A Sneak Peek Into the Israeli Pavilion at Expo2020
Menachem Gantz, Spokesman of the Israel Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai and Malki Shem Tov, CEO of AVS, the pavilion creator and producer, today hosted a tour of Israel’s pavilion ahead of EXPO’s official opening on October 1st, 2021. The duo discussed the country’s plans for the mega event and what Israel has in store for its visitors. Menachem Gantz, Spokesman of the Israel Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai and Malki Shem Tov, CEO of AVS, the pavilion creator and producer, today hosted a tour of Israel’s pavilion ahead of EXPO’s official opening on October 1st, 2021. The duo discussed the country’s plans for the mega event and what Israel has in store for its visitors.
“Since being invited to participate in Expo2020, Israel has been looking forward to forging new relationships with countries across the region and showcasing both its cultural similarities as well as its innovative contributions to global issues. Many exciting developments have occurred since the UAE extended the invitation to Israel to participate in EXPO2020 Dubai, such as the signing of the Abraham Accord, building bilateral trade successes as well as showcasing shared cultures between the UAE and Israel.”
— Gantz said
A year into the Abraham Accords, some $570 million in business has been done between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, according to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics. Trade could reach $1 billion for the whole of 2021, and could exceed $3 billion within three years.
There are three main elements on offer at the Israeli pavilion, designed with something for everyone. The first is visiting the pavilion itself. The pavilion includes numerous technologies designed to create an engaging experience for visitors and bridging the gap between countries. Next is Israel’s cultural calendar. Music is the golden thread that unites everyone and Israel will offer a vibrant cultural program with some of the most prominent artists from Israel performing. Last but not least is the pavilion’s business activities. Numerous Israeli business leaders and Ministers will visit the Expo to discuss pressing global issues and help drive change for a better tomorrow.
“Creating and producing the first Israel pavilion in an Arab country that will engage visitors from the UAE and around the world, is one of the most exciting and challenging projects of my career. When we started working on this project in August 2019, peace between Israel and the UAE was a distant dream. Now the Israel pavilion in Dubai is bridging these cultures.”
— Shem Tov added
“In this visionary project we used content, design, and interactive experiences to engage visitors on an emotional level. The Pavilion is an open space with no walls and no borders, making visitors feel welcome and inspired,”
— Continued Shem Tov
The design is inspired by the desert dunes, which are common to Israel and the Emirates. Towering over the dunes are seven large LED screen walls on which we will feature a spectacular video presentation about Israel which visitors can manipulate and interact with. The LED screens will also showcase various images and videos addressing; reducing world hunger, protecting nature, energy for everyone, water conservation and adaptation for arid countries, health technologies and cyber security. The dune level is also equipped with virtual reality binoculars, allowing visitors to experience Israel from the pavilion in the UAE. Furthermore, the 360-degree room inside the pavilion’s main hall will present an immersive show to visitors. The Israel Pavilion offers an innovative, exciting, and multi-sensory journey through the pavilion allowing visitors to hear, see, and personally feel Israel.
“Israel’s participation in the Expo is an important part of building the relationship between the two countries. The Expo is an opportunity for all nationalities to get to know and learn from one another. People often forget there is much more uniting us than dividing us, which is what we want to highlight at the Expo. From the architecture of the pavilion to the content on display, this is one of the messages that we want to share with visitors. The Expo lands, for the first time, in the Middle East and we are a part of this region, so we are welcoming all in joining us in this journey toward tomorrow.”
— Gantz concluded
About the Israeli Pavilion Designed without walls, for maximum openness, attendees of Expo 2020 and beyond are invited to the Israel pavilion. Israel is a place of innovation, offering a vision and horizon in dealing with the challenges of humanity. The pavilion has an emphasis on challenges such as; agriculture, water, medicine, communications and cyber issues. The pavilion will showcase its open and diverse society that provides equal rights to all its inhabitants, it is a society that respects different people and cultures and is a recognised and respected state among participating nations.