THE BEATING HEART
OF EXPO 2020 DUBAI
FROM FIRST LIGHTS ON TO THE FINAL LIGHTS OFF
AL WASL PLAZA DAZZLES THE WORLD
TO OVER 25 MILLION VISITORS
IN DUBAI'S MOST ICONIC VENUE
ACROSS 180 DAYS
34 UNIQUE SHOWS
CONCEIVED, CREATED & PRODUCED BY AIM
Faced with our most daring challenge to date, and at the most challenging of times, AIM embarked on a two-year journey of creation and discovery and produced an ambitious showcase of performances and installations on the world stage, inside the world’s largest projected Dome.
AL WASL PLAZA was the Jewel in Expo 2020’s crown over the 6-month long event that brought together almost 200 nations. When EXPO awarded AIM as their creative partner of choice for this iconic venue, we understood great expectations would follow. And so began the task of AWAKENING AL WASL! It was time to think big!
More than 34 unique shows later, thanks to the enormous efforts of our courageous team, not only did AL WASL awaken to the world, it became a world class destination.
A RECORD BREAKING VENUE
Al Wasl is no ordinary venue. In true Dubai fashion, it is a monumental statement that defies belief. Its record breaking 250 laser projector array, 27:1 surround sound system and 4000 moving lights, is just part of its magic. The enchanted garden that radiates out from the central stage embraces each guest that sits amongst it, making it anything but a traditional space. Al Wasl is a true venue in the round.
With this unique fusion of theatrics and technology, the opportunity to immerse audiences on a level of this scale became our reality. We pursued ideas and moments that transformed Al Wasl from a venue into a place of wonderment, where it became an installation, a performance space, a concert hall, a theatre, a playground.
We created signature showcases that explored the smallest of things through to the expanse of the Universe. We gave the audience their own chance to directly interact - on a massive scale. We explored concepts that spanned the imaginary spectrum. We surrounded audiences in a sea of colour, transformed Al Wasl into the Grand Mosque, and immersed them in gifts of nature. We celebrated in festive proportions and awoke imaginations with the magic of puppetry. It became a cultural canvas in which sacred stories and traditions were re-imagined through emotive means.
WE BROUGHT THE WORLD OF PERFORMANCE
INTO THE WORLD OF IMMERSION
IT TOOK A TEAM OF MORE THAN 250 PEOPLE
FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE TO REALISE THIS BODY OF WORK
EACH SHOW WAS CONCEIVED THROUGH
HIGHLY DETAILED VISUALISATION
When times determined the disruption of all travel plans, and the 1-year delay of the opening, AIM still forged on through virtual means. Each show was conceived through highly detailed visualisation and presented in VR to our partners at EXPO on the other side of the world. It became a critical tool in which we could continue the project at the level of detail it demanded.
