The story behind the Expo 2020 logo
The Expo 2020 is expected to bring 25 million visitors to the brand new Expo 2020 site near Jebel Ali. This highly awaited international event will bring together global leaders in innovation, provide opportunities to budding entrepreneurs and become a catalyst for global economic growth. Today, we talk about the story behind Expo 2020 and how this particular ring symbol came to represent this historic event.
What is the Story Behind Expo 2020 Logo?
The inspiration for the Dubai Expo 2020 logo is an artefact dating back to the Iron Age. The logo of Expo 2020 is inspired by a 4000-year old gold ring, unearthed at the Saruq Al Hadid site in Al Marmoom back in 2002.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai discovered the archaeological site himself while he was flying over the area and noticed the irregular ripples on the sand dunes. That is why Sheikh Mohammed himself unveiled this logo based on the ancient gold ring at a grand ceremony at the Armani Hotel, at Burj Khalifa in March 2016. The ring is now on display at the Saruq Al-Hadid Museum, which is one of the best museums in Dubai.
- Location: Al Shindagha area
- Timings: Open daily from 08:00 am to 08:00 pm and Friday from 04:00 pm to 08:00 pm
- Ticket Price: AED 20 for adults and AED 10 for children (7 – 12 years); Senior citizens and children under 6 have free entry
- Contact: +971-4-359-56122
(Note: Currently all museums in Dubai are closed to stop the spread of coronavirus.)
Archaeologists consider Saruq Al Hadid to be an ancient centre of copper manufacturing. The site contains large amounts of metal ores.
The site, which is now owned and managed by Dubai Municipality Architectural Heritage Department, was once covered by a 7-metre deep dune. The mound covers an area of about 15,000 sq.m but is hidden by shifting sands of the desert. So it is hard to decipher how it became an ancient settlement.
Using this historic symbol as the inspiration for Expo 2020 showcases the tremendous journey of the emirate and connects its past to its glorious future.
What is the meaning of Expo 2020 Logo?
Sheikh Mohammed commented: “Over 4,000 years ago, the people who lived in this land had a deep creative spirit and today the people of this country are building the nation’s future for centuries to come.”.
Speaking about the archaeological site, he also stated that “this land connected ancient civilisations and we will continue to be a hub that connects the world.”
This ties in with the theme of Expo 2020: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. In other words, while Expo 2020 presents a vibrant vision of the future, and also pays homage to the distant past of the country.
There was a competition to create the official Expo 2020 logo in 2015. There were over 19,000 participants. The three finalists were Mohamed Souheil Bin Ali (graphic designer and architect), Mouza Al Mansouri (communications professional) and Valeri IInitki (computer graphics artist), who were awarded by Sheikh Mohammed on the same night as the unveiling of the Expo 2020 logo. And while the ring will be the official emblem of Expo 2020, there are plans for all of the short-listed designs to be featured at the Expo site.
So this was the story of the Expo 2020 logo. The ring has come to symbolise connectivity, resilience and heritage. The good thing is that you can even get the Expo 2020 logo on your car in Dubai.
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