work in designing, planning and building what is, in effect, an entirely new suburb of Dubai.

After a delay of one year necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the lights finally came on, international opera heavyweights sang alongside jazz and pop stars, folk dances and traditional music and songs were performed while the event celebrated inclusivity, the unique characteristic of Dubai.

Which is why it was delightful to watch 12-year-old expatriate girl Mira Singh, a dancer and model, play the part of an Emirati juvenile, stealing the hearts of millions of viewers around the world. Born in the UAE, Mira is perhaps one of the finest examples of how important it is to have such diverse representation at a global event happening in one of the most multicultural cities in the world. A true reflection of our community.