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Morocco celebrates its National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai with a visit by the Prime Minister

DUBAI, 26 December 2021 – Morocco celebrated its National Day at Expo 2020 on Sunday with a visit by His Excellency Aziz Akhannouch, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco, an impressive aerobatic display by the Green March Moroccan Patrol, and a performance by one of the nation’s most eminent pianists, Marouan Benabdallah.

Morocco celebrated its National Day at Expo 2020 on Sunday with a visit by His Excellency Aziz Akhannouch, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco

His Excellency Aziz Akhannouch, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco, accompanied by Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Minister of Economy and Finance in Morocco, was welcomed by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, President of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, and His Excellency Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.

DUBAI, 26 December 2021. His Excellency Aziz Akhannouch (L), Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco, His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Bin Saeed AlMaktoum (C), President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee and Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy (R), UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai during Morocco National Day Ceremony at Al Wasl, Expo 2020 Dubai. (Photo by Christopher Edralin/Expo 2020 Dubai)

His Excellency Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch said: “I am sincerely grateful for the warm reception accorded to the Moroccan delegation, and I congratulate the United Arab Emirates for their wonderful organisation of this World Expo. Our presence at Expo 2020 Dubai allows us to introduce our ancient heritage, plus our tourism, cultural and scientific achievements to the world.

“Morocco’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai showcases the Kingdom’s commitment to actively contribute to an enriching dialogue at both regional and international levels for a safer and more stable future for all, while our pavilion is a platform to announce our new identity, ‘Morocco Now’, highlighting Morocco’s investment and industrial opportunities, particularly for foreign investment.”

His Excellency Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber said: “We share with the Kingdom of Morocco a common history, strong relations, as well as a common framework and active presence in the Arab and Islamic Worlds

His Excellency Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber said: “We share with the Kingdom of Morocco a common history, strong relations, as well as a common framework and active presence in the Arab and Islamic Worlds; which all serve as a strong base to expand partnerships and constructive collaboration for the benefit of our nations.”

“The UAE continues to work on strengthening its relations with the Kingdom of Morocco, and intensifying cooperation in various sectors of mutual interest, such as energy, agriculture, industry, mining, tourism, and others,” he added

DUBAI, 26 December 2021. His Excellency Aziz Akhannouch (L), Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco and His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Bin Saeed AlMaktoum (R), President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee during Morocco National Day Ceremony at Al Wasl, Expo 2020 Dubai. (Photo by Christopher Edralin/Expo 2020 Dubai)

The Moroccan-Hungarian pianist Marouan Benabdallah’s repertoire ranges from classical music to tunes from the Middle East and North Africa. He often performs remarkable finds from composers from Syria, Algeria, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and his native Morocco.

Located in the Opportunity District, the Morocco Pavilion gives visitors an immersive experience through a continuous ramp that reflects Moroccan streets, and its Wast Eddar, ‘heart of the home’, patio. The pavilion’s theme, ‘Legacies for the future – from inspiring origins… to sustainable progress’, invites visitors to (re)discover the Kingdom, along with its history, identity, tangible achievements and vision for the future. It includes a climb to the top of the vertical earthen village for spectacular views of Expo 2020.

The pavilion’s theme, ‘Legacies for the future – from inspiring origins… to sustainable progress’, invites visitors to (re)discover the Kingdom

National and Honour Days at Expo 2020 Dubai are moments to celebrate each of our 200-plus International Participants, shining a light on their culture and achievements and showcasing their pavilions and programming.

Running until 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 has invited visitors from across the planet to join the making of a new world in a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

ENOC Group’s Service Station of the Future wins APEA award

ENOC Group, the Official Integrated Energy Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, innovatively designed Service Station of the Future, has been awarded the coveted APEA award for Best New Retail Forecourt 2021.

The APEA Awards are the only awards ceremony that recognises the best of the best within the downstream fuel industry in the UK and further afield. The APEA Awards are judged by independent industry experts. A panel of 6 judges for each category are invited to participate based on their expert knowledge of the category or of the industry in general.

innovatively designed Service Station of the Future, has been awarded the coveted APEA award for Best New Retail Forecourt 2021.

ENOC Group unveiled the innovatively designed Service Station of the Future earlier this year. The new concept design service station – a modern, sustainable and architecturally unique station – is located at the Expo 2020 Dubai site and is supporting the logistical needs of the ongoing global event. It is the world’s first Platinum LEED certified service station, an internationally recognised building certification from the US Green Building Council.

His Excellency Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO ENOC, said: “It is a great honour to be recognised by the prestigious APEA award that acknowledges the very best in the downstream fuel industry. As a wholly-owned National Oil Company we are proud to represent the energy industry at a global scale with our participation at the world’s greatest show-Expo 2020 Dubai and this recognition reflects the efforts of ENOC’s team to bring alive the most innovative service station. With the service station of the future our vision was to lead as an example in the energy sector on how a service station can be sustainable, using multiple sources of energy.”

His Excellency Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO ENOC, said: “It is a great honour to be recognised by the prestigious APEA award

The forecourt canopy design is inspired by Ghaf, the UAE’s native tree which resembles resilience and co-existence. For canopy structure, first-time carbon fiber has been used, formed with leaf-shaped ETFE cushions, integrated with LED and transparent solar panels. The station has digital displays, wayfinding navigation system, interactive dispenser, wind turbine, EV charger, VRS, occupancy sensors and other innovative features. The Service Station of the Future is the world’s first of its kind service station that harnesses the power of renewables, and it takes us to a new era for the future of fuel.

DUBAI, 21 November 2021. Visitors at the ENOC Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai. (Photo by Katarina Premfors /Expo 2020 Dubai)

The service station also includes several applications of advance machine learning, artificial intelligence and data analytics technologies that play a role in customising services and retail offerings for customers, managing queue and waiting times at the forecourt, and improving the overall customer journey. Vehicle mapping surface lighting is deployed to mark traffic flow to direct vehicles to the fuelling area, as well as entry and exits to the station. Occupation sensors and signals at fuelling positions will also manage traffic flow, redirecting vehicles to empty spaces at dispensers. Digital signage in the station consists of 12 million LED chips to illuminate the digital screens onsite. Other prominent features include electric-vehicle chargers and multi-media interactive advanced dispensers.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Gori Women’s choir adds musical magic to Georgia’s National Day celebrations

DUBAI, 29 December 2021 – The beautiful voices of the Gori Women’s Choir reverberated around Al Wasl Plaza on Wednesday, as the ensemble gave an exceptional performance as part of Georgia’s National Day celebrations at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The beautiful voices of the Gori Women’s Choir reverberated around Al Wasl Plaza

Almost orchestral, the repertoire spanned ancient and contemporary pieces, showcasing the choir’s distinctive, resonant voices, as well as Georgia’s rich musical heritage.

DUBAI, 29 December 2021. Cultural Performers during the Georgia National Day Ceremony at Al Wasl, Expo 2020 Dubai. (Photo by Christophe Viseux/Expo 2020 Dubai)

The Gori Women’s Choir was founded in 1970 at Gori’s School of Music in Georgia, and originally included schoolgirls and teachers from the city. The choir creates its own rhythms through tonal sounds and hand clapping that shapes the enchanting vocal style of its members, transforming it into a precision instrument made up of human voices.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news

Expo 2020 Dubai farewell to 2021 with a shimmering ball drop at Al Wasl Plaza

DUBAI, 1 January 2022 – The highlight of Expo 2020 Dubai’s New Year’s Eve proceedings, a magical ball drop to rival that of the famous event in New York’s Times Square, welcomed 2022 with a glittering flourish at Al Wasl Plaza at 0000 GST, accompanied by two fireworks displays that lit up the night sky.

a magical ball drop to rival that of the famous event in New York’s Times Square, welcomed 2022

As glasses clinked with midnight toasts made across the site’s Country Pavilions, restaurants and bars, visitors embraced 2022 by basking in the lights, colours, music, hoopla and a shower of confetti during the world’s most inclusive New Year’s Eve event.

DUBAI, 01 October 2021. Expo 2020 Rehearsal for the Opening Ceremony, Expo 2020 Dubai. (Photo by Dany Eid/Expo 2020 Dubai)

The incandescent crystal ball was launched from the top of Al Wasl Plaza’s illuminated dome, serving as a symbol of hope foretelling a more optimistic future ahead.

Dining offerings from more than 70 restaurants and 120 food concepts, including food trucks, food halls, restaurants, bars and kiosks, and exclusive never-been-seen concepts by international chefs, catered to visitors until the early hours of the morning – keeping energy levels and spirits high.

Dining offerings from more than 70 restaurants and 120 food concepts, including food trucks, food halls, restaurants, bars and kiosks

The recently opened Festival Garden at Expo’s Jubilee Park added extra sparkle to the celebrations. The atmospheric garden – located near the Malaysia Pavilion – is open until 0200 GST and features a merry mix of food trucks, drinks carts and entertainment in the form of bouncy castles, an inflatable park, treasure hunts, face painting, sporting activities, DJs, musicians and more.

Seamlessly connecting Expo 2020 with the rest of the city, the Dubai Metro is running continuously throughout 31 December and into the New Year, ensuring every visitor to Expo can enjoy the world-class experiences on offer. RTA has announced extended operating hours for the holiday period: trains are running from 0800 on 31 December without a break in service until 0215 on 2 January. More information is available on the RTA website.

DUBAI, 02 December 2021. Fireworks Display during UAE National Day and the Golden Jubilee Celebrations, Expo 2020 Dubai. (Photo by Suneesh Sudhakaran/Expo 2020 Dubai)

The festivities continue at Expo 2020 Dubai on 1 January, as Yemen celebrates its Expo 2020 National Day with musicians, traditional folkloric dancers and a line-up of singers, including Hussain Moheb, one of Yemen’s biggest-selling artists.

The recently opened Festival Garden at Expo’s Jubilee Park added extra sparkle to the celebrations

Three of the region’s biggest Arabic artists will also be making Expo 2020 the place to mark the first day of 2022: Emirati soul musician Arqam, Saudi singer Hamza Hawsawi and Emirati singer and oud player Jassim Mohammed will entertain visitors at Jubilee Park.

ameerul.hasan@thechangemakers.news